Rakowski family papers

Identifier
irn502431
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2000.142
Dates
1 Jan 1946 - 31 Dec 1953
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
  • English
  • Polish
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

box

1

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Schmuel Rakowski, now Samuel Ron, the son of Joseph and Sophie Banach Rakowski, was born on July 28, 1924 in Kazimierza Wielka. Schmuel worked in the town's sugar processing plant and eventually smuggled himself along with his parents, Joseph and Sophie Banch Rakowski into the Krakow ghetto. When Krakow residents were moved to camp Płaszów, Schmuel was transferred to another camp, Pionki, an ammunitions plant. Schmuel's mother and aunt went to Skarzysko while Schmuel's father, brother, and cousin were transferred to Mauthausen in 1944. Schmuel was on a death march in April 1945 before being liberated by American troops on May 2, 1945. His mother and aunt survived Gross-Rosen and his father survived Mauthausen. Schmuel joined his father in Austria in the Bindermichl Displaced persons camp, but spent most of his time working as a guide for Bricha. Between August 1945 and March 1946 Schmuel brought people from Eastern Europe to Italy and France helping them to escape to Palestine. In March 1946, he helped escort 1100 children to Palestine on board the illegal ship, the Champollion. Schmuel arrived in Palestine on April 28, 1946.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

Samuel Ron donated this collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2000.

Scope and Content

Contains legal documents and photographs pertaining to the Holocaust experiences of Zofia, Josef, and Samuel Rakowski's Holocaust experiences.

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.