be-002157-kd 00526
type: RecordSet
archival history: When fleeing to Cuba in 1941, Marion's family took with them a small suitcase. Marion has kept the suitcase her entire life, as well as her diary and photo album from her time in Cuba. In 2019 she kindly donated the original suitcase as well as copies of several photos and documents from her archives to Kazerne Dossin, during a visit of her daughter Judy Kreith to the museum.
biographical history: Marion Finkels was born in 1927 in Hamburg, Germany, as the daughter of John Finkels (officially Samuel Finkels) and Rose Herzog (officially Rachel Herzog). John’s parents had emigrated from Poland to Germany and owned a small department store in Altona, a suburb of Hamburg. After Marion’s grandfather passed away, John took over the department store which was in fact run by Rose. In 1933 the family moved out of the house of Marion’s grandmother Bertha Finkels and into their own apartment far away from the Jewish neighbourhood. The family was not very religious and only went to synagogue from time to time. When Jewish children were expelled from school in Germany, Marion was sent to a Jewish school thirty minutes from her house. During the walk, other children sometimes would harass her, even throwing rocks at her because she was Jewish. Due to Shabbat, Marion had to go to school on Sundays instead of Saturdays. To avoid standing out and attracting unwanted attention, Marion hid her school books in a small suitcase. Marion’s Uncle Joe, owner of the Lindor hosiery stores, migrated from Germany to Belgium in the mid-1930s . He would help many Jews to flee Europe the following years. Marion’s grandmother Bertha also left for Belgium to join her daughter there. At the time, Marion went to a Jewish high school in Hamburg. Many of her friends started to emigrate due to the anti-Jewish laws in Nazi-Germany. In the late Fall of 1938, Marion’s father John left for Belgium after receiving an invitation from Uncle Joe. Marion’s mother Rose and both daughters stayed behind to clear out the apartment and then also left for Belgium. Upon arriving in Belgium, Marion, her parents and sister Ada moved in with their uncle Joe at 124 Avenue de Tervueren in Woluwé-Saint-Pierre, Brussels. Late in 1939, Joe and his family left for Canada leaving the Finkels to live in their house. Marion visited a local school and learned French. On 10 May 1940, Nazi-Germany invaded Belgium. German refuge…
location of originals: Marion Finkels-Kreith, Private collection, United States
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Digitally stored at Kazerne Dossin. The original suitcase was donated to Kazerne Dossin.
related material: Marion Finkels-Kreith was one of the survivors whose story was included in the Cuba's Forgotten Jewels documentary film (see collection KD_00527) . See also the Fischler-Hollander collection (KD_00315) for more information on Marion's friend from Cuba Abraham Aron alias Bram Fischler.
accruals: No further accruals are to be expected
conditions of access: Contact Kazerne Dossin Documentation Centre: archives@kazernedossin.eu
conditions of use: Contact Kazerne Dossin Documentation Centre: archives@kazernedossin.eu
has beginning date: 1942-01-01
has end date: 2019-12-31
has or had holder: be-002157
has or had some members with language: spa
has or had some members with language: eng
has or had subject: 505
has or had subject: 598
has or had subject: 203
has or had subject: 304
has or had subject: 329
has or had subject: 204
has record set type: Collection
identifier: KD_00526
record resource extent: 3 documents, 14 photos and 1 interview
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: This collection consists of: the little suitcase Marion carried her books in when going to Jewish school in Hamburg ; three pages from Marion's photo album from Cuba ; five war-time photos of Marion Finkels in Havana, Cuba ; two excerpts from Marion's diary ; an interview with Judy Kreith regarding the story of her mother Marion Finkels-Kreith ; a post-war photo of Marion and the suitcase she took with her to Cuba ; a post-war photo of Judy Kreith with Michel Fischler, son of Marion's friend from Cuba Bram Fischler ;"The Quiz Bo", a story written by Marion Finkels post-war regarding her life in Belgium in 1938-1941.
title: Marion Finkels-Kreith. Collection