Student Profile: Henia Obczas

Gender: girl
School: School #8B


RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY: kaw715 Advanced Researcher
Henia Obczas'S STORY
kaw715
4/19/2012
 
Hena Obcas was born in 1929, and she lived on Alexanderhofstrasse 28 77 in the Lodz Ghetto. She lived with her mother Ita, and her siblings Aron Dawid and Iska. On January 16th, 1942, Hena and her siblings were among the first children deported from the ghetto. They were deported to Chelmno, and perished in the gas vans.
Stage 1: Identity
Student's Given Name:
Hena Obcas
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
Birth Date:
1929-00-00
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
Ghetto Street Address:
Alexanderhofstrasse, 28, 77
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
 
Alexanderhofstrasse, 28
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
User Comments:

Using the Fuzzy setting first, I found Hena Obcas, which is very similar to Henia Obczas, with only a few small letter differences. Out of curiousity, I did the DM Soundex search to see if there were any other girls who could be Henia. None of the names I found had a birthday that falls between 1926 and 1932 besides Hena Obcas, so I believe this girl is Henia Obczas.

The entry about her address stumped me a bit. A.G is either change of address or deportation. I am not sure whether she and her family were deported or not, because the second address provided for her is on the same street and the same building number, but it lacks an apartment number. What I have decided is she and her family either moved to a different apartment in the same building, or they were deported. If they were indeed deported on the date given for A.G, they would have been sent to Chelmno, and perished in the gas vans.  

Approver Comments:
I agree with the expert reviewer. Excellent research and you have described your process very well in the notes. When you get to the next stage, check the secondary sources to cross-reference the date associated with A.G. in the database Notes field. You may find clues as to what event would be associated with the date.
Stage 2: The Ghetto
Mother's Name:
Ita Obcas
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
Sibling's Names:
Aron Dawid Obcas
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
 
Iska Obcas
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
Deported / Transferred:
1942-01-16
Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants
Camp Deported/Transferred to:
Chelmno, Poland
Secondary Sources
Place of Death:
Chelmno, Poland
Secondary Sources
User Comments:

In the first stage, I thought that the date 16 Jan 1942 might be when Hena and her family moved, but researching further, I was not able to find any evidence that any of the Obcas's survived the Holocaust. I checked alternate spellings of their last name and still came up empty handed. Also, I was always a bit suspicious about the two addresses, since they were on the same street and the same building number. Because of all of this, I have come to the conclusion that 16 Jan 1942 is not a change of address date , it is a deportation date. This date is the first day that deportations to Chelmno began, which further leads me to believe that this is indeed a deportation date. On the 16 Jan 1942, all deportations were sent to Chelmno, and all the people perished in the gas vans. Therefore, it is safe to say that Hena, her mother, and her siblings perished at Chelmno.

Approver Comments:
I agree with this unfortunate conclusion. Simply not being able to find information about Hena beyond stage 2 does not mean that she died; however, correlating the date of the move or deportation with a deportation to Chelmno makes it more likely that she was deported to Chelmno, where she would have perished. Thank you for helping to complete Hena's life history. If you like, you may complete her bio now.
Stage 3: Labor Camps
 
No research performed on this stage
Stage 4: Auschwitz & Beyond
 
No research performed on this stage
Stage 5: Liberation & After
 
No research performed on this stage