David and Louise Schneider papers

The David and Louise Schneider papers contain documents and correspondence relating to David “Deszo” Schneider and his wife Louise Schneider (née Roth). Both in Belgium at the time of Nazi occupation, David spent 6 months in Camp de Gurs before escaping in 1943 while Louise hid in an attic in Mons-lez-Liège, Belgium to evade capture from 1942 until her liberation.. Included in the collection are correspondence with family, identification cards, photographs, and paperwork related to restitution from the German government. The David and Louise Schneider papers primarily consist of correspondence to Louise’s siblings between 1941 and 1944 and paperwork documenting the couple’s restitution claims against the German government between 1957 and 1985. Also included is a letter sent to David while in Camp de Gurs in 1943 from the Hungarian Embassy requesting his citizenship certificate and Belgian identification cards for both David and Louise issued in 1955 and 1956, respectively. One photograph of Louise’s sister, Böszi, and one photograph of Louise’s grandfather, Marcus, and sisters Ella and Rachel are also included in this collection. David “Deszo” Schneider was born in Budapest, Hungary on January 14, 1907. David was trained as a tailor and was living in Belgium at the time of Nazi invasion. In 1943 he was sent to Camp de Gurs but managed to escape after only six months of detention. After his escape, David assisted the French underground by making uniforms. David married Louise Roth in Antwerp, Belgium on May 28, 1946 and had a son, Robert Schneider, the following year in 1947. The family immigrated to the United States in 1956 on the SS Mauritania and was naturalized in New York before moving to Miami Beach, Florida. Louise Schneider (née Roth) was born in Felsoviznice, Hungary on December 20, 1907. Also in Belgium at the time of Nazi occupation, Louise evaded capture by hiding in an attic at the home of Edmond Mélice’s parents in Mons-lez-Liège, Belgium. From 1942 until her liberation, Louise stayed in a small chamber under the roof of the house and was supplied food by friends. Louise married David Schneider in Antwerp, Belgium on May 28, 1946 and had a son, Robert Schneider, the following year in 1947. The family immigrated to the United States in 1956 on the SS Mauritania and was naturalized in New York before moving to Miami Beach, Florida.