Cape Town, South Africa

 
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15 November 2016


Oberursel Germany


Dear Eli


I received the attached collection of family stories from Thomas Kemper, who presented them at a recent U.S. reunion of the the Gonsenhauser family -originally from Bad Berleburg and Schmallenberg, small towns in North-Rhine Wesphalia. Thomas gave me permission to share it with you, and I plan to share it with the Jewish-German SIG as well.

Names of Jewish families mentioned in the stories include Krebs, Bachenheimer, Frankenthal, Stern, Mayer and Goldschmidt.  


The stories focus on Ludwig “Ludy” Gonsenhauser  (1911 - 1971), who left Germany for South Africa in 1936 - the details of his journey from Berleburg to South Africa will be of interest. Because there’s a Cape Town connection, I thought you might like to add the document to your KehilaLink.


May I pass on your email address to Thomas Kemper and the Gonsenhauser family? I think they have photos which you might also want to post.


Carola Murray-Seegert

Ludy Gonsenhauser

Ludy and Florence Gonsenhauser (left) and Josef Feldhaus (right) in the 1960s

15 November 2016


Virginia Beach


Yes, that is my uncle Ludy and Florence.  Joseph (Jupp) Feldhaus was a family friend from Germany who used to come to Cape Town every summer to get away from the cold winter.  We are still friendly with Jupp's kids.  Jupp's son-in-law, Thomas Kemper has done extensive research into the Jews of Berleberg and the Gonsenhauser family.  This past September we had a Gonsenhauser family reunion.  Cousins came from all over the world and the Feldhaus/Kemper family were guests.  Thomas Kemper gave a wonderful talk on his research.  Eli can get in touch with him at <email address supplied>


Joan Gonsenhauser Joffe


17 November 2016


Dear Eli,


I was asked by my father to send you all related pictures and documents of the speech he held at the Gonsenhausers family reunion.

Please note, that the douments are named with numbers, for example 1, 2, 3 or 10.1, 10.2 and so on.

My Dad integrated these numbers in his speech, so that you can see, at which point the files are required to be put.


Many thanks for your effort in advance! We are looking foward to see the result online.


Anna-Sophia Kemper