Max Weiner

Was named after his maternal grandfather, Max.

Shared his bedroom growing up with his brothers. Had a living room, stove with coal, only one bathroom with a toilet. Had to heat water from kitchen for the bathtub.

Went to business school and conducted small orchestra in Vienna. Met Edith in Vienna. When Nazis took over Austria, Edith got very nervous and registered to leave Austria with her father. Her father said everything would be okay, but as time went on it got worse. Edith and Max got married, which moved Max up on the list with Edith. This enabled all 3 of them to leave together.

They took a train from Austria to Antwerpen, Belgium and then a boat from Antwerpen to the United States. It was a terrible train ride, as they were leaving soldiers were banging on the train threatening them.

Max grew up without a father because he was killed in WWI around 1920. Max was friendly with a lot of people in Europe, especially the Fleischmanns - Max was like a broth to his cousins, Franz, Poldi, and Pepi Fleischmann because they grew up together in the same house after Max lost his father.

Both Max and Edith grew up with only one parent.

Malvine, Max's mother, died in a concentration camp. Max tried to get Malvine sponsored to come here but couldn't do so. Max wrote very articulate letters, in beautiful handwriting, begging a lot of people for help, but couldn't get her out.

In order to get to the US, they needed a sponsor. Max Weiss, Edith's cousin (a son of one of the brothers of Julius and Josef), sponsored them. Max and Henrietta Weiss were married and lived in Brooklyn. Uncle Jo (Josef Weiss), who Harvey Weiner really loved, worked on roofs and metalwork.

In passport, there is a middle name, Israel, because the Nazis gave all Jewish men the name of Israel.

Certificate of Naturalization:

Age-33, Complexion-Fair, Color of Eyes-Brown

Color of Hair-Brown, Height-6'0", Weight-220 pounds

Visible Distinctive Marks-None, Former Nationality-Austrian

Date--January 23, 1945, 169th year of Independence

By the US District Court in Brooklyn, Easter District of New York

Residency at time of naturalization-

89-14 34th Avenue

Jackson Heights, NY

No. 6592062

Petition No. 420616

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States:

S.S. Westernland, Passengers Sailing from Antwerp

October 23, 1939, List 10, Total passengers: 30

28. Weiner Max, 27, M, Married, Accountant, able to read, reads German, able to write, Germany (nationality), Hebrew (race or people), Vienna, Germany (place of birth), QIV.7143, Vienna, 9/25/39 (Immigration, visa, passport visa or reentry permit number, place and date of issue), Vienna, Germany (last permanent residence)

29. Weiner Edith, 23, F, Married, H'wife, able to read, reads German, able to write, Germany (nationality), Hebrew (race or people), Vienna, Germany (place of birth), QIV.7142, Vienna, 9/25/39 (Immigration, visa, passport visa or reentry permit number, place and date of issue), Vienna, Germany (last permanent residence)

30. Weiss Julius, 62, M, Widowed, Upholsterer, able to read, reads German, able to write, Germany (nationality), Hebrew (race or people), Egbell, Czechoslovakia (place of birth), QIV.1738, Vienna, 9/7/39 (Immigration, visa, passport visa or reentry permit number, place and date of issue), Vienna, Germany (last permanent residence)