Toch and Korn families: personal papers

This collection consists of the papers of the Toch and Korn families, Jewish refugees from Vienna. Whilst the children Erika and Harry Toch emigrated to England and Palestine, respectively to flee Nazi persecution, their parents Wilhelm and Margarethe Toch were deported to Terezin concentration camp from where only their mother returned. Erika got married to Polish refugee, Salman Korn, in 1941 whose papers and correspondence are also included. The collection also contains the papers of Wilhelm Toch's brother, Moritz Toch and his wife Else, who also emigrated to the UK in 1939.

Included are correspondence and papers from Terezin concentration camp, Deggendorf DP camp as well as Kitchener and Mooragh internment camps; school reports and qualifications; Heimatscheine; work references and testimonies; medical and police clearance certificates; birth, marriage and death certificates; ID cards and passports; and naturalisation certificates.

Also included are papers and certificates relating to Moritz Toch's military service during the First World War and war invalids support as well as affidavits and papers regarding Salman Korn's claim to his father's estate in Zablotow.

Erika Korn, née Toch (1920-2001) came to London from Vienna in 1939. She initially stayed with a friend in London. She had come over earlier in 1930 as a maid. Her parents, Wilhelm (1879-1944) and Margarethe ("Grete") Toch (née Eichner, 1890-1971), stayed behind. Wilhelm Koch taught religion and Hebrew. Margarethe and her daughter were qualified dressmakers. Erika's brother Harry had emigrated to Palestine in 1933. In August 1942 Wilhelm and Margarethe Koch were deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp where Wilhelm died in October 1944. Margarethe survived and moved to the UK in October 1946 to stay with her daughter and husband.

Salman (Siamu) Korn (1904-1998) was born in Zablotow (Stanislawow, Poland), where his father had an estate. He was one of seven siblings. Salman Korn studied economics at the University of Vienna where he gained a doctorate. He came to England in 1938 with his brother-in-law, Selig Margulies, who had taught Hebrew with Erika Korn's father Wilhelm in Vienna. Selig married Salman's youngest sister, Frieda. She went back to her family in Poland when Salman and Selig came to London. Selig was going to send for her but Frieda died in the war. Selig Margulies later joined the British Army and became chaplain. The only sibling of Salman who survived the war was his younger brother, Berciu, who had joined the Red Army. He and his wife and two sons moved to Israel in the 1950s when Poland let Jewish people emigrate. Salman was a resident at Kitchener camp (Richborough, Kent) and later interned as an enemy alien at Mooragh camp (Ramsey, Isle of Man) after the outbreak of the war. He got married to Erika Korn in 1941. Their first child was born in 1945.

Wilhelm Toch's brother Moritz (1882-1949) and his wife Else (née Salomonowitz, born in 1889) also emigrated to the UK in 1939. Moritz Toch was a watchmaker in Vienna. He served in the First World War and was awarded the Silver Bravery medal. He got married to Else Salomonowitz in 1922.

Chronological and by subject

See Wiener Library access conditions at: http://www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/usinglibrary/usingthelibrary.aspx

Donated by Vivien Korn

2009/4

See photo server for digital records (Doc 1782).