United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Manfred Lewinnek (1913-1983) was born on October 11, 1913 in Berlin, Germany to Adolf and Lina Lewinnek. His father, Adolf Lewinnek (1873-1943?), was born February 9, 1879 in Tuchel, Germany (Tuchola, Poland). His mother, Lina Lewinnek (1882-1943?), was born Lina Aron on May 1, 1882 in Schlawe (Sławno, Poland). Manfred primarily grew up in Stuttgart, Germany. Manfred immigrated to the United States in June 1938 aboard the Konigstein, and settled in Buffalo, New York. He became engaged to Selma S. Michaels in 1942. That same year he enlisted with the United States Army, and was transferred in May 1944 to Camp Cooke (currently Vandenberg Space Force Base) in California. The camp housed German and Italian prisoners-of-war, and Manfred worked on a re-education program aimed at the German prisoners. After Manfred arrived in the United States, he worked to help his parents emigrate from Stuttgart, but was unsuccessful in securing them visas until 1944. He corresponded with them frequently from 1939 through November 1941. Adolf and Lina’s last letters to Manfred were sent from Buttenhausen. They were deported on April 26, 1942 to Izbica transit camp in Poland. Adolf and Lina’s fates are unknown, but they likely perished at Izbica, Belzec, or Sobibor.
boxes oversize folders 2 3
The collection is arranged as three series. Series 1. Biographical material, 1915-1983 Series 2. Military papers, 1939-1946 Series 3. Correspondence, 1939-1974, undated
The collection primarily documents Manfred Lewinnek’s emigration from Stuttgart, Germany in 1938, his United States Army service, and correspondence with his parents Adolf and Lina Lewinnek in Stuttgart from 1939-1941. Included is correspondence, military records, diaries, and immigration paperwork. Biographical material includes 6 diaries chronicling Manfred’s early years as an immigrant in the United States, documents related to Manfred’s immigration to the United States and his efforts to secure visas for his parents in Stuttgart, identification and education papers, and restitution records. Military papers primarily document Manfred’s experiences at Camp Cooke where he was involved in the re-education of German prisoners-of-war housed there. Materials include orders and memorandums, re-education booklets given to the prisoners, and data related to a re-education survey given to the prisoners in 1945. Correspondence primarily consists of letters received by Manfred in Buffalo, New York from his parents in Stuttgart from May 1939-November 1941. Some letters include accompanying donor-provided transcriptions.
Manfred Lewinnek papers