NYPL, Letters To Sala

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Introduction Sala’s Europe, 1939-1945 Prewar Jewish Life and Deportation Nazi Slave Labor Camps The Judenrat Geppersdorf Nazi Postal System Ala Gertner Sala's Labor Camps Jewish Holidays Harry Haubenstock Schatzlar Liberation In America

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Photgraph of Elfriede Pachta
Geppersdorf, Germany, June 10, 1942
NYPL, Dorot Jewish Division, Sala Garncarz Kischner Collection

Every day, a guard drove Sala from the Geppersdorf labor camp to the Pachta home, where she used their sewing machine to repair German uniforms and, in response to a personal request, made doll clothes for the granddaughter of a Nazi officer. She was treated like a family member by Anna and Wilhelm Pachta and befriended by their daughter, Elfriede. They sent money to Sala’s parents, and Raizel blessed them in her letters. The Pachta family even mailed a doll to Sala’s niece, Salusia, still in Sosnowitz.

Eventually, the camp received its own sewing machine. The Pachta family visited Sala at the camp until security increased. After that, Sala never saw them again.