Elsa and Selmar Biener papers

Elsa and Selmar Biener papers 

Selmar Biener (1906-1988) was born on May 15, 1906 in Magdeburg, Germany to Philip Biener (b. 1870) and Regina Biener (née Sternberg, b. 1876). He had three brothers, David Biener, Sigmund Biener, and Eugen Biener. Elsa Biener (née Friedler, 1915-1958) was born on September 24, 1915 in Magdeburg, Germany to Abraham Friedler (b. 1887) and Frieda Miriam Friedler (b. 1895). Selmar and Elsa married in 1936. On May 13, 1939, Selmar and Elsa Biener sailed from Hamburg, Germany to Havana, Cuba aboard the MS St. Louis. After being denied entry to Cuba and the United States, they disembarked in England where they were interned in a camp on the Isle of Man. They were eventually released. In England, they were reunited with Elsa’s siblings, Alexander, Jetti, and Hanni (Honey) Friedler. Selmar and Elsa Biener had two daughters, Evelyn Hill (b. 1943) and Diana Barzilay (b. 1947). Elsa Biener died in London, England, on November 20, 1958. Selmar Biener died on January 30, 1988 in Bournemouth, England. Among their extended families several members perished in the Holocaust including Philip Fischel Biener at Theresienstadt concentration camp, Regina Biener and Abraham Friedler at Auschwitz concentration camp, and Eugen Biener at Dachau concentration camp. Frieda Friedler is also believed to have perished in the Holocaust. David Biener immigrated to Palestine. Elsa Biener (née Friedler, 1915-1958) was born on September 24, 1915 in Magdeburg, Germany to Abraham Friedler (b. 1887) and Frieda Miriam Friedler (b. 1895). Selmar Biener (1906-1988) and Elsa married in 1936. On May 13, 1939, Selmar and Elsa Biener sailed from Hamburg, Germany to Havana, Cuba aboard the MS St. Louis. After being denied entry to Cuba and the United States, they disembarked in England where they were interned in a camp on the Isle of Man. They were eventually released. In England, they were reunited with Elsa’s siblings, Alexander, Jetti, and Hanni (Honey) Friedler. Selmar and Elsa Biener had two daughters, Evelyn Hill (b. 1943) and Diana Barzilay (b. 1947). Elsa Biener died in London, England, on November 20, 1958. Selmar Biener died on January 30, 1988 in Bournemouth, England. Among their extended families several members perished in the Holocaust including Philip Fischel Biener at Theresienstadt concentration camp, Regina Biener and Abraham Friedler at Auschwitz concentration camp, and Eugen Biener at Dachau concentration camp. Frieda Friedler is also believed to have perished in the Holocaust. David Biener immigrated to Palestine. 

Elsa and Selmar Biener papers