From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Postcards from Josef Gruen in Slovakia and in Slovenia, 1940

From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Postcards sent by Josef Gruen, a native of Bedzin, Poland - three from Kamionka, Slovakia and one from Slovenia - to Schwarzbaum in Lausanne, Switzerland, 1940. The postcards concern personal matters as well as underground activities. 14 May 1940: Gruen writes that he has tried contacting Schwarzbaum through Blumenfrucht, but the letter must have failed to arrive. He expresses concern for his son and hopes to send his next postcard from Mandate Palestine. 12 July 1940: Gruen does not recommend immigration to Palestine, due to the weather. He has recently received good news from his son. He mentions Motek's wish to return. He hopes to received his immigration certificate in early 1941. 25 July 1940: Gruen has not heard from his relatives in Bedzin for three weeks. In coded language, he discusses medication, physicians, illnesses, etc. 14 August 1940: Writing from Slovenia, Gruen signs "the Bedziners" and thanks Schwarzbaum for his last letter. He once again uses code language. 8 pages, handwritten original, in German Source file:27359 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.