From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Letters, telegrams and postcards from Steffi and Max Wunsch, Prague, London, Melbourne and Vienna, during and after the war

From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Letters and postcards sent by Steffi Wunsch from Prague during and after the war, and telegrams sent by Max Wunsch from London, Melbourne and Vienna. Typewritten original, in German and English Max was evidently Steffi's husband. In 1939, he left Czechoslovakia for Australia, where he started a business. Steffi remained in Prague with her parents and her children. They corresponded through Schwarzbaum, who supported them financially and sent them food and clothing. Inventory: 1. Letters sent by Steffi (Stepanka Wunschowa( from Prague to Schwarzbaum in Lausanne and in Haifa, Mandate Palestine: A. Postcards sent in the years 1940 – 1945 by Steffi and her children, Thomas and Erika. She thanks Schwarzbaum for sending food and clothing. In the 16 March 1945 postcard, Erika asks about Uncle Max and Aunt Mizzi. The postcards are postmarked by the Third Reich. 20 pages, print and handwritten original, in German B. Letters sent by Steffi, 1941 – 1942. She thanks him for his help, asks about his family and updates him on her children. In the 17 April 1941, she mentions the Neumanns' parents, who also need help. In her 11 September 1941 letter, she mentions Anny and asks about Mitzi and her family. 17 pages, typewritten and handwritten original, in German C. Telegrams sent in May – June 1945, in which Steffi writes that she and her children are well, sends regards to Max and asks about Mitzi and Fritzi. 4 pages, typewritten original, in English D. Postwar letters, 1945 – 1947. In her 12 November 1945 letter, Steffi asks Schwarzbaum to write to her sister Anny in Vienna. On 19 December 1945, she hopes to celebrate Christmas with her parents in Vienna. On 21 March 1946, she writes that her parents are in the British - controlled zone of Vienna. She mentions Max. On 1 October 1947, she mentions Mrs. Paroschakov and Mr. Mirovsky. 11 pages, typewritten original, in German 2. Telegrams and letters sent by Max Wunsch: A. Letters and telegrams sent to Alfred during the war, 1939 – 1945. On 16 April 1939, he writes that he will soon be in London on his way to Australia. He gives the address of a relative in Melbourne, Hermann – Harry Cone. He also writes that Mitzi has sailed from Genoa, Italy, and sent a letter from Port Said, Egypt. He sends regards from his sister and from the Neumanns. He asks Schwarzbaum to send him money through his nephew, Joseph Falk, in London. On 3 May 1939, Falk writes from London to Schwarzbaum, regarding Max's voyage to Australia. Max sent a telegram from London to Schwarzbaum in Tel Aviv. In June 1940, he sends two telegrams from Melbourne to Schwarzbaum in Lausanne, regarding finances. On 19 July 1940, he mentions Mr. Meryn. In 1941, he once again mentions financial matters and sends Schwarzbaum his regards for the wedding of his daughter, Hala – Halina. On 31 January 1944, Max writes that he has not heard from him in two years, and on 29 March 1944, he asks to contact the British consulate. The file contains the consulate's reply, sent to Schwarzbaum on 11 April 1944. The file also contains a letter sent by Dr. S. Scheps at the Palestine Office in Geneva to Schwarzbaum on 24 April 1944. The letters sent in November 1944 bear the logo of Steel and Hardware Manufacturing, Max's company. Max writes that Mitzi has a daughter, Elizabeth. In December 1944 and February 1945, Max writes that he has paid Schwarzbaum back a certain amount, and asks about Steffi and the children. 23 pages, typewritten and handwritten original, in German and English B. Postcard, telegrams and letters sent after the war. On 1 September 1945, he mentions his niece Gretl Neumann, Mr. Miller in Zurich and Mr. Lipton. On 11 August 1946, he mentions Miller, Lipton and Mr. O. Zika. The file contains a letter from Zika in Prague to Wunsch, 12 February 1946. From 12 November 1947 until 11 May 1948, the letters are sent from Prague. In November 1947, he mentions Mirovsky and Mr. Bitter. In March 1948, Steffi and Max writes that their children are well and so are their parents. Steffi writes that Max will soon go to Vienna and that Anny is in Prague for a visit. From March until June 1949, Max's letters are sent from Vienna. On 29 December 1950, he sent a telegram to Schwarzbaum from the Tourig hotel in Zurich. The file also contains: Letter sent by Max from Melbourne to Hala Schwarzbaum, Alfred's daughter. 43 pages, typewritten and handwritten original, in English and German 3. Business correspondence - Steel and Hardware Manufacturing in Melbourne and Zeus - Wunsch & Vogl in Prague. Receipts and inventories, 1947 – 1957. The latest letter in the file was sent by Max from Vienna to Schwarzbaum at the Ambassador Hotel in Vienna on 14 January 1957. The file also contains: 1. Letter sent to Schwarzbaum by I. D. Mirovsky, Paint and Construction Material Company, Haifa, 21 September 1947. 2. Business – related postcard sent on 22 September 1948 by Gustav Ziehl from Germany to Schwarzbaum in Zurich. 36 pages, print and handwritten original, in German and English 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.