Walter Abrahamsohn was born on 10th April 1909. He was a friend of Liesel and Hubert Veit when they were in Barcelona, Spain between 1933 and 1936. By his letters it is possible that he was a journalist or writer. At some stage it is thought Walter Abrahamsohn and Liesel Veit became engaged.
Their correspondence, referred to in this collection, spans from 1936 to April 1940.
In the summer of 1936, at the outbreak of the Civil War in Spain (17th July 1936 to 1st April 1939) Liesel leaves Barcelona while Walter remained behind. It is unclear whether this was out of choice or due to the lack of correct travel documents. This was the start of a period of 4 years where Walter was in regular correspondence with Liesel and it is from these letters that we can build a picture of Walter’s life in the years that ultimately ended so tragically and inhumanely in Auschwitz in August 1942. In addition to tracking Walter we get from the letters very real and detailed accounts of what life was like in Barcelona during the Civil War and what it was like for Jewish men and women trying to secure visa’s to life saving locations.
In 1936 Walter speaks of a rebellion of the military in Barcelona that was quickly suppressed, with only 400 casualties and tells us how there has been a general strike since the start of the revolution. Many foreigners are fleeing with the consulates arranging free travel. Walter talks of the unions being armed and also the “culture club”. It is not clear what the “culture club” was or to what degree Walter was involved. The “culture club” and other groups such as the “Sniff” (some kind of group or gathering of Jewish people) are often referred to in his letters. It is not clear whether Walter was involved in the International Brigades or other armed groups, but I think it is fair to say he was certainly politically active at this time. The “culture club” were clearly fighting (who??) and we learn that they set off to liberate Saragossa. The strange thing, and this is a common theme throughout his letters is that on 27th July 1936 Walter wrote “I try not to get too bothered with the revolution but try to write as many articles about it as possible”. Later we learn that Walter writes articles for newspapers and other publications. This normal life seems at odds with what was going on in Spain and as a Jewish man in Europe at that time. In his next letter, dated 17th August 1936 Walter tells us “I sit well behaved at home and tap away on my typewriter” and that he earns decent money (90 pesetas per article) from the Dutch.
.........UNDER CONSTRUCTION........
Walter was imprisoned in Spain from March 1938 to January 1939 and as Barcelona fell to Franco he fled across the border and found himself in a refugee camp in Argeles, France. From here he was moved to Camp de Gurs in France where he continued his correspondence with Liesel Veit who had now fled to Palestine. He was housed in Ilot I, Camp de Gurs in 1939 and suffered extremely harsh conditions, with limited food and negligible sanitation.
When the International Brigades were removed from Gurs it seems Walter stayed behind. He was moved to Camp Bram somewhere between 1940-1941 and then on convoy 26 on 31st August 1942 he was deported together with 1000 other Jewish citizens, mostly of German and Austrian nationality, to Auschwitz. He was presumably murdered immediately on arrival. There is no death certificate.
Walter Abrahamsohn is remembered on the Wall of Names at the Shoah Memorial in Paris. You can see a photograph of the inscription by clicking here.
