Hermann and Tina Mandel Papers

The collection provides an insight into the experiences of the Jewish Mandel family in Vienna after 1938. Apart from official documentation, such as school reports, recommendations from previous employers, birth- and marriage certificates, the collection also contains personal letters from 1938 through to 1959.The letters demonstrate how the Mandel family struggled to escape from persecution, particularly after Hermann Mandel had been arrested in early February 1939.

Tina Mandel and her son emigrated to Britain, where she received letters from Hermann Mandel, via a relative in Switzerland, describing his situation and reacting to her letters. She also corresponded with a friend in Hungary, Böske Kardas.

After the war, Tina Mandel received letters from friends responding to her attempts to find out about the fate of her husband. The texts of the letters she received confirmed the deportation of Hermann Mandel in October 1942.

Tina Mandel was born Tony Tabak on 03/12/1905 in Kornych, Galicia. She moved to Vienna in early 1915, where she continued her education and met her future husband Hermann Mandel at school.

Hermann (Hesio) Mandel was born 20/04/1905 in Vyshnivchyk in Galicia and moved with his parents in 1916 to Vienna where he qualified as an electrician or electrical engineer (Elektromechaniker) and specialised in the design and installation of lighting systems.

After leaving school, Tina Mandel successfully completed an apprenticeship and qualified as a dressmaker. She married Hermann Mandel on 25/09/1932 in Vienna and on 31/10/1937 their only child Georg Mandel was born in Vienna.

From 1938 onwards Hermann Mandel's business became increasingly unviable due to the rising anti-Semitism in Austria. In early February he was imprisoned and sent to a road building labour camp. Tina Mandel managed to escape with her son Georg to England in 1939. Hermann Mandel was not able to obtain a visa for his escape and was deported to Minsk on 05/10/1942.

Items in the collection may be consulted for the purpose of private study and personal research, within the controlled environment and restrictions of The Keep's Reading Rooms.

George Mandel

An online catalogue is available on The Keep's website .

COPIES FOR PRIVATE STUDY: Subject to copyright, conditions imposed by owners and protecting the documents, digital copies can be made.

PUBLICATION: A reader wishing to publish material in the collection should contact the Head of Special Collections, in writing. The reader is responsible for obtaining permission to publish from the copyright owner.