Frank Liebermann family papers

Frank Liebermann (1929-2022) was born in Gleiwitz, Germany (now Gliwice, Poland) to ear, nose, and throat surgeon Hans Liebermann (1900-1979) and his wife Lotte (1907-1995). Hans Liebermann’s parents were Bernhard (1869-circa 1945) and Jenny (1876-1936) Liebermann from Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland). Lotte Liebermann’s parents were Alfred (1875-circa 1944) and Hedwig Orgler (1883-circa 1944) from Oppeln (now Opole, Poland). When his medical career was restricted by the Nazi regime, Hans Liebermann secured an affidavit of support for his family’s immigration to the United States and left immediately after receiving his visa in June 1938. His wife and son followed in October. He established a medical practice in Dayton, OH and became volunteer head of the Jewish Family Service, helping to obtain visas for 108 refugee families during and after World War II. Frank Liebermann married Marianne Sorter in 1950. His grandfather Bernhard Liebermann tried to immigrate to the United States via Spain but became ill en route and was deported to Theresienstadt where he died. Alfred and Hedwig Orgler were deported to Theresienstadt in July 1943 and from there to Auschwitz in October 1944. The Orglers’ three sons, Walter, Heinz, and Helmüt, are also believed to have died at Auschwitz along with Heinz's wife Marianne and daughter Vera. The Frank Liebermann family papers contain biographical materials, correspondence, photographs, printed materials, and restitution files documenting the lives of the Liebermann and Orgler families in Upper Silesia before and during the Holocaust; Frank Liebermann’s family’s immigration to the United States and their lives during and after the war in Dayton, OH; and their efforts to obtain restitution for losses and damages suffered under the Nazi regime. Biographical materials include records documenting the lives of Hans, Lotte, and Frank Liebermann; Fritz Liebrecht; and Alfred, Helmut, and Walter Orgler and the Orgler family. They also include materials documenting J. J. Orgler, the Orgler family’s leather business. Files include birth and marriage certificates, identification papers, education and military records, menus and programs from the ship that brought Lotte and Frank Liebermann to America, ration coupons, awards, and genealogical materials. Correspondence files includes letters and postcards among family members and friends documenting emigration plans; Alfred Orgler’s internment at Theresienstadt; Frank Liebermann’s summer camp, high school, and college experiences; Hans Liebermann’s receipt of the 75th Anniversary Award of United HIAS Service; and other family news. Photographs include two photograph albums and loose prints depicting Liebermann and Orgler family members and friends. The first album includes prewar photographs of the Liebermann and Orgler families as well as biographical materials such as invitations, certificates, and programs from family events. The second album includes pre‐war vacation photographs in Europe and visits to Hans Liebermann’s brother in Rhodesia along with photographs of friends in Dayton. Loose photographs depict the Liebermann and Orgler families in Europe and the United States. Subjects include baby pictures; camp, school, and university life; vacations; and family events. Printed materials include booklets, brochures, clippings, pamphlets, posters, and programs documenting the lives of Frank, Hans, and Lotte Liebermann and Marianne Sorter. Subjects include the 1921 plebiscite in Upper Silesia; Dayton, Ohio; Frank Liebermann’s summer camp, high school, and college experiences; Hans Liebermann’s receipt of the 75th Anniversary Award of United HIAS Service; and his and his wife’s involvement in Jewish organizations in Ohio. This series also includes partial copies of Ekstra Bladet Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt, My Weekly Reader: The Junior Newspaper, and Der Stürmer as well as emergency German currency from the 1910s and 1920s. Restitution files include correspondence, forms, and 1930s supporting documentation related to the Liebermann family’s efforts to obtain restitution from the German government in connection with losses and damages suffered under the Nazi regime. Claims include damages to Hans Liebermann’s medical career, the Liebermann’s loss of property (including estate jewelry and silver) and assets when they immigrated to the United States, the forced sale of the Orgler family leather business and apartment building in 1938, punitive taxes, insurance claims, and the transportation, imprisonment, and death of Lotte Liebermann’s family and Hans Liebermann’s father. Correspondents include lawyers Walter Lange and Manek Riegelhaupt, German authorities, the United Restitution Organization, U. S. Consulates, surviving members of the family living in Israel, friends, possible witnesses, and Friedrich (Fritz) Knoblich, who had been the accountant for the J. J. Orgler leather business.