From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: letters from Majer Rozenkier, Budapest, January - March 1944

From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Two letters sent by Majer Rozenkier from Budapest, Hungary, to Schwarzbaum in Switzerlands, 25 January and 15 March 1944. Rozenkier asks for rescue papers for him and his daughters, reports on several matters, and asks for information. 4 pages, handwritten, original, in German Source file: 27250 Inventory: 1. 25 January 1944: Rozenkier reports that he is alone in Budapest, but his daughters might visit. He mentions his friend Ogurek, and assumes he has already contacted Schwarzbaum. Rozenkier asks Schwarzbaum to make an effort to enable him to meet with his friends Marek and Moniek (who is evidently in Brooklin, New York). He asks if Mrs. Tanb [?] and her daughter are still there. He sends regards to Schwarzbaum's daughters and to Mrs Schein. 2. 15 March 1944: Rozenkier complains that he has not yet received replies for his letters, and asks if Schwarzbaum received the photos and sent his letters to Marek and Moniek. At Schawarzbaum's request, Rozenkier and his freinds sent him three letters. He also inquires whether Schwarzbaum contacted Joel Brand for his help? Rozenkier has not heard from his daughters, and the people around him have no relation to the Seder. He mentions that Lutek [?] Lubetski and Kuba Greicer were members of Moniek's movement. Rozenkier how long it would take to receive Moniek and Marek's reply. 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.