Gdańsk, Poland
Families
Werner Hans Katz
9 November 2016
Hello Eli
While researching my own family in the UK National Archives, I came across the Alien Registration Card of a Werner Hans Katz from Danzig, b. 30.12.98 who seems to have been deported to Australia in 1942 and died at sea. I’ve got no connection with him myself, but wondered if you would like a copy of the image for the Danzig Kehila Link.
Secondly, Isaak Potasz, the late ex-husband of my sister , came from Danzig to England before WW2 and emigrated illegally to Palestine around 1948. I live in the UK and they were kibbutzniks in Israel so I didn’t know him very well and am vague on the details of his story, but I know that his second wife, also now deceased, compiled an illustrated book about his eventful life for his 80th birthday. It is in Ivrit, so again, I don’t have it or have access to it.
If you are interested, I could put you in contact with his married daughter, my niece, who now lives in South Carolina, USA, with her family and presumably has a copy. Alternatively, I could ask my sister for a brief English-language account.
Best wishes
Eva Lawrence
St Albans, UK.
12 November 2016
Hi Eli
I’ve attached a scan of Werner Hans Katz’s Alien Registration card. These were issued for all UK immigrants in 1940 when they were considered for internment. It looks as if he was considered s security risk and deported to Australia in the initial paranoid phase, but elected to return when the rules were relaxed, only for his ship to be sunk on the way. A very sad and not uncommon story.
There’s quite a conversation on the internet just now about Jewish geography!
Best wishes
Eva.