Franka Charlupski (1920-2004) was born Franka Weintraub (also spelled Wajntraub) on May 20, 1920 in Łódź, Poland to Esther Rajchapel (1898-1944) and Yoel Zisman Weintraub (1896-1944). She had six younger siblings: Rosa Weintraub (later Rosa Schamberg, b. 1922), Mala Weintraub (later Mala Dorfman, b. 1923), Berel Weintraub (b. 1924), Lola Weintraub (1925-1930), Menashe Weintraub (b. 1927), and Mindle Weintraub (b. 1928). The family practiced Hasidism, and lived in Łódź where Yoel sold second-hand garments.
After the German invasion and occupation of Łódź in September 1939, Franka’s mother took the younger children to Kozienice where their grandparents lived, while Franka, her father, and Rosa remained in Łódź. Esther returned to Łódź to check on her husband and daughters and was forced to remain there after the ghetto was sealed. Franka married Henryk Konig in the Łódź ghetto in 1942. In August 1944, the Nazis liquidated the Łódź ghetto and Franka, Henryk, her parents, and Rosa were deported to Auschwitz. Franka and Rosa were transferred to the Bremen-Farge subcamp of Neuengamme. Esther, Yoel, and Henryk were all murdered at Auschwitz.
The subcamp was evacuated on April 10, 1945, and on April 15 Franka and her sister Rosa were liberated by British troops. They were reunited with their sister Mala who survived several camps. Franka and Rosa moved to a displaced persons camp in Marburg, Germany. Franka reconnected with Abram Charlupski (later Allen Charlupski), whom she had known in the Łódź ghetto. The couple married, and their daughter Helen Charlupski was born in 1949. They immigrated to the United States in 1949. Franka’s sisters Rosa and Mala also immigrated to the United States, and three settled in Detroit, MI with their families.
Allen Charlupski (1915-2005) was born Abram Charlupski on April 11, 1915 in Wieluń, Poland to Chaja Lewkowicz (b. 1885) and Salomon Charlupski (b. 1883). Allen had six siblings including: Dora Abram (b. 1905), Golda Genia Abram (b. 1917), Ida Abram, and Wytold Abram. His father worked as a horse trader.
Abram served in the Polish cavalry and was in Łódź when the war began. Most of his family were killed in Wieluń. While in the Łódź ghetto Allen met and married Henia Steinberg. In August 1944, the Nazis liquidated the Łódź ghetto, and Allen and Henia were both deported to Auschwitz. Allen was transferred to the Wöbbelin and Braunschweig subcamps of Neuengamme. Henia died in Bergen-Belsen shortly before the camp was liberated.
After the war Allen went to a displaced persons camp in Marburg, Germany. He reconnected with Franka Weintraub, whom he had known in the Łódź ghetto. The couple married, and their daughter Helen Charlupski was born in 1949. They immigrated to the United States in 1949, and settled in Detroit, MI.
