Schwarzbaum-Eidels family

Of the entire Schwarzbaum-Eidels family, only father Aron and son-in-law Kurs survive the war.

Schwarzbaum-Eidels family
Aron Schwarzbaum

Aron Schwarzbaum (°16/12/1899 in Szsekociny, Poland) arrived in Belgium in February 1926 and settled in Victor Jacobslei in Berchem. A few months later his wife Helena Eidels (°26/04/1898 in Radom, Poland) and children Maria (°20/11/1920 in Niederlehme, Germany) and Zilly (°20/11/1923 in Berlin, Germany) also came to Belgium. After the family reunited they moved to Schupstraat 15 in Antwerp. Here Aron started to work as a painter. After his arrival in Belgium Aron has to make several attempts to obtain a valid identity card so that he can stay in Belgium.

When Germany invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940, an anti-Jewish policy was instituted. Aron was detained in the Breendonk camp from February 18 to October 26, 1941. As a result of this anti-Jewish policy, Aron and his family had to register with the Jewish Association of Antwerp in 1942. In this register their home in Schupstraat is described, it appears that the family had two rooms and a kitchen. The family members are also listed, so that besides daughter Maria and Zilly also Ida Both is registered. Ida Both (°23/07/1929 in Antwerp) is a foster daughter who takes care of the Schwarzbaum family. At this time Aron is still active as a painter, Maria works as a servant and Zilly as a tailor.

Ida reports with a work order on August 17, 1942, this at the age of only 13. A few days later, on August 19, 1942 Helena together with her daughters Maria, Zilli and Maria’s fiancé Selig Uszer Kurs (°01/10/1920 in Sokal, Poland) are also interned in Mechelen. They are registered without a work order, probably they were arrested in Antwerp. With convoy V they are deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on 25 August 1942. Helena, her daughters, and Ida do not survive the war. Selig Uszer Kurs is repatriated in 1945. On September 1, 1942, Aron is interned in Mechelen, after which he is deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on October 19 with convoy XIV. He managed to escape from this convoy and stay out of the hands of the Nazis.
After the war, Aron initially went back to work as a painter and earned extra money by selling jewelry. In 1947 he moved to the Weversstraat in Ghent and started to trade in men’s and women’s clothing. He remarried and acquired Belgian identity. No information is available about the date of his death.

Kaatje Langens