us-005578-irn723268-irn503668
type: RecordSet
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 2
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: eng
has or had some members with language: deu
has or had subject: 735
has record set type: Item
history: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
history: Ruth Liebermensch was born on February 6, 1925, in Mannheim, Germany, to a Jewish couple, Samuel and Gisela Schiff Liebermensch. She had a sister, Hanna Amalie, born on May 18, 1920. Samuel was born on February 24, 1887, in Pless (now Pszczyna, Poland), to Moritz and Rosa Liebermensch. Gisela was born on September 30, 1890, in Angenrod, to Max and Pauline Schiff. She had a brother, Fritz. Samuel was in the German Army during World War I (1914-1918). He and Gisela were engaged on August 15, 1916, and married on February 12, 1918, in Mannheim. Samuel was the cantor at the synagogue. He also taught bar mitzvah lessons, instructing students in Hebrew and Jewish history. Gisela was a professional singer, a soprano specializing in Wagner and Schubert lieder. Ruth was close with her maternal grandparents. Her grandfather Max was the shamas at the synagogue and assisted with synagogue services. In January 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany and an antisemitic Nazi dictatorship was established. Ruth took dance lessons and had to avoid groups of Hitler Youth on her way home. Ruth’s father was summoned to the Gestapo because he purchased two cameras. Kosher meat was rationed. On November 9 and 10, 1938, during Kristallnacht, the synagogue was burned down, as was the home of Ruth’s maternal grandparents, Max and Pauline. They came to stay with Ruth and her family. Several hours later, the Gestapo came and arrested Samuel and Max. After pleas at the police station, Max was allowed to return home. Samuel was held in Buchenwald concentration camp for four weeks before being released. Samuel and Gisela wanted to flee Germany for the United States but had to wait for their quota numbers. They decided to send their daughters to England on the Kindertransport [Children's Transport]. About June 1939, Ruth, 13, and Hanna, 18, were sent to Leeds, England. The war began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The Kindertransport children were moved to the countryside for their…
identifier: irn503668
is or was included in: us-005578-irn723268
record resource extent: folders 6
record resource structure: Arrangement is chronological by year
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: The papers relate to the emigration attempts of the Liebermensch family of Mannheim, Germany. The majority of the letters are those exchanged between Gisela Liebermensch and her daughters, Ruth and Hannah, who emigrated to England shortly after Kristallnacht. A small portion of the collection consists of undated letters and letter fragments concerning similar subjects.
title: Liebermensch family papers