Julek

Memorabilia - Israel (Julek)

Structural Engineer, born in 1911 in Tarnow, immigrated to Australia in 1958

What happened to Julek during the war ? How did he survive when so many perished ? This was a subject which my father never raised, perhaps he did not want to rekindle sad memories, or perhaps he thought that his children would not be interested. It was only after Eve Drobot asked him to document his account of just how he survived the war he agreed to write his memoirs.

False work Certificate

Engineering Degree Certificate

House in Milanowek where he and his wife stayed during the war

10 years People's Poland Anniversary medal (same as Janek's)

Medal celebrating 10 years rebuilding of the nation

Telephone book listing from Warsaw 1955/6

False birth certificate on the basis of which Israel Djament became Stanislaw Rutkowski during the war. It has the date of birth 30th May, 1909, which of course is incorrect.

Julek - Name change certificate

Real Birth Certificate
Real birth certificate. Issued in 1948, it quotes the assumed name "Rutkowski" - it was issued after Israel formally changed from Israel Djament to Stanislaw Rutkowski. It reads :
"Extract from Birth Register
We certify that Rutkowski Stanislaw Juliusz, son of Ignacy and Ewa (nee Linde) was born in Rzedin, district of Tarnow, on the seventeenth day of May nineteen thousand and eleven.
Dated 28th December, 1948"
Translation by Vladimir Drobot

This Jewish registration certificate is puzzling. Why would anyone, having gone to all the trouble of pretending to be Aryan, register as a Jew, only 18 months after Auschwitz was liberated. Antisemitism in Poland was rife. Maybe it was compulsory ? Maybe there was some benefit, which outweighed the risks ? It is also puzzling because Julek lived from 1945 to the end of 1946 in Gliwice.
"Katowice 6th .11. 1946
This is to certify that Mr. Djament, Juliusz, born in 1911 in Rzedzin, presently known to us as Rutkowski, Stanislaw, living in Katowice, whose present address is Dabrowski 15/8 Street, appears on the Registry of Jewish Community, with the registration number 2245."
Translation by Vladimir Drobot

Not really a memorabilia item, but I could not resist to include this label from a parcel delivered to my father in 2004. Whilst "Stanislaw Rutkowski" was not particularly difficult to pronounce/spell in Poland, Australian authorities had a few more problems.

In 2001 the NSW Government decided to honour migrants who helped to develop the nation. This "Welcome Wall" was built on the shores of Sydney Harbour.
Julek proudly points to his name inscribed on the Wall.

Tools of trade - Set of compasses

Tools of trade - T square

Tools of trade - Slide rule

Tools of trade - Architects scale