Goldlust family papers

Bernhard Goldlust (1896-1943) was born in Łopuszno, Poland to Rifka and Leib Goldlust. He married Manja Biederman (also known as Malka, born in Łopuszno, 1894-1942), daughter of Perel and Ziskind Biederman. Bernhard was a tailor and owned a clothing business in Konstanz, Germany. He and Manja had two children, Leo (b. 1924) and Paula (later Paula Blue, 1930-2008).

During Kristallnacht in November 1938, Bernhard was arrested and deported to the Dachau concentration camp. After his release he immigrated to England with plans to then bring the rest of his family over. He was first sent to the Kitchener Camp for Refugees but was living in London by 1941. In 1940 Manja, Leo, and Paula were deported to the Gurs internment camp in Southern France. In the spring of 1941 they were transferred to the Rivesaltes internment camp. Leo and Paula were released from Rivesaltes through the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE). Leo was sent to Moissac, France where he was with Eclaireurs Israelites (Jewish scouts). Paula was sent to the Masgelier children’s home from October 1941 until summer 1943 when OSE had to abandon the home. She was then hidden in Chambery and Annecy, and also briefly with the Salvation Army in a monastery. She was then taken to Switzerland where she survived the war. Her brother also survived. In 1942 Manja was deported from Rivesaltes to the Auschwitz concentration camp where she perished. Bernhard died in London in 1943.

Leo and Paula both later immigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois. Paula married Abraham Blitzblau (later Abe Blue, 1910-1982), also a Holocaust survivor.