RG-06.08.01, The Last Letter of Veronika (Vera) Komlos (née Somogyi), November 23, 1944 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

This is the final correspondence of Veronika (Vera) Komlos (née Somogyi), written during a 100-mile-plus foot march of Jewish Hungarian women deported from Budapest and sent to forced labor in Austria near the end of the war. Their last stop in Hungarian territory was at the border village of Hegyeshalom.  It appears that the International Red Cross (IRC) played a role in giving these women the chance to send postcards to their families. Veronika’s postcard is dated November 23, 1944 and postmarked November 27. It is addressed to her father, Jozsef Somogyi, who survived the war.

Translation of the letter:

"My dear parents!

I am writing from the Hegyeshalom on the Austrian border.  Tomorrow we are crossing the border. I have lost track of Gyula.  Do not cry dear Mother, take care of yourself, if l return I want to see you. I think that Jozsa, Agnes and Sandor also were taken. How is my Gabika? Where is she, if I could only know. If only Gyula could get back, to be near her and you. I do not think I will come back. My dear Parents, take care of yourselves, do not cry, you are only hurting yourselves. Take care of my baby, may God have mercy on us all. I kiss your blessed hands. Please place my Gabika with the Red Cross.

Yours Vera

November 23, 1944."