Becker family papers, 1939-1941, 1945

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Summary

Title:
Becker family papers
Dates:
1939-1941, 1945
Creators:
Becker family
Abstract:
The Becker family papers are comprised of family correspondence during the period 1939-1941, including letters and postcards sent from the Warsaw and Lodz ghettos from some members of the Becker family to family members living in the United States.
Containers:
Folder: Archives Box 6
Extent:
1.0 Folder(s)
Language:
and Correspondence is in Polish and German. Receipts are in English. English translations are available for some of the Polish and German material.
Preferred citation:

Becker Family papers - 1989.1002, Tauber Holocaust Library - JFCS Holocaust Center, San Francisco, California

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is comprised of correspondence – mostly postcards, but some letters and a telegram – sent primarily from members of the Becker family still living in Europe to other family members living in the United States and Holland during the period from November 1939 until late 1941. The postcards and letters document the desperate situation of those left in Poland. They illustrate the difficulties of escape and the great impediments families faced in trying to rescue family members. Several postcards contain heart-breaking pleas for assistance in obtaining transit visas and papers, and awareness of an uncertain future.

Also included are postal return receipts, and receipts for food packages sent to family members in Warsaw, Krosniewice and Kutno, Pola

Biographical / historical:

Before the invasion and occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Becker family lived in Lodz, Poland.

Martin Becker (1917-2001) attended the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and later studied economics at Carleton College, Northfield, MN. At the time of Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, Martin was living in New York, where he had an uncle who owned a bakery. His mother, who had been visiting him earlier from Poland, was at sea, returning to Poland. Unable to reach Poland, his mother was rerouted and returned to the United States, where she spent the rest of her life. Family members Abraham, Tadek and Lolek remained behind and were trapped in Nazi-occupied Poland. Their home was confiscated by authorities; they were forced to move to the Warsaw Ghetto.

Martin registered for the US military draft, and received military intelligence training at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. He served in Europe during the war, and entered Dachau concentration camp in April 1945. Towards the end of the war, he was as an interrogator of German suspects for war crimes trials.

According to a note included in the file by Martin Becker, donor of the collection, his father and brothers perished at Treblinka death camp.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Judith Janec
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2011-09-01T16:22-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions to access for this collection.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions to use for this collection.

Preferred citation:

Becker Family papers - 1989.1002, Tauber Holocaust Library - JFCS Holocaust Center, San Francisco, California

Location of this collection:
JFCS Holocaust Center
2245 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115, US
Contact:
(415) 449-3717
HolocaustCenter@jfcs.org
Website