Dublon family papers

Otto Wilhelm (Willi, 1889-1944?) and Erna Dora Dublon (née Beerman, 1903-1944?) had two daughters, Lore (1927-1994?) and Eva (1933-1944?). The family lived in Erfurt, Germany where Willi owned Salamander Schuhe, a local shoe store and Erna was a housewife. In 1938 the family applied for visas to the United States. The family booked passage to Cuba where they could safely to wait until they received their American visas. They sailed to Cuba aboard the MS St. Louis in May 1939. Erich Dublon (1890-1942), Willi’s brother, also sailed with them. After being denied entry to Cuba and the United States, the family disembarked in Belgium, where Erna had relatives. On August 8, 1942, Erich Dublon was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp where he perished on September 3, 1942. The rest of the Dublon family was held at the Mechelen transit camp before deported to Auschwitz concentration camp on transport XXIII on January 15, 1944. They were assigned transport prisoner numbers: Willi, 675; Erna, 698; Lore, 699; Eva, 700. Eva and her parents likely perished at Auschwitz concentration camp around 1944 or 1945. Records show that Lore Dublon was sent to Auschwitz and then to Golleschau, a sub-camp of Auschwitz, where she likely perished. The Dublon family papers consists of a diary written in German regarding the Dublon family’s experiences aboard the MS St. Louis, May-June 1939; a translation of the diary in English; photographs of the Dublon and Heimann families, circa 1933-1939; and a postcard, 1936. The photographs include a photograph of a children’s kindergarten performance in Erfurt, Germany, circa 1933. The kindergarten was operated by Frau Topf. Lore Dublon is seated second from the left and Peter Heimann is the first boy on the left. A photograph of the Dublon and Heimann families in Finowfurt, Germany in 1937. Front row (L to R, seated): Lore Dublon, Peter Heimann, “Fife” Dublon (Lore’s sister), Lili Doernberg, Ernie Dublon (mother of the girls), and unknown. Rear row (L to R, standing): unknown, Solomon Heimann (father of Peter), Willi Dublon (husband of Ernie), unknown, unknown. A photograph of the Dublon family standing on the deck of the MS St. Louis on their way to Cuba, May 22, 1939. Willi Dublon stands second from the left, Erna Dublon and Erich Dublon sit on the railing, Eva Dublon and Lore Dublon stand in front. The diary in the Dublon family papers consists of diary fragments written in German by Erich Dublon while aboard the MS St. Louis, May 13, 1939 to June 19, 1939. The diary entries contain descriptions of the MS Louis, the Dublon family’s experience aboard the ship, accounts of a man overboard, descriptions of Havana harbor, immigration negotiations while anchored in Havana harbor, visits of friends and family, the mental health of the passengers denied entry to Cuba, descriptions of the Florida coast, negotiations with the United States, seasickness on the return trip to Europe, and eventual disembarkation in Belgium. An English translation is also available.