Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Trunk used by Fanny and Isidor Bieder and their daughters, 14 year old Frieda and 10 year old Gertrude, when they were forced to leave Vienna, Austria in January 1939. They shipped it to Haifa, Palestine, from Vienna in 1939 and used it when they eventually emigrated to the United States. It was purchased by them in 1933 for a cruise to Italy and Haifa, Palestine. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18, 1939.
- Date
-
received:
1933
emigration: 1939 January
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Gertrude Bieder Meisner and the Estate of Gertrude Bieder Meisner
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Gertrude Meisner
Subject: Isidor Bieder
- Biography
-
Gertrude Bieder was born on January 23, 1929, in Vienna, Austria, to Isidor (Cham Isak) and Fanny (Feiga) Wilde Bieder. Both of her parents were born to Jewish families in Golwice, Poland: Isidor in 1894 and Fanny in 1904. The couple married in Vienna, Austria, on July 6, 1924, where Isidor owned a successful retail business. Gertrude had an older sister, Frieda, who was born on September 11, 1925. When Nazi Germany annexed Austria on March 13, 1938, Germans looted the family’s apartment and took their money, car, and other possessions. Anti-Jewish laws were passed and soon Isidor’s business was confiscated. During Kristallnacht on November 10, Isidor was arrested and severely beaten. Fanny was forced to scrub the streets. The family's apartment was sealed and they never returned there. Isidor was released with the condition that he and his family soon leave Austria.
The family received a permit to leave Vienna on January 16, 1939, after Isidor paid an expensive Jewish emigration tax. They travelled to Genoa, Italy, where they boarded the SS Esperia, arriving in Haifa, Palestine, on January 26. They lived in a room in a Jewish refugee resettlement center for several weeks; for the remaining months, they moved around the city. On November 20, 1939, the family sailed on the SS Andreas-Dorus for Piraeus, Greece. They transferred to the TSS Neas-Hellas and arrived in New York City on December 18. The family settled in Cleveland, Ohio. Gertrude married David Meisner and had two children. Her father passed away, age 83, in 1971. Her mother died, age 71, in 1975. Gertrude passed away, age 83, on February 26, 2012.
Isidor Bieder was born on October 1, 1894, in Gorlice, Poland into a Jewish family. He had five siblings: Sahra, Malka, born December 11, 1912, Martha, born August 16, 1895, Heni, and Frieda, born August 6, 1911. Isidor married Fanny (Fiege) Wild, born November 2, 1904, also from Gorlice, on July 6, 1924, in Vienna, Austria. They settled in Vienna where Isidor developed a prosperous retail business. They had two daughters: Frieda, born on September 11, 1925, and Gertrude, born on January 23, 1929.
Soon after the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany on March 13, 1938, Germans looted the family’s apartment and confiscated their money, car, jewels, and other possessions. Anti-Jewish legislation was enacted and many Jewish owned businesses, including Isidor’s, were confiscated. During the Kristallnacht pogrom that November 10, Isidor was arrested and taken to the police riding school on Kenyongasse where he was severely beaten. Fanny was detained and forced to scrub the streets. The family’s apartment was sealed and they never returned there. As a condition of his release, Isidor had to agree to leave Austria with his family by a specified date.
On January 15, 1939, Isidor paid the 25 % government tax on his remaining assets that was required of all Jews leaving Austria; he received a permit to leave the country the next day. They left for Italy and on January 20, they sailed from Genoa on the SS Esperia, arriving on January 26 in Haifa, Palestine. They lived in a small room in a resettlement center for Jewish refugees for several weeks and then in various temporary lodgings. Isidor was able to sell land that he had bought during a trip to Haifa with Fanny in 1933. The family left for Piraeus, Greece, on the SS Andreas-Dorus on November 20, 1939. From there, they sailed to New York City aboard the TSS Neas-Hellas and arrived on December 18, 1939. The family settled in Cleveland, Ohio. All of Isidor’s siblings perished during the Holocaust. Isidor passed away, age 76, on June 17, 1971.
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Containers
- Category
-
Luggage
- Object Type
-
Trunks (Luggage) (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Large standing wardrobe trunk with a slightly rounded top covered with black leather or vinyl. The exterior edges have leather trim and 2 metal clamps. Black vinyl dust banding is attached to the front and back. There are vertical mahogany slats on all sides with curved brass fittings at the joints. Two slats cross over the top on the handle sides only. There are 2 burlap handles covered with worn, brown leather. On the front are 2 curved metal plates, 2 plated drawbolts, and a plated padlock hasp. The trunk opens outward from 4 butterfly hinges. On the left side interior are 8 cloth lined, wooden drawers with metal handles. The top drawer has a cardboard tray with 5 partitions. The center drawer drops opens from the top to form a shelf. The 3 bottom drawers have canvas belts riveted to each side. The cloth lined, right side interior has a metal rod with 2 removable wooden hangers and a white cloth cover that hangs from a horizontal metal rod to protect the stored objects. Each side has a vertical, wooden support with a rectangular wooden insert on the base, with 2 canvas belts held by leather brackets. On the left is a rectangular leather loop and on the right is a leather belt and 5 leather loops to hold small items. The exterior has multiple paper labels and a there are 2 stickers and letters and a number painted in white on the right side.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 51.625 inches (131.128 cm) | Width: 24.625 inches (62.548 cm) | Depth: 22.250 inches (56.515 cm)
- Materials
- overall : wood, metal, leather, plastic, cloth, paper, paint, ink
- Inscription
- exterior, left side, sticker, printed in light blue ink and handwritten in light brown ink : T.S.S. NEA HELLAS / Mr Isidor Bieder (handwritten) / CLASS PASSENGER III Class (handwritten) / DATE OF SAILING 25 XI 39 (handwritten) ROOM NO D63 (handwritten) / FROM (PORT) Piraeus (handwritten) / STATEROOM BAGGAGE
exterior, right side, sticker, top, brown and black ink: B
exterior, right side, top, white paint : I. B. / 9
exterior, right side, sticker, light blue ink : ADRIATICA / SOCIETA. . . DI NAVIGAZIONE / CAR[I]N
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The trunk was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Gertrude Bieder Meisner, the daughter of Fanny and Isidor Bieder.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-08-10 14:06:28
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn516106
Also in Isidor and Fanny Bieder collection
The collection consists of boots, a dress, gloves, jacket, necktie, two purses, shoes, and a wardrobe trunk, documents, and photographs relating to the experiences of Isidor and Fanny Bieder and their daughters, Frieda and Gertrude, in Vienna, Austria, and during their emigration to the United States via Palestine before and during the Holocaust.
Date: 1930-1939
Pair of men's white leather driving gloves carried by a Jewish refugee during his escape from Vienna
Object
Gloves owned by Isidor Bieder who was forced to leave Vienna, Austria, with his wife, Fanny, and their two daughters, 14 year old Frieda, and 10 year old Gertrude, in January 1939. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18.
Black patterned silk necktie owned by a Jewish refugee
Object
Necktie owned by Isidor Bieder who was forced to leave Vienna, Austria, with his wife, Fanny, and their two daughters, 14 year old Frieda, and 10 year old Gertrude, in January 1939. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18.
Pair of men's black leather lace-up ankle boots owned by a Jewish refugee during his escape from Vienna
Object
Boots owned by Isidor Bieder who was forced to leave Vienna, Austria, with his wife, Fanny, and their two daughters, 14 year old Frieda, and 10 year old Gertrude, in January 1939. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18.
Pink and black floral patterned chiffon dress owned by a Jewish refugee from Austria
Object
Dress owned by Fanny Bieder who was forced to leave Vienna, Austria, with her husband, Isidor, and their two daughters, 14 year old Frieda and 10 year old Gertrude, in 1939. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18.
Woman’s white cloth tailored jacket owned by a Jewish refugee during her escape from Vienna
Object
Jacket owned by Fanny Bieder who was forced to leave Vienna, Austria, with her husband, Isidor, and their two daughters, 14 year old Frieda and 10 year old Gertrude, in 1939. She acquired the jacket for her 1933 cruise to Italy and Palestine with her husband. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18.
Red leather purse with decorative lacing carried by a Jewish refugee during her escape from Vienna
Object
Purse owned by Fanny Bieder who was forced to leave Vienna, Austria, with her husband, Isidor, and their two daughters, 14 year old Frieda and 10 year old Gertrude, in 1939. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables, and a little later, Isidor’s business was confiscated. During the November Kristallnacht pogrom, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of Isidor’s release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to the United States, and arrived in New York City on December 18.
Leather pouch brought with Jewish refugee family
Object
Small leather bag brought with the Bieder family, Isador and Fanny, and their daughters Gertrude, 10, and Frieda, 14, who were forced to leave Vienna, Austria, in 1939. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, anti-Jewish laws were passed and Jews were targeted for persecution. Germans raided the family’s apartment, taking most of their valuables. A short while later, Isidor’s retail business was confiscated. During Kristallnacht on November 9-10, 1938, Isidor was arrested and beaten. As a condition of his release from prison, he agreed to leave Austria with his family. They received their exit permits on January 16, 1939, and left for Haifa, Palestine. After nearly a year, they sailed from there to Greece, then to America. Many extended family members in Gorlice, Poland, perished during the Holocaust.
Isidor and Fanny Bieder papers
Document
The papers consist of six photographs and documents relating to the experiences of the Bieder family in Vienna, Austria, before World War II and their flight from Austria to the United States via Palestine and Greece in 1939. The documents include two land deeds issued to Isidor Bieder for property purchased in Haifa, Palestine, in 1933, a "Reichsfluchtsteuerbescheid" issued for monies paid by Isidor Bieder to leave Vienna, a document stating that the Bieder family were citizens of Vienna, two documents listing property confiscated from the Bieder family, and a permit for the Bieder family to leave Vienna.