Oscar Meyer Family Collection 1920-2001 Bulk dates: 1933-1943

This collection documents the experience of the Meyer family with a focus on the years from 1933 to 1943. It contains photocopies of family photographs, residency records from Essen, business records, Gestapo files, and records of the seizure of the Meyer estate (the company Heumann & Meyer in Essen) used for restitution claims.Also included are photocopies of Gestapo files regarding the following women: Jenny Bendik née Mendelson, Jenny Eichberg, Berta Goldschmidt, Rosa Goldschmidt, and Ilse Gompertz.Oscar Meyer, the owner of the men’s clothing factory ‘Waeschefabrik Heumann & Meyer in Essen, was born on October 23, 1885 in Aachen. On April 9, 1923, he married Cypora (sometimes spelled Carola or Karola) Bendik (sometimes spelled Bendick), who was born February 12, 1902. Their son Gerd Meyer was born in Essen on July 25, 1924, and their daughter Marya (sometimes spelled Marga) was born August 8, 1925. The family lived at 8 Ruthstrasse in Essen. Oscar Meyer was forced to hand over his company to German authorities. The family tried in vain to leave Germany, except for the son Gerd Meyer, who was issued a visa to leave Germany for Holland, and later to England, where he joined the British army in 1944 to fight the Germans. Oscar, Cypora, and Marya Meyer were deported to Poland on October 27, 1941, and were reportedly shot outside Łódź.Gerd Meyer moved to Israel after the war and changed his name to Gad Meiry. He later immigrated to the United States. His son, Asher Benjamin brought restitution claims on behalf of his grandfather Oscar Meyer in the early 2000s.See Inventory list.Processeddigitize