Lieselotte Jacks

Lilo, 1939 Berlin, Germany

Lieselotte Jacks, or Lilo or Lilo as everyone called her, grew up in Berlin. She was an only child, and in 1939 she was fifteen years old. She had finished school and was apprenticed to a milliner to learn how to sew hats.

Lilo’s parents, Alfred and Gertrud, applied for her to be one of the children permitted to leave Germany as part of the so called Kindertransport (Children’s transport). Relatives in Gothenburg, the Wladislawowsky family, had invited Lilo to come live with them. She also had cousins in Sweden, but they lived in Stockholm.

In a large trunk Lilo and her family had packed everything she could possibly need during her time away. Carrying only a small suitcase, Lilo boarded the train. On the 6 of June 1939, she arrived in Gothenburg and moved in with her relatives at Olivedalsgatan 17.

For several years, Lieselotte corresponded with her relatives who remained in Nazi Germany. The first postcard from Lieselotte's mother, postmarked April 12, 1939, reads:

"I have been waiting for Mr. Wiener every morning to read your mail before I left. Mr. Wiener sends his regards and also Mrs. Viktor. I called at Aunt Alice's and read your card to dear Goldi. Greetings from yours too. Ilse's things are being left there until someone comes. Don't make any expenses for that matter. Enough for today my dear child. Warm regards and kisses from your loving mother. Greetings to the W family and acquaintances from me. We have calmed down now."