Menczel, Kahn and Reichnitzer family papers

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 

Menczel, Kahn and Reichnitzer family papers 

folders book enclosures oversize boxes oversize folder 4 4 2 1 

Prewar and wartime photographs depict Fanny, Wilhelm, and their families, including siblings, parents, and cousins. The collection also includes Frieda Reichnitzer’s poetry book and cookbook, two of Fanny’s autograph books, and Lory Kahn’s autograph book. 

Copyright Holder: Ms. Shulamith Ziv 

The Menczel, Kahn, and Reichnitzer family papers are arranged as a single series. 

Feiga (Fanny) Menczel (also Menzel and later Kahn, b. 1906 or 1907) was born in Poland to Shmil Menczel (b. 1869) and Adele Menczel (née Tinter, b. 1870) and had three siblings: Berta (b. 1900), Joseph (b. 1911), and Helen (Lene, b. 1912). During World War I, Fanny and her family left Poland and moved to Vienna, Austria. Fanny met Wilhelm (Willy) Theodor Kahn (b. 1904, Vienna, Austria) through the Blau Weiss Zionist Youth movement and they married on June 20, 1931. Wilhelm had at least one sibling, Lory (Lore, circa 1902-1922) Khan, and his mother’s name was Frieda Reichnitzer (d. circa 1923). Wilhelm left Vienna for Palestine in 1933 and was joined by Fanny in 1934. Fanny briefly returned to Vienna to finish her degree at the University of Vienna then returned to Palestine where she worked as a pharmacist and Wilhelm worked as an electrical engineer. They had one daughter, Shula (Shulamit) born on January 28, 1937 in Palestine. Helen studied medicine in Vienna and married Edouard Reichwager (later Reeves). After the the German annexation of Austria in March 1938 (Anschluss), Joseph left for France where he settled in Lyon. Shmil and Adele emigrated from Vienna to Palestine in 1938.