The Loewenstein Family: A Story of Survival

Back of a letter from Dr. Elisabeth Eylenburg to Maria Loewenstein from the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, dated August 5, 1944. This smuggled letter is highly unusual as prisoners were only allowed to send pre-printed cards.

Before the war, Dr. Ernst Eylenburg was head of surgery in a Berlin hospital, and Dr. Elisabeth Eylenburg was a sports injury specialist. They sent their eldest child, Erna to the France on March 30, 1939 when she was just 15 years old.  She later moved to the Netherlands. After the Netherlands fell to Germany, Erna was on one of the first transports to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and was murdered there in 1942. In 1943, Ernst and Elisabeth were transported to the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. Their young son Walter (age 13) would be sent there too about six months later.  

Karin and Maria attempted to relieve the Eylenburgs’ suffering by sending packages of food and personal care items. Doctors Ernst and Elisabeth replied with three pre-printed cards of thanks, the only form of communication allowed the prisoners of Theresienstadt. Due to examination by prison guards, each card is postmarked several days or weeks after the date of the card.

In August 1944, Dr. Elisabeth found a way to smuggle out an actual message to the Loewensteins. In it, she thanks them for their package and manages to sound positive, reporting that her husband is well and her son has grown almost as tall as his father. That message, dated August 5, was written in response to a package received on July 11, and is postmarked August 31. The final card received from the Eylenburgs, is signed in a weak hand by Elisabeth and dated September 22, 1944. This was the last the Loewensteins heard from them.

Dr. Ernst and Walter Eylenburg were taken to the Auschwitz Death Camp and, according to the Central Database of Shoah Victims' names, murdered soon thereafter. Dr. Elizabeth Eylenburg was taken to Auschwitz a short time later and also killed.