From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Postcards from Abram Lubelski, Sosnowiec ghetto, April - May 1943

From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Postcards sent by Abram Lubelski from the Sosnowiec (Schrodel) ghetto, Poland, to Schwarzbaum in Lausanne, tacitly asking for papers to rescue him, April - May 1943. 12 April - 3 May 1943: Abram writes that he and his wife Irenka are well and workking for the Jewish Council. His father is with him. Abram sends his regards to Julek and Max and asks if there are more news. 20 May 1943*: Abram urgently asks Schwarzbaum to contact Julek and Max and ask them not to forget his friend Muer. He aks Schwarzbaum for a valuable parcel**, and integrates the family's names and dates of birth: Estera Lubelski (nee Szerekockich, b. 17 June 1916), Irena Lubelski (b. 11 October 1938) and Idel Lubelski (b. 2 May 1880). *the date written on the bottom of the postcard is 23 June 1941, but the postmark is dated 20 May 1943. Abram posibly wrote the wrong date on purpose because of the sensitive content of the postcard. The handwriting is no Abram's and was possibly copied by his wife. **presumably referring to important documents such as certificates of foreign nationality. 6 pages, handwritten copy, in German and 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.