The Eisfelder family of four and other relatives were very soon aware of the dangers Nazi racism would inflict on Jewish people. After several attempts for visas, they were among the earlier refugees to Shanghai. A US relative helped them establish Café Louis, soon well-known for their German and Viennese bakery goods, employing the whole family and several Chinese. They mastered the next big hurdle, a forced move into an impoverished quarter. Horst, still a youth formed lifelong friendships that lasted across time and oceans.
https://www.avotaynu.com/books/ChineseExile.htm
https://doi.org/10.1080/03087298.1999.10443344
Charlottenstraße
00000 Berlin
Germany
Horst (geb. 14. November 1925) war der zweite Sohn von Louis (geb. 12. Mai 1893) und Hedwig Eisfelder (geb. 8. April 1893). Erwin wurde am 18. April 1923 geboren. Die Familie lebte bis zu ihrer Flucht in Berlin. Gleich nach der Machtübernahme Hitlers versuchten die Eisfelder-Eltern zu emigrieren, bekamen aber mehrere Jahre lang keine Visa. Im Oktober 1938 reiste Horst schließlich mit seinen Eltern und seinem älteren Bruder Erwin sowie einem Cousin, einem Onkel und einer Tante von Berlin nach Triest, um nach Shanghai zu segeln, dem einzigen großen offenen Hafen weltweit, für den es damals keine Visumspflicht gab.
Jüdische Flüchtlinge durften nur das Nötigste oder Handwerkszeug plus 10 Mark pro Person mitnehmen.
25 Changyang lu
(formerly known as Ward Road)
Hong Kou Qu
Shanghai
Shang Hai Shi, 200086
China
The only way to start a new business was with a loan from Shanghai Jewish businessmen and philanthropists – or family who lived abroad. The very successful British Jewish traders Sassoon and Kadoorie donated considerable funds and housing to support the International Jewish Aid organizations in settling the arriving refugees in dorms, soup kitchens, schools, and more.
Within three months and with the support of US family, the Eisfelders opened Café Louis in the French Concession. It was soon known for Fine European cakes. Horst went to the English Jewish school. The friendship with his classmate, Michael Blumenthal would last a lifetime.
In 1943 the Japanese ‘Proclamation’ forced all 'Stateless Refugees after 1937' (a euphemism for Jewish refugees) to relocate café and living spaces to Hongkew, a quarter semi-destroyed in the recent Sino-Japanese war – and rebuilt in parts into a ‘Little Berlin’ or ‘Little Vienna’ by their fellow refugees. The café was mostly run by the parents, brother Erwin, and other family.
Horst loved photography and started an apprenticeship in 1944. He documented life in Shanghai with his camera, an eyewitness account present in several museums and archives – and the basis of many talks later in life.
Melbourne
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Australia
Next Station: Peace of Mind in Melbourne, 1947 - 2023
After the war, the family looked for an opportunity to emigrate and moved to Australia in 1947. Horst would live in Melbourne his whole life. He married Greta, another Berlin refugee. They had two sons, Rodney & Kevin, and 4 grandchildren.
Horst Eisfelder was very active in keeping the history of Jewish refugees in Shanghai alive, gave many talks, and published a memoir: ‘Chinese Exile’ (see photo) The links in the chapter above lead to interviews and talks – such as the SHOAH Foundation 1996 and the Jewish Museum Berlin Talk with Michael Blumenthal, the Founding Director Emeritus and former Secretary of Finance under President Carter in 2006.
The Berlin Schöneberg permanent exhibition ‘Wir waren Nachbarn’ commemorates his story along with other German Jews who lived in that quarter. My gratitude goes to the curator Frau Dr. Ladwig-Winters and Helmut Jerabek for their friendly permission to use the childhood photos and biographical information of the Eisfelder family.
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