Collection of letters and documents belonging to a Jewish-Lithuanian refugee. Lithuania, Switzerland and Palestine. 1937-1985 (most dating to the 1930s and 1940s). Lithuanian, French, German, English and Hebrew.
The collection tells the story of the refugee Tzvi Eilat (Cvi Girsas Chvackinas) – his long journey from his native Kaunas (Kovne), through Switzerland, where he found refuge during the war, and eventually to Palestine.
Among the documents:
• Eilat's official birth certificate (Kaunas, 1937; Lithuanian). • Confirmation of graduation of a public school (Kaunas, 1939; original in Lithuanian and a French translation). • Discharge certificate from as Swiss jail (Lenzburg, northern Switzerland, 1943; German), indicating a good behavior during the period of the arrest. • Swiss "Flüchtlingsausweis" – refugee identification card (Bern, September, 1943) – containing visas, and additional personal information. • Two photo student cards of the University of Lausanne, and university confirmation of registration (Lausanne, 1944-1945; French). • Two immigration certificates, issued by HeHalutz Geneva office (July-August, 1945; German). • Notification for "comrade Tzvi" (residing in Lausanne), informing him that he was put on the list for the "third Aliyah transport, " and an itinerary for the journey on board the "Lima, " sailing from Barcelona to Palestine. • Swiss photo identification card, used as Eilat's travelling document to Palestine (Bern, August, 1945). Containing an entry visa to Palestine (August, 1945), French border stamps (August, 1945), permit to remain permanently in Palestine as an immigrant (September, 1945), entry stamp from the Haifa port, and more. • Additional documents (some later).
Approx. 20 paper items. Size and condition vary.