Died in 1942

Hi Judy, I am actually writing a paper on Paul Kornfeld's novel "Blanche oder das Atelier im Garten" for a German course at university (I can really recommend the novel though I'm not sure if it's available in English http://www.schoeffling.de/content/foreignrights/138.html).

According to Paul's niece, he was disheartened and refused several times to come to England with the rest of the family. He was divorced and had no children but was close to his sister's family, who all appear to have been able to go to England. Paul Kornfeld was deported from Prague to the ghetto in Lodz, where he died of typhoid fever in 1942.

He had quite a fascinating life, spending his youth in the same literary circle in Prague as Kafka and a number of other prominent German-Jewish-Czech writers, and his professional life as an expressionist playwright in different German cities. I recommend googling him or checking out his wikipedia page, there's quite a lot of information out there! One of these days I'll try to add some information to his profile too.

I see that Paul was on Transport D. My Great-Aunt was also on that transport, and thereby joined her sister (my mother's mother), who was on Transport B. Both left Lodz in September 1942, presumably to their deaths at Chelmno.

So sad. (and I know that doesn't really cover it). Elisabeth, I would love to read your paper. And in general, as we are doing a fantastic job of finding names and dates and documentation, the more information like this that we could start to add to individual profiles (with respect of course to those still living), the more we can memorialize and celebrate our ancestors lives. Not just names. But people.

You are so right. It is a great thing to be able to rescue an ancestor from oblivion, so to speak, and it is wonderful when there is more information than just names and dates available. The good thing about being related to slightly famous people is that professional researchers have often gathered information about them already.

Hi Elisabeth, Judy and Peter,
I'm joining this discussion a little late.... I am a granddaughter of Paul's sister's family (Grete Kornfeld-Wiesmeyer) who got to England in time (as you mentioned, Elisabeth). Born in Cardiff, now in Israel.
I just added a good article from the Yivo Encyclopedia of Jews from Eastern Europe on Paul (a trifle odd, because Czechia is Central Europe, but never mind). Have a look.
Best, Deborah