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The whole Wahl-Keller family, except from father Seinwel Hersz Wahl and daughter Lea, was deported from the Dossin Barracks in Mechelen to Auschwitz-Birkenau. No one survived the deportation. Seinwel survived the war but died already in 1946.
Seinwel Hersz Wahl and Sara Zysel Keller were both born in Poland. Seinwel on April 20, 1894 in Tarnobrzeg and Sara on June 18, 1895 in Przeszow. They married on July 28, 1921 in the German capital Berlin. A month and a half after the marriage was recognized in a civil court, the couple had their first child: Rebekka Klara was born on September 10, 1921 in the same city. Three years later, Seinwel and Sara had their second child: Esther Rachel was born on November 20, 1924 in Hanover. In 1925, the Wahl-Keller family left Germany and arrived in Belgium. They settled on Ferdinand Coosemansstraat 125 in Berchem. In April 1925, Seinwel applied for permanent residence for himself, his wife and two children. They subsequently moved to Boomgaardstraat 211.
Seinwel was a diamond worker and supported his family. In the meantime, the family expanded even further: Paula was born on July 31, 1926, Jacob on September 12, 1928, Lea on April 2, 1934 and Myriam on December 2, 1937. They were all born in Antwerp. Unfortunately, the youngest daughter Myriam died a few months later on February 15, 1938. The large family then moved several times but finally lived at Lamorinierestraat 175 in Antwerp. In May 1940 Nazi Germany invaded Belgium. The Wahl-Keller family obeyed the anti-Jewish laws of the occupation authorities. On December 20, 1940, they registered in the municipal Jewish Register of Antwerp, and on April 14, 1942, they became members of the Jewish Association.
Oldest daughters Rebecca Klara, Esther Rachel and Paula accepted the Arbeitseinsatzbefehl, the employment order issued by the Sipo-SD, in August 1942. As “obligated workers,” they were summoned to the Mechelen assembly camp and then deported. The sisters were placed under the numbers 979, 980, and 981 on transport V that departed from the Dossin Barracks on August 25, 1942 with destination Auschwitz-Birkenau. They did not survive the war.
Mother Sara Zysel and son Jacob were registered on the list of transport XII under numbers 237 and 238. Together with transport XIII, transport XII formed one train of 1681 deportees that left from the Dossin Barracks in Mechelen on October 10, 1942, heading for Auschwitz-Birkenau. Mother Sara Lysel and son Jacob were murdered.
Father Seinwel was cared for at the St. Erasmus Guesthouse in Borgerhout between October 22, 1942 and October 19, 1944. Consequently, he was not deported and survived the war, as did his daughter Lea. In November 1944 Seinwel moved to Generaal Capiaumontstraat 30 in Berchem. He died on February 14, 1946.
Publication info:
ADRIAENS Ward, STEINBERG Maxime (et al.), Mecheln-Auschwitz, 1942-1944. The destruction of Jews and gypsies from Belgium, 4 volumes (volume 1), Brussels, 2009.
