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NEW ZEALAND & THE HOLOCAUST
Commemorations at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand in May and June 2018
By Ann Beaglehole…
Between 19 April and 16 May 1943, Jews imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto fought against the Nazis in what became known as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In 1944, the Polish Underground fought for 63 days to liberate Warsaw from Nazi occupation in the Warsaw Uprising. Some of the Jewish fighters from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising joined the Warsaw Uprising one year later. Both uprisings were commemorated at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand (HCNZ) recently.
Between 19 April and 16 May 1943, Jews imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto fought against the Nazis in what became known as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In 1944, the Polish Underground fought for 63 days to liberate Warsaw from Nazi occupation in the Warsaw Uprising. Some of the Jewish fighters from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising joined the Warsaw Uprising one year later. Both uprisings were commemorated at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand (HCNZ) recently.
Response of NZ Government to Jewish Refugees/Holocaust Survivors, 1933-1948
This essay looks at the NZ Government’s response to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi-dominated Europe in the years prior to World War II and to Holocaust survivors in the years immediately following the end of the war.
In the 1930s/1940s, New Zealand preferred British settlers and placed strict controls on the immigration of racial minorities. The small number of Jewish refugees allowed into New Zealand (before and after the war) encountered prejudice and suspicion of cultural differences.
In the 1930s/1940s, New Zealand preferred British settlers and placed strict controls on the immigration of racial minorities. The small number of Jewish refugees allowed into New Zealand (before and after the war) encountered prejudice and suspicion of cultural differences.
Jewish Internees in New Zealand, WWII
Several men interned in New Zealand during World War II were Jewish, part-Jewish or had a Jewish background.
This essay focuses on these internees, who had come to New Zealand before the war as refugees from Germany and Austria, fleeing Nazism. For 3-4 years during the war they (and other anti-fascist refugees) were imprisoned with German nationals, including some fervent Nazis. At camps set up on Somes Island in Wellington Harbour and at Pahiatua in the North Island, Jewish internees were locked up and guarded “lest [they] escaped to help their mortal enemies”.
This essay focuses on these internees, who had come to New Zealand before the war as refugees from Germany and Austria, fleeing Nazism. For 3-4 years during the war they (and other anti-fascist refugees) were imprisoned with German nationals, including some fervent Nazis. At camps set up on Somes Island in Wellington Harbour and at Pahiatua in the North Island, Jewish internees were locked up and guarded “lest [they] escaped to help their mortal enemies”.
Deckston Orphanage
Annie and Max Deckston (originally from Belarus), came to New Zealand via London in 1900.
Initially farmers in the lower North Island, the Deckstons moved to Wellington when farm life became too onerous. They acquired a number of businesses and properties - and 20 years after first arriving in New Zealand they had accumulated enough wealth to help others.
As Annie and Max were childless, they decided to set up an orphanage for Jewish children. The Deckstons brought 20 orphans to New Zealand (including, amongst them, relatives from Bialystok, Poland) – the first 8 in 1935 and a further 12 in 1937. They accommodated them in a large property in Wellington and raised them in a Jewish environment.
The children who came to the Deckston Orphanage all survived. Some assimilated fully into New Zealand life, while others moved to Australia (where there was a large Jewish community from Bialystok).
Initially farmers in the lower North Island, the Deckstons moved to Wellington when farm life became too onerous. They acquired a number of businesses and properties - and 20 years after first arriving in New Zealand they had accumulated enough wealth to help others.
As Annie and Max were childless, they decided to set up an orphanage for Jewish children. The Deckstons brought 20 orphans to New Zealand (including, amongst them, relatives from Bialystok, Poland) – the first 8 in 1935 and a further 12 in 1937. They accommodated them in a large property in Wellington and raised them in a Jewish environment.
The children who came to the Deckston Orphanage all survived. Some assimilated fully into New Zealand life, while others moved to Australia (where there was a large Jewish community from Bialystok).
New Zealand's Kindertransportees
Kindertransport was the unofficial name given to the rescue effort from 1938-1940 that saw between 9-10,000 children (mostly Jewish) brought from Europe, mainly to Great Britain. From this number, small groups were also sent to Sweden, Holland and Belgium, and around a further 1,400 were transported to the USA. The 20 children permitted by the New Zealand Government to enter this country came under the sponsorship of Max and Annie Deckston in 1935 and 1937. These children survived due to the Kindertranpsort, finding a new life of freedom in New Zealand.
Here are 11 of these stories, compiled by Claire Bruell, from over 90 oral history recordings with Holocaust survivors in Auckland and contributions from their families.
Ultimately, these stories are ones of hope - despite their stolen childhoods, cut short, the children settled to live fulfilling lives after the war, studying at universities and other tertiary institutions, marrying and having families of their own. They lived their adult lives as contributing individuals to the mosaic of New Zealand society.
Here are 11 of these stories, compiled by Claire Bruell, from over 90 oral history recordings with Holocaust survivors in Auckland and contributions from their families.
Ultimately, these stories are ones of hope - despite their stolen childhoods, cut short, the children settled to live fulfilling lives after the war, studying at universities and other tertiary institutions, marrying and having families of their own. They lived their adult lives as contributing individuals to the mosaic of New Zealand society.
Jewish Doctors in New Zealand
In 1930s Germany, Jewish doctors were denied the right to practice (with the exception of war veterans). They had no access to hospitals - except Jewish ones - and were unable to study medicine. Doctors who could leave Germany, began to do so.
In New Zealand, there was a requirement for all foreign doctors to undertake a further year of study at Otago Medical School in Dunedin. In 1936/37 this was extended to three years and, in 1938, to the full six years.
Records show that of the 68 doctors who were granted permits to enter New Zealand during this time, 34 were eventually registered to work here. Of the more than 2,000 Jewish doctors in Berlin, eight came to work in New Zealand.
In New Zealand, there was a requirement for all foreign doctors to undertake a further year of study at Otago Medical School in Dunedin. In 1936/37 this was extended to three years and, in 1938, to the full six years.
Records show that of the 68 doctors who were granted permits to enter New Zealand during this time, 34 were eventually registered to work here. Of the more than 2,000 Jewish doctors in Berlin, eight came to work in New Zealand.
Jewish Refugee Architects in New Zealand
In the 1930s, New Zealand received a wave of highly trained artists, architects and musicians fleeing Nazism. Six Jewish architects, in particular, had a significant influence on New Zealand’s architectural landscape and culture: Helmut Einhorn, Ernst Plischke, Frederick Newman, Henry Kulka, Maximillian Rosenfeld, and Robert Fantl.
