Josef Blech
Josef Blech (b. 1894) lived in Terezin, where he owned a cigarette shop. Before complete evacuation of the Aryan inhabitants of the city to make room for construction of the Jewish ghetto, Blech acted as an intermediary between the Jews, who were already inside the ghetto, and their families outside. He brought them money and food from relatives. The initial contact was established through a Jew living in the ghetto who had a permit to purchase food outside the ghetto. He also distributed rat poison, brought prisoners news about the advance of the allied forces. About 15 messages were sent daily. Blecha read the messages in the presence of a cellmate, and then tore them apart and threw threw away.
Blekha had an incredible memory and could transfer letters by heart, without forgetting anything. Blech was also attracted to the courier service of his bride, who lived in Prague. He turned her house into a collection point messages for ghetto inmates. In June 1942, after the evacuation of the rest Aryan inhabitants from the city of Terezin, Blecha moved to Bogushovice, from where continued to provide assistance to those who were in the ghetto.
Among the prisoners of the ghetto, Blecha helped the Katz family — father Siegfried, mother Elsa and their daughters Eva (b. 1924) and Vura (b. 1926). Before the war they lived in Terezin. They knew Blech very well, and he was concerned about their well-being. In addition to financial assistance, he also helped them get to the ghetto doctor. Dr. Tosia helped the Katz family get exemption from deportation to the East. Unfortunately, only Vera survived. An unexpected search of the home of Blecha’s fiancée in Prague in the spring of 1943 changed the situation.
During interrogation, Blekha’s fiancée revealed information that eventually led him to be sent to Oranienburg. In April 1945 he was put on a transport to Neuruppin. When he came under the care of the Red Cross, he was a sick man. After his recovery, Blech returned to Bogušovice nad Ohri, and no one knows what happened to him afterwards… Vera moved to Canada on August 10, 1994.
Blekha had an incredible memory and could transfer letters by heart, without forgetting anything. Blech was also attracted to the courier service of his bride, who lived in Prague. He turned her house into a collection point messages for ghetto inmates. In June 1942, after the evacuation of the rest Aryan inhabitants from the city of Terezin, Blecha moved to Bogushovice, from where continued to provide assistance to those who were in the ghetto.
Among the prisoners of the ghetto, Blecha helped the Katz family — father Siegfried, mother Elsa and their daughters Eva (b. 1924) and Vura (b. 1926). Before the war they lived in Terezin. They knew Blech very well, and he was concerned about their well-being. In addition to financial assistance, he also helped them get to the ghetto doctor. Dr. Tosia helped the Katz family get exemption from deportation to the East. Unfortunately, only Vera survived. An unexpected search of the home of Blecha’s fiancée in Prague in the spring of 1943 changed the situation.
During interrogation, Blekha’s fiancée revealed information that eventually led him to be sent to Oranienburg. In April 1945 he was put on a transport to Neuruppin. When he came under the care of the Red Cross, he was a sick man. After his recovery, Blech returned to Bogušovice nad Ohri, and no one knows what happened to him afterwards… Vera moved to Canada on August 10, 1994.
