From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Postcards from M. Puszet (or concerning him), Marseille, Madrid and Sao Paolo, 1941 - 1942

From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Postcards and letters sent by M. Puszet (or concerning him) from Marseille, Madrid and Sao Paolo to Schwarzbaum in Lausanne, 1941 - 1942. 17 pages, print and handwritten original, in Polish Inventory: 1. Postcard sent by Mrs. A. Fruchtgarten from Lausanne to Mr. Milecki in Warsaw, 27 January 1941, regarding Puszet's request to find out where his parents are, noting that their last address was 12 Nawolipki St. 2 pages, print and handwritten original, in Polish 2. Letters sent by Puszet from Marseille. A. Letter dated 10 February 1931, thanking Schwarzbaum for sending a letter from his parents and asks him to send them his reply. He mentions mrs. Cylger from Paris and thanks Mrs. Fruchtgarten for her help. B. Letter dated 15 February 1941, thanking Schwarzbaum for his help and writing that he has net yet received a reply from Mrs. Cygler. C. Letter dated 4 March 1941, thanking Schwarzbaum for sending the letter and mentioning Mrs. Cygler. 7 pages, handwritten original, in Polish 3. Postcard sent from Madrid on 2 May 1941. Puszet writes that he was busy in Marseille and is currently in Madrid on his way to South America. He adds that his next letter will be sent from Brazil. 2 pages, hadnwritten original, in Polish 4. Letter sent from Sao Paolo on 25 Sepetmber 1942, asking Schwarzbaum to deliver a message to his parents in Warsaw. The address: Chlodna 34/7. He writes that he is making a decent living and provides for his entire family. 4 pages, handwritten original, in Polish 5. Letter sent by Jerzy Halamski from Marseille on 3 May 1941, writing that he has received Schwarzbaum's address from Mr. Puszet and asks him to deliver a letter to his parents in Lodz. The address: The Elder of the Jews, Chaim Rumkowski, for Herman Zajbert. He adds that he is planning to go to Brazil. 2 pages, handwritten original, in Polish About Alfred Schwarzbaum: Alfred (Alf) Schwarzbaum was a Jewish merchant from Bedzin, Poland, who fled to Switzerland after the occupation. In Switzerland, he set up a relief enterprise, and supported hundreds of Jews. Alfred (Alf) Schwarzbaum was born in 1896 in Sosnowiec, Poland. He later moved to Bedzin, became a businessman and started a family. In late September 1939, following the German occupation of Poland, he sent his daughter to England. In November 1939, he was jailed for several weeks in Myslowice and was interrogated by the Gestapo. After his release, he turned down an offer from Mosheh Merin, head of the Sosnowiec Jewish council, to be his deputy. Using his connections and his fortune, he was able to obtain visas for Switzerland. In April 1940, he left Poland and settled in Lausanne. Schwarzbaum soon started sending out food, clothing, money and papers to Poland. He managed to navigate between the often uncoordinated Jewish and Zionist organizations based in Switzerland, to transfer financial help to Jews in Poland. He sent hundreds of parcels to German occupied localities, via Lisbon, Sweden and Turkey. He visited refugee camps in Switzerland, and corresponded with persons living under the Nazi rule. He also produced passports, which led him into trouble with the Swiss police, who feared for violation of the country's neutrality policy. In 1945, he immigrated to Mandate Palestine. In Israel, he supported funds and provided stipends for students in need, in several Israeli institutes for higher education. He died in 1990.