Tom was cradling the suitcase, one of about 3,800 cases found by the Soviet army soldiers at liberation. Only 2,100 bear the names of their owners. This suitcase had borne witness to his father’s story. It was tangible proof , a physical reminder that Stephan Krulis had been a survivor of this brutal camp. I listened as Tom ‘spoke’ to his father through the suitcase, in a defiant act of remembrance.
Inanimate objects often have their own story to tell. Stephan’s suitcase had
a previous owner, it appeared that the suitcase first belonged to Fischer Wilhelmine, born in 1865 and deported from Vienna to Theresienstadt. She was number 903 in that transport and the original inscription read "IV/2 903." Wilhelmine died in Theresienstadt in 1942. It was common practice in transit ghettos when suitcases taken from people who arrived were then given to people leaving the ghettos.
Stephan's journey from the ashes of the Holocaust to a vibrant life in Sydney stands as a powerful testament to resilience and hope. After enduring unimaginable hardships, he rebuilt his life with determination, creating a loving family and inspiring future generations. His legacy lives on through his two sons and five grandchildren, each carrying forward the values he instilled in them. In the face of adversity, Stephan chose to embrace life, embodying the belief that true strength lies in the ability to rise, thrive, and find joy despite the past.
Tom’s quest for history had been fulfilled on this heritage tour to Poland.
Thank you to Paweł Sawicki, Hanna Kubik and Łukasz Janiga for reuniting Tom with his father’s suitcase.
Sue Hampel OAM is co-president of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. She organises bespoke heritage tours to Poland.
Link to Stephan Krulis’ testimony