Category:Fort Ontario (subject)

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Fort Ontario Refugee Center (see Holocaust Children Studies)

Overview

On June 12, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his plan to create a free port at Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York. Under this plan, 982 refugees from eighteen different countries were transported from Italy to an emergency shelter at Fort Ontario. They left from Naples, Italy, in late July 1944. On Aug. 3, 1944 the Henry Gibbins arrived at Pier 84 in the Hudson River.

Roosevelt circumvented the rigid immigration quotas by identifying these refugees as his “guests,” but that status gave them no legal standing and required their return to Europe once conditions permitted their repatriation.

Because of their undefined immigrant status, the refugees were not permitted to leave Fort Ontario, even to work or to visit family members already settled in the United States. They struggled to create a community within the camp, but the close quarters and their uncertain futures made for tense relations.

Advocates for the refugees continually lobbied Congress and the President to allow them to stay in America. Finally, after eighteen months in the camp, President Truman permitted their legal entry into the country. The shelter closed a short time later in February 1946.

The Children

Among the refugees were 187 children, aged 16 or younger. The largest family group were the Dresdners (from Romania).

All children had arrived as refugees in Italy from the Balkans, with adult relatives. Many had spent the years of the war in Italian internment camps (some of the youngest were even born there). Those who were interned in Southern Italy (in Ferramonti or other camps) had being liberated in 1943 before the German occupation. Those who were in Northern or Central Italy had to spend several months in hiding before Liberation in summer 1944. Some reached Southern Italy directly from the Balkans after Sep 8, 1943.

USHMM

On June 12, 1944, President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress announcing that he was establishing an Emergency Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario, a US Army camp in Oswego, NY. Relief and rescue organizations, as well as interested members of the public, had been suggesting bringing refugees under the threat of Nazi persecution to the United States for a number of months. At the beginning of March 1944, the War Refugee Board prepared a memo proposing the opening of safe havens (also called free ports) in the United States for refugees, where they would be admitted outside of American immigration quotas and repatriated to Europe at the end of the war. The project was presented to Roosevelt in May 1944. He was supportive of it, but feared his critics in Congress would attack the idea. So, the President asked the WRB to find an emergency situation which the removal of refugees would ameliorate. At the time, the WRB was receiving reports that refugee camps in Italy were almost full and the American military had issued a directive discouraging refugees fleeing to Italy from Yugoslavia. The WRB’s director, John Pehle, presented the situation to President Roosevelt, who issued instructions that the movement of refugees to Italy should not be discouraged, and used the situation to formally approve the establishment of a refugee shelter. In early June 1944, the camp of Fort Ontario was selected to house the refugees. WRB representative Leonard Ackermann traveled to Italy and interviewed interested refugees. In total, 982 refugees were selected for the Fort Ontario project. Seventy-five per cent of the group came from transit camps in southern Italy, including Bari, Ferramonti, Santa Maria di Bagni and Compagna, and twenty-five per cent from Rome, where most had been living in hiding until the recent withdrawal of the Germans. Approximately 165 of the refugees were children below the age of seventeen. In order to avoid complaints, officials recruited non-Jews as well as Jews. Still, Jewish refugees constituted 918 of the 982 members of the group, representing fourteen nationalities. The group was assembled in Aversa, Italy and set sail aboard the Henry Gibbins, a US Army transport vessel. The ship arrived in New York on August 5, and the refugees were taken to Fort Ontario near the town of Oswego in upstate New York. Their eighteen month sojourn at the shelter was a frustrating experience for the refugees. At first their freedom was severely restricted. They were not permitted to work or serve in the army. Their contact with the outside world was extremely limited. Requests to live with or visit relatives in the US were denied. Though rudimentary cultural, political and social organizations eventually came into being, they were plagued by divisiveness among their members. Following V-E Day, pressure from Jewish groups, relief agencies, Congressmen and members of Truman's cabinet, led to the Truman Directive of December 1945, which permitted the immigration to the United States of displaced persons in America's zones of occupation and removed restrictions on war refugees already in the US.

Picture (USHMM)

Fort Ontario Children.jpg

Jewish youth living at the Fort Ontario refugee shelter sing songs accompanied by an accordionist. Those pictured include Elfi Strauber, Liesel Bader, Ruth Hendel, Walter Arnstein, Ernest Spitzer, Leo Levic, Wilko Kremer, David Hendel, Henny Notowitz, Adam Munz, Fortunee Levic, Paul Bokros, Ivo Lederer, Paul Arnstein, Neli Bokros, Herman Kremer, and Joseph Bernard Hirt, standing on the far left next to the American flag. The pen and ink drawing on the wall was drawn by Adam Munz. (USHMM)


Fort Ontario Boy Scouts.jpg

Children and leaders of a Fort Ontario cub scout troop. Pictured in the front row (left to right) are Jakov Kampos, Wilhelm Wittenberg, Milan Poljokan, Silvestro Wachsmann, and Mika Finci (Miko Finzi). Pictured in the second row are Walter Grunberg, Nikola Marinkovic, Miroslav Lang, Mr. Lawrence, Ferdinand Kaska, Heinz Grun, Josef Hazan, and Erik Levy. Pictured in the third row are Branko Hochwald, Michael Hirt; Julius Krauthamer; possibly Jakov Levi, Walter Cohen, Pietri Albrecht, and two unidentified boys. (USHMM)


Fort Ontario Purim Children.jpg

Group portrait of Jewish youth dressed in Purim costumes at the Fort Ontario refugee shelter. One of them is dressed as Adolf Hitler. Left to right (front row) Ivo Svencenski, Jacob Broner, unknown, unknown and Leo Levic. Second row: Liesel Bader, Henny Notovitz, Edward Levic (?), Neva Svecenski, Edith Broner and Elfi Strauber. Third row: Herman Kremer, Manci Broner, unknown, Lillian Danon, Ralf Kuznitzki, and Ivo Lederer in the Hitler costume. Back row: Dorit Reisner, Ginette Cygelman, Adam Munz, Silvio Levy, Neli Bokros, Paul Bokros, and Paul Arnstein. (USHMM)


Fort Ontario Children2.jpg

Group portrait of children dressed in Purim costumes in the Fort Ontario refugee center. Those pictured include Ray Harding, John Hirshler, Ruth Hendel, Walter Grunberg, and Willie Kramer. (USHMM)


Samuel Waksman (Oct 20, 1935) & Andre Waksman (Jun 12, 1943) -- No Italian records.


  • Vladimir Lang (Osijek, Jul 26, 1932) & Miroslav Lang (Zagreb, Nov 26, 1936) [Italian records]. Children of Geza Lang and Garabela Wischnik. Refugees from Croatia. They were in Ferramonti from 30.04.1942 to the Liberation in Sept 1943.
  • Heinz Grun (M / Austria, Apr 30, 1936) (CDEC Yes!) Son of Leopold Grun and Franziska Offenberg. . They were sent to Sepino (near Campobasso). Moved to ROme in hiding. In July 1944 the family sailed form Naples to Fort Ontario
  • Josef Hazan (M / Croatia, 1934), Holocaust survivor. (Sarajevo, Dec 1, 1934) Yugoslavia. Son of Hajim and Rika Kajon. (Giuseppe) His younger brother Jack was born at Fort Ontarioon Jun 1, 1945. In 1941 they were sent to Tarzo (near Treviso). After Sept 1943 they were in hiding. In July 1944 the family sailed from Naples to Fort Ontario (CDED!)
  • Silvio Levy (May 8, 1928) and Erik Levy (Mar 27, 1931). Children of Leon Levy and Irene. They wished to return to Yugoslavia.
  • Branko Hochwald (M / Polje, Croatia, Jan 31, 1935) Yugoslavia. Son of Mane Hochwald and Jelika Stern. They were in Castelnuovo Don Bosco (AT) in 13.12.1941 and then in Ferramonti, from 27 February 1943 from until liberation in Sept 1943. (CDEC!)
  • Joseph Hirt (July 10, 1930) and Michael Hirt (M / Feb 19, 1934). Poland. Children of Artur and Amalia. In Jan 1943 they were sent to Rapino (Chieti). They were in hiding after Nov 1943. In July 1944 the family sailed from Naples to Fort Ontario [CDEC!]
  • Jakov Levi (JaKov Zika Levi; Mar 11, 1935) no Father, mother Stella (???)

Interviews to Boy Scouts

  • Alfred, Heinrich & Edith Rosenthal (MMF / Yugoslavia, 1932, 1934, 1936) (American records but no Italian record?)

Their father was a German prisoner (?). They were at the camp with their mother (Lida). Alfred (Jan 18, 1932), Heinrich (Apr 28, 1934( and Edith (Nov 7, 1936). They spent 3 months in an unspecified concentration camp.

  • David Hajon (M / Yugoslavia, 1931). Father died, Mother Rosa. Dec 14, 1931 (No CDEC)
  • < [[Mirko Fussbaum (M / Yugoslavia) Father died. Mother (no CDEC record) >
  • < Erik Levy (M / Croatia) Both parents alive (no CDEC record) >
  • < [[Vlado Arnstein (M / Croatia) 00 Mother & Father brothers & sisters. Wants to go to Palestine. (no CDEC record) >
  • !! Slavko Schwarzenberg (M / Riga, Latvia, Apr 11, 1932). Son of Sigmund "Ziga" Schwarzenberg and Anna Blunger. Both are alive. They were at Posina (near Vicenza), then in hiding. In July 1944 the family sailed from Naples to Fort Ontario [FO! & CDEC!]
  • Irena Danon (June 6, 1929) Ika Danon (M / Yugoslavia, Mar 8 , 1933) Mika Danon (M / Apr. 1 1944. Children of Sima and Rasela. Father & mother alive.

List of children

La partenza della nave avviene da Napoli nel luglio 1944

AA

The Adanja Family ([Joka Adanja], Sofja Adanja + 2 Children)

Mika Adanja (Jan 2, 1936) and Marela Adanja (May 18, 1939) were born in Belgrado, Serbia, to Sofja Adanja. They were in Kraljevica and then in KZ Arbe (3 Dec 43). They arrived at Fort Ontario with their mother only.

The Alaluf Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

Moric (Moritz) Alaluf (Aug 9, 1929) and Benko (Branko) Alaluf (Apr 15, 1941) were born in Yugoslavia (?), to Alfred Alaluf and Dudun. They arrived at Fort Ontario with their parents.

The Albrecht Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

  1. ? Peter Albrecht (M / Austria, 1934), Holocaust survivor
  2. ? Renata Albrecht (F / Austria, 1939), Holocaust survivor
Peter Albrecht (Sep 5, 1934) and Renata Albrecht (Jul 7, 1939) were born in Austria (?), to Herbert and Beatrice Albrecht. They arrived at Fort Ontario with their parents.

The Altarac Family (Mother, Child)

  1. Hana Altarac (F / Yugoslavia, 1937), Holocaust survivor

The Altarac Family (Mother, 2 Children)

  1. @ Belja Altarac (F / Bosnia, 1932), Holocaust survivor
  2. @ Dora Altarac (F / Bosnia, 1936), Holocaust survivor
Belja (Deya) Altarac (Oct 27, 1932) and Dora Altarac (Oct 13, 1936) were born in Sarayevo, Bosnia, to Leone Altarac and Estera Papo. From Spalato, they were sent to Asti, Italy in December 1941. Deported to Ferramonti in May 1943, until Liberation (Sep 10, 1943). They arrived at Fort Ontario with their mother.

The Altarac Family (Hana Altarac + Child, with Uncle)

  1. @ Laura Altarac (F / Bosnia / Italy, 1942), Holocaust survivor
Laura was born in Bassano del Grappa (9 May 42). Her family had been confined in San Nazario, Vicenza, since Nov 1941. They fled on 10 Sep 1943, going South. They survived in Central Italy until Liberation (June 1944). -- ALTARAC Laura, di NN (figlia di Hana Altarac e, forse, di Ernesto Pollacek), nata a Bassano del Grappa il 09.05.1942. Di nazionalità croata. Internata a Carpanè di San Nazario. Si allontana dal comune di internamento il 10 settembre 1943. Nell’estate 1944 raggiunge il campo di Fort Ontario negli Stati Uniti.

The Arnstein Family (Father, Mother, 3 Children)

  1. ? Pavle Arnstein (M / Croatia, 1928), Holocaust survivor
  2. ? Vlado Arnstein (M / Croatia, 1932), Holocaust survivor
  3. ? Eva Arnstein (F / Croatia, 1935), Holocaust survivor
Pavle "Paul" Arnstein (Nov 20, 1928 - 2015), Vlado "Walter" Arnstein (Feb 25, 1932), and Eva Arnstein (Jul 14, 1935) were born in Zagreb, Croatia, to Laroslav and Jelka Arnstein. They arrived at Fort Ontario with their parents.

The Autias Family (Mother, Child)

  1. ? Laura Autias (F / Yugoslavia, 1937), Holocaust survivor
Laura Autias was born Oct 6, 1937, to Flora (Atias). She arrived at Fort Ontario with her mother.

BB

The Bader Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. @ Liesl Bader (F / Austria, 1931), Holocaust survivor
From Ljubljana, the family was sent to Ferramonti (31 Jul 41), where they stayed until Liberation.

The Baeder Family (Father, Mother, Child)

The Baruch Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

  1. @ Aneta Baruch (M / Serbia, 1922), Holocaust survivor
  2. @ Jenny Baruch (M / Serbia, 1926), Holocaust survivor
From Spalato they were sent to San Vincenzo della Fonte (AO) on 9 Dec 1941, and then to Ferramonti (10 May 43), where they remained until Liberation.

The Bass Family (Mother, 3 Children)

From Genova, they went sent to Corleto Perticara, Potenza on 30 August 1940. They remained there until Liberation.

The Bjelic Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. @ Branko Bjelic (M / Yugoslavia, 1928), Holocaust survivor
Branko Bjelic was born June 8, 1928 in Yugoslavia. Presente nel campo di Kraljevica al 13.05.1943. Then Arbe. He arrived at Fort Ontario with his parents. They departed for Yugoslavia (May 31, 1945)

The Blaustein Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. ? Susanna Blaustein (F / Yugoslavia, 1933), Holocaust survivor

The Bleier Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. ? Ronald Bleier (M / Yugoslavia, 1942), Holocaust survivor
  2. ? George Bleier (M / Yugoslavia / Italy, 1944), Holocaust survivor
Ronald (9 Nov 42) & George (2 Feb 44). Wife deceased (Dec 29, 1944)

The Blumenkranz Family (Mother, Father, 2 Children)

  1. @ Derrit Blumenkranz (F / Austria, 1938), Holocaust survivor
  2. @ Ruth Blumenkranz (F / Austria / Italy, 1943), Holocaust survivor
Derritt (Apr 25, 1938) and Ruth (nov 13, 1943) were the children of Efraim and Bertha Goldstein. They lived in Genoa in 1940. Interned in Guardiagrele (Chieti) from Sep 1940 to Sep 1943. Survived in hiding. Arrived at Fort Ontario with their parents.

The Bokros Family (Mother, Father, 3 Children)

  1. ? Paul Bokros (M / Yugoslavia, 1928), Holocaust survivor
  2. ? Nelly Bokros (F / Yugoslavia, 1929), Holocaust survivor
  3. ? Mira Bokros (F / Yugoslavia, 1935), Holocaust survivor
Paul Bokros (1928), Nelly "Neli" (1929) and Mira (1935) were the children of Filip and Alice. {no other data}

The Bonacic Family (Mother, Child)

  1. ? Ana Bonacic (F / Yugoslavia, 1936), Holocaust survivor
{no other data}

The Boni Family (Mother, 3 Children)

  1. ? Raymond Boni (M / France, 1928), Holocaust survivor
  2. ? Silven Boni / Sylvain Boni (M / France, 1931), Holocaust survivor
  3. ? Claude Boni (M / France, 1933), Holocaust survivor
{no other data}

The Brenner Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. @ Jakob Brenner (M / Poland, 1927), Holocaust survivor
"Jacki" Brenner. They arrived at Ferramonti from Spezzano della Sila (CS) on 28.07.1943

The Breuer Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. ? Diana Kay Breuer (F / Austria / USA, 1945), Holocaust survivor
{no other data}

The Bronner Family (Father, Mother, 4 Children)

  1. ? Lilly Bronner (F / Poland, 1925), Holocaust survivor
  2. ? Edith Bronner (F / Poland, 1926), Holocaust survivor
  3. ? Margarete Bronner (F / Poland, 1929), Holocaust survivor
  4. ? Jacob Bronner (M / Poland, 1931), Holocaust survivor
{no other data}

The Buchler Family (Father, Mother, 4 Children)

  1. @ Pavac Buchler (M / Croatia, 1935), Holocaust survivor
  2. @ Blanka Buchler (F / Croatia, 1936), Holocaust survivor
  3. @ Dan Buchler (M / Croatia, 1938), Holocaust survivor
  4. @ Hanna Buchler (F / Croatia / Italy, 1942), Holocaust survivor
From Ljubljana, they were sent to Malo, Vicenza 13 nov 1941). They fled on 14 Sep 43. They went South, surviving in hiding until Liberation (June 44). Father deceased at Fort Ontario (19 Feb 45)

CC

The Cohen Family (Father, Mother, Child)

The Cygelman Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

DD

The Danon Family (Father, Mother, 3 Children)

  1. Isak Danon (M / Serbia, 1929), Holocaust survivor
  2. Sari Danon (F / Serbia, 1931), Holocaust survivor
  3. Ester Danon (F / Serbia, 1935), Holocaust survivor

The Danon Family (Father, Mother, 3 Children)

  1. Irena Danon (F / Serbia, 1929), Holocaust survivor
  2. Ica Danon (M / Serbia, 1933), Holocaust survivor
  3. Mika Danon (M / Serbia / Italy, 1944), Holocaust survivor

The Dresdner Family (Mother, Father, 9 Children)

The Drucks Family (Father, Mother, Child)

FF

The Fajnzylberg Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Karl Fajnzylberg (M / France, 1930), Holocaust survivor

The Feilbogen Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Pietro Feilbogen (M / Austria / Italy, 1940), Holocaust survivor

The Finci Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

The Finger Family (Father, Mother, Child)

The Finzi Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

  1. Iso Finzi (M / Yugoslavia, 1938), Holocaust survivor
  2. Ria Finzi (F / Yugoslavia, 1940), Holocaust survivor

The Flatau Family (Father, Mother, 2 Twins)

  1. Fred & Rold Flatau (MM / Germany, 1931), Holocaust survivors

The Frajerman Family (Father, Mother, 3 Children)

  1. Rachel Frajerman (F / Poland / Italy, 1938), Holocaust survivor
  2. Salomon Frajerman (M / Poland / Italy, 1940), Holocaust survivor
  3. Jacob Frajerman (M / Poland / Italy, 1942), Holocaust survivor

The Franco Family (Father, Mother, 3 Children)

  1. Rachele Franco (F / Yugoslavia, 1937), Holocaust survivor
  2. David Franco (M / Yugoslavia, 1939), Holocaust survivor
  3. Miriam Franco (F / Yugoslavia / USA, 1945), Holocaust survivor

The Fried Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

  1. Anita Fried (F / Croatia, 1938), Holocaust survivor
  2. Aleksander Fried (M / Croatia / Italy, 1942), Holocaust survivor

The Friedmann Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Anna Friedmann (F / Slovakia / Italy, 1943), Holocaust survivor

GG

The Gal Family (Mother, 2 Children)

  1. Charlotte Gal (F / France, 1935), Holocaust survivor
  2. Albert Gal (M / France, 1937), Holocaust survivor

The Gaon Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Zanko Gaon (M / Yugoslavia, 1938), Holocaust survivor

The Goldman-Lapajowker Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Liana Goldman-Lapajowker (F / Italy, 1939), Holocaust survivor

The Grin Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Paul Grin / Pavel Gruen (M / Yugoslavia, 1938), Holocaust survivor
Father departed for Yugoslavia (May 31, 1945)

The Gross Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Vera Gross (F / Hungary, 1935), Holocaust survivor Ferramonti

The Grun Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Heinz Grun (M / Austria, 1936), Holocaust survivor Campagna

The Grunberg Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Walter Grunberg / Walter Greenberg (M / Italy, 1933), Holocaust survivor Hidden

The Guttmann Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Renate Guttmann (F / Austria, 1937), Holocaust survivor Hidden

HH

The Hajon Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. David Hajon (M / Yugoslavia, 1931), Holocaust survivor

The Hazan Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Josef Hazan (M / Bosnia, 1933), Holocaust survivor
  2. Jack Hazan (M / Bosnia / USA, 1945), Holocaust survivor

The Hendel Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children, 2 orphan nieces)

  1. David Hendel (M / Croatia, 1928), Holocaust survivor
  2. Ruth Hendel / Tamar Hendel-Fishman (F / Croatia, 1935), Holocaust survivor
  3. Jeta Hendel (F / Croatia, 1925), Holocaust survivor, niece (orphan) Hidden
  4. Gisela Hendel (F / Croatia, 1935), Holocaust survivor, niece (orphan) Hidden

The Hirschler Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Ivo Hirschler (M / Yugoslavia, 1934), ​Holocaust survivor Hidden

The Hirschsohn Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Ivo Hirschsohn (M / Yugoslavia, 1935), ​Holocaust survivor

The Hirt Family (Father, Mother, 2 Children)

  1. Joseph Hirt (M / Poland, 1930), Holocaust survivor Hidden
  2. Michael Hirt (M / Poland, 1934), Holocaust survivor Hidden

The Hochwald Family (Father, Mother, Child)

  1. Branko Hochwald / Raymond B. Harding (M / Croatia, 1935), Holocaust survivor Ferramonti

KK

The Kalderon Family

  1. Simon Kalderon (M / Yugoslavia, 1935), Holocaust survivor Hidden
  2. Flora Kalderon (F / Yugoslavia, 1938), Holocaust survivor Hidden
Kavaja, Albania (from Mar to Sep 43). [Pizzuti]

The Kaufmann Family

Fiume (41-42) - Aprica (SO) - Rapino (Chieti) - In hiding (1 nov 43) until Liberation.

The Kopp Family

Papozze, Rovigo [Pizzuti]

The Kranz Family

Ljubljana, Slovenia - Ferramonti (31 Jul 41), until liberation [Pizzuti]

The Kuznitzki Family

Casoli, Chieti (Jul40) - Lungro, Cosenza (Mar41)

LL

The Lang Family

The Langnas Family

The Lapajowker Family

The Lederer Family

The Levitch Family

The Lowy Family

MM

NN

PP

RR

SS

The Strauber Family

TT

WW

The Wajsbrot Family

  1. Paul Wajsbrot (M / French, 1938), Holocaust survivor
  2. Josef Wajsbrot (M / Poland / United States, 1945), Holocaust survivor

The Waksman Family

The Weinstein Family

The Weissenberg Family

  1. Adolfo Weissenberg (M / Italy, 1943), Holocaust survivor See Jankovici (Ferramonti)

The Wittenberg Family

  1. Paul Wittenberg (M / Czechia, 1933), Holocaust survivor
  2. Wilhelm Wittenberg (M / Czechia, 1934), Holocaust survivor

The Sterensis Family

  1. Renee Wolken Sterensis (M / Austria, 1933), Holocaust survivor

ZZ

The Zabotin Family

  1. Konstantin Zabotin (M / Germany, 1928-2014), Holocaust survivor "Costantino"

The Zindorf Family

  1. Ernica Zindorf (F / Yugoslavia, 1938), Holocaust survivor

Pages in category "Fort Ontario (subject)"

The following 78 pages are in this category, out of 78 total.

1