Letter
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn90281
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- textual record
- Physical Description
- Letter : Paper : Handwritten, Printed : Ink : beige, black, blue ; Ht: 28,2 cm x W: 14,6 cm
- Date
- February 1942
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- textual record
- Physical Description
- Letter : Paper : Handwritten, Printed : Ink : beige, black, blue ; Ht: 28,2 cm x W: 14,6 cm
- Other Title Information
- Documentary Artifact
- Date
- February 1942
- Physical Condition
- Poor
- Language
- French
- German
- Notes
- 1 page, 2-sided. The front has space to write in adress and return adress (upside down so that it is on the opposite side when folded). The back contains a letter, written in blue ink on black lines. This is a P.O.W. letter from Israel (Maurice) Elias to his family. In it he lists items that he needs in the Compiegne camp, including clothing, 2 berets, towels, a nail file, soap, and equipment for cleaning shoes. He was deported to Auschwitz later that month. Narrative: This letter was from the donor's father, Maurice (Israel) Elias, and is adressed to the donor's mother. Maurice Elias volunteered for the French Army on September 11, 1939 although he was not a French citizen. On March 20, 1940 he joined the 212 Infantry Division and was demobilized in 1941. He owned a store since 1933, which was assigned an administrator. He was taken on August 20, 1941 in the first round-up of Paris Jews (mostly professionals and intellectuals). He was picked up at 6:30 AM by 3 French men and taken to Drancy. Transferred to Compiegne because they thought that he was a Communist since he spoke Russian. On February 27, 1942 he was deported to Auschwitz and killed April 19, 1942. Afterwards, Marguerite and her sister left Paris and were taken care in hiding by Catholic farmers in the region of Grenoble, France. they stayed there between 1942 and 1944. After the liberation of Paris, the farmer who took care of the girls was accused of being a collaborator and the girls' mother came to get them.
- Accession No.
- 2011X.53.03
- Name Access
- Elias, Marguerite
- Places
- Compiègne, France, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
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