Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Victory Magazine acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
- Title
- Victory, V. 2:4
- Date
-
publication/distribution:
1944-1945
- Geography
-
publication:
New York (N.Y.)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Margit Meissner
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Margit Meissner
- Biography
-
Margit Morawetz was born February 26, 1922, in Innsbruck, Austria. Her parents were Gottlieb Morawetz and Lilly Tritsch. She had three older brothers, Paul, Felix, and Bruno. They ranged in age from 8 to 5 years older than Margit. The family was wealthy and assimilated. Margit's father came from an orthodox Jewish family of poor tenant farmers in Bohemia. He studied law in Vienna and worked as a bank director. Her mother came from an assimilated Jewish family in Vienna and was educated in England and France. When Margit was one year old, the family moved to Prague, Czechoslovakia, where her father taught on the law faculty of Charles University, in addition to working in finance. Margit and her brothers grew up speaking Czech, German, French, and English. Lilly was ambivalent about the family's Jewish identity and wanted to have the children baptized. Her husband would not allow it, and the children were never given any religious education. In 1932, Gottlieb died suddenly at age 52. Lilly was then 39. The two oldest brothers, Paul and Felix, went overseas. Bruno stayed in Prague and studied agriculture.
In 1938, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria, Lilly decided it was safer to take Margit, then 16, out of school and send her to Paris, where she lived with a French family and studied dressmaking. Lilly was visiting Margit in Paris later that year when Germany annexed part of Czechoslovakia. Lilly hurried back to Prague to sell their home and ship their possessions to Paris, but while she was still in Prague, Germany annexed the rest of Czechoslovakia. Both she and her son Bruno managed to escape to Paris, but had to leave everything behind. Because of his agricultural training, Bruno was allowed to go to England to work as a farmhand. During this period, Margit was baptized a Lutheran with her mother's encouragement, possibly with the thought that it would provide some protection. Even before that, however, their papers did not identify them as Jews, only as Austrian citizens. When the authorities were interested in them, it was only as alien refugees, not as Jews.
In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and France declared war on Germany. Since Austria was now part of Germany, the French considered Austrian citizens enemy aliens. Lilly was deported to a detention camp in Gurs in southern France. Margit was ordered to report in to the Paris police on a regular basis. In May1940, Germany invaded France. As German forces approached Paris, Margit bought a bicycle and joined the exodus from Paris toward the south. She spent the night with other refugees in a school in Etampes. Early in the morning, she resumed her trip south, leaving the school two hours before it was hit by German bombs. In Orleans, she boarded a train to Salies-de-Bearn, close to Gurs and the border that had just been established between the German Occupied Zone and the Free Zone. Now that France had capitulated, people with Austrian citizenship were no longer enemy aliens, so Lilly was released and rejoined Margit. They hired a farmer to smuggle their bags across the boundary into the Free Zone, and crossed over unencumbered as if they were just going for a stroll. So as not to be identified as foreign nationals, they carried no identification papers with them, only food ration cards that they still had from Paris, to give the impression that they were residents of that city. They traveled to Marseilles and began the long process of obtaining exit visas from France and immigration visas to some other country. When their money ran low, they received financial aid from the American rescuer Varian Fry. They eventually obtained transit visas to Spain and Portugal and a visa to the Belgian Congo on the grounds that Margit's father had owned shares in a Congolese mining firm. France, however, would not grant them exit visas before their transit visas were due to expire, so Margit and her mother traveled by train to Cerbere and walked through the hills into Spain illegally. They were arrested by Spanish police and spent several days in jail until German friends who now lived in Barcelona obtained their release. Margit and her mother then traveled on to Lisbon, Portugal. Since many other refugees had arrived there without much clothing, Margit was able to earn money as a dressmaker. They contacted Margit's brother Felix, who was living in the United States. He facilitated their immigration and they arrived in America in April 1941.
In December 1941, Margit married Otmar Gyorgy, a G.I. and a friend of her brother Felix. After America's entry into World War II, she worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages, which now included Spanish and Portuguese. After the war, Margit worked for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth Activities, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany. She and Otmar eventually divorced. In 1953, she married Frank Meissner, a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia. They had 2 children. Frank, age 67, died of cancer in 1990.
Physical Details
- Language
- English
- Classification
-
Books and Published Materials
- Category
-
Periodicals
- Object Type
-
American periodicals (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- 76 p. ; 27 cm.
- Materials
- overall : paper, ink
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- World War, 1939-1945--Periodicals.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The magazine was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2007 by Margit Meissner.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-07-28 18:12:13
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn524424
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Also in Margit Meissner collection
The collection consists of artifacts, documents, and photographs relating to the experiences of Margit Meissner when she worked for the US Office of War Information and the US Army of occupation to promote re-education efforts in Germany after World War II.
Date: 1946-1948
Margit Meissner papers
Document
The Margit Meissner papers contain documents and photographs collected by Margit Meissner when she served as a German Youth Activities (GYA) director with the US Army of Occupation in 1947-1948. Included in the collection are documents outlining the duties and goals of the GYA, as well as correspondence to Meissner outlining her responsibilities, and a letter of recommendation. Also included is a book request, with comments on how one particular book would not serve as useful propaganda for democracy. The photographs capture some moments from the GYA’s book drive and shoe donation, and also of landscapes depicting postwar destruction. The publications are clippings of the Nuremberg Post newspaper and the Young World newsletter, discussing the GYA, and various clippings of Victory magazine.
Book drive poster for postwar US Army Assistance Program activities for German youth
Object
Broadside acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy announcing a book collection drive for a youth program in Germany after World War II. It was held under the auspices of the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth Activities. Established in 1946, the Program oversaw the re-education of former Hitler Youth. Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the program. Margit's mother, Lilly, had sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. After the war, Margit worked for this program, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "Listing Svobody," with information about American history. Front cover, beige, with a US eagle crest at top and the title of the booklet in center. At bottom: "Historicka prohlaseni zasad Spojeny statu." Label residue at bottom. 65 pgs.Possibly in Russian. Possibly published by the Office of War Information (OWI) for use in Europe after World War II.
U.S.A. Revue Americaine (Washington, DC) [Magazine]
Object
Magazine acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy, when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet prepared by Archibald Robertson with the cooperation of the US Department of Agriculture, with whom he used to be an information specialist. The note is addressed to a co-worker, Margit Gyorgy Morawetz. Both during and after the war, Margit worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "U.S.A." acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "U.S.A. v. 2" acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "A medalha de Honra." acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.World War II
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "A Batalha da Africa" acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "Spojene Staty" acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet titled "Spojene Staty" acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Booklet
Object
Booklet, Air Transport and the War, acquired by Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
[Magazine]
Object
Photo Review Magazine with Truman on the cover acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
[Magazine]
Object
Photo Review Magazine with MacArthur on the cover acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Victory (New York, New York) [Magazine]
Object
Victory Magazine acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
Victory (New York, New York) [Magazine]
Object
Victory Magazine acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
[Newspaper]
Object
German Army published newspaper, "Nurnberg Post Spade," acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.
[Newspaper]
Object
German Army published newspaper, "Nurnberg Post Spade," acquired Margit Morawetz Gyorgy when she worked for the Office of War Information. Before the war, Margit's mother, Lilly, sent her to study in Paris in 1938 because the expansion of German rule posed a threat to their life in Prague. Lilly joined Margit there a year later, but because she was an Austrian citizen, was imprisoned as an enemy alien after France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Lilly was released when Germany occupied France in May 1940. She and Margit escaped to Portugal and, in 1941, were able to immigrate to the US. After America's entry into World War II, Margit worked for the Office of War Information, making use of her knowledge of languages. Postwar, Margit worked as a youth activities specialist for the U.S. Army Assistance Program to German Youth, re-educating former Hitler Youth in Furth, Germany.