The Postcard
March 12, 1941, Warsaw
Fania (Frieda) Pieniek sent the last postcard to the family from the Pieniek family that we know of. It was signed David, Ita and Freida. Freida is asking for monetary support. The Nazi swastika can be seen in the postmark.
Warsaw, 12 March 1941
Dear cousin Mina et al.
Got your letter and Zl50, really needed the money.
Speak with Ita's sister and brother-in-law Munder, if they can also ship us packages by ship.
Write to Uncle Skop and Uncle Benu.
No news from Shmulek and Bina.
Greetings to you.
Write soon
David, Ita, Freida
The postcard was written and sent from Warsaw in March of 1941. It was addressed to Al (Abraham) Tobias in Bronx, New York. Al was a first cousin to Freida's father. At this time Al and Helen were already married and had one son, Stanley, all living in Bronx, New York. "Mina" is probably referring to Minnie Tobias, Al's sister, who was not yet married, and also living in New York.
A brief history: Poland surrendered to Germany in September of 1939, following which the 375,000 Jews living in the city immediately began to suffer. On November 16 of 1940 the Jews were forced into the ghetto. Jewish refugees were transported to Warsaw bringing the total population to 450,000.
The Pienieks were forced out of Dobrzyn already in November, 1939 and were sent to Warsaw. There is documentation that Shmulek and Bina, Freida's brother and sister, were killed soon after leaving Dobrzyn. Apparently, Freida and their parents had no knowledge of this.
Freida refers to her mother Ita's sister and brother-in-law Munder. Ita Szmiga Pieniek had four sisters and brothers. Necha Rivka (1887-1935), the eldest, married Szmul Isak Szmeulwicz Munder in 1907 in Poland. The family emigrated to New York sometime between 1913 and 1920. Necha Rivka herself was a passenger on the S.S. Lituania in 1917. Necha and Szmul had 4 children, two of whom were born in New York. Necha (Nettie) died in New York in 1935.
"Uncle Skop" is referring to Abraham Louis Skop, Freida's father's uncle, husband to Toyvia Wolfes Pieniek's sister Necha Flora. They were living in Cleveland, Ohio since 1904.
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"Uncle Benu" is referring to Baercha (Benu) Tobias, another of Freida's father's uncles. At this time he was living with the Skops in Cleveland.
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Al Tobias reported that they indeed sent money, as much as they could, but nothing was ever heard from the Pienieks in Poland again.