From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: letters from Chaim Pozner, 1941 - 1944

From the collection of Alfred Schwarzbaum: 1) A letter to A.S. dated Jan. 20, 1944, from Chaim Pozner, reminding the recipient that a telegram was sent to Mrs. Steinowitsch, and that regarding Ms. Guttmann,[sic] no information has come from Budapest. One page (original), typewritten, in German 2) A letter to A.S. from Pozner on May 10, 1943, in which the latter reports on his activity. One page (original), typewritten, in German 3) A letter to A.S. from Pozner on Jan. 14, 1941, in which the latter reports on arranging a visa for Mr. Schwarzbaum. One page (original), typewritten, in German 4) A letter to A.S. from Pozner on Jan. 29, 1941, about a letter to the university in Jerusalem. One page (original), typewritten, in German 5) A letter to A.S. from Pozner on Dec. 29, 1943, in which the latter confirms receipt of a letter regarding Frieda Lindenbaum. One page (original), typewritten, in German 6) A letter sent by Pozner to Ms. R. Guttmann, dated Jan. 31, 1944, regarding a previous letter and documents that were not substantiated, and regarding Aron – Szlama Gutman [sic]. One page (original), typewritten, in German 7) A letter sent by Pozner to the Judenrat of Bedzin (Bendsburg), May 10, 1943, regarding an exit permit for Aron – Szlama Gutman and members of his family. One page (original), typewritten, in German 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.