Love

Marta Byk

Sixteen-year-old Marta was an ardent Zionist who wished to settle in the Land of Israel.

In 1939, Gertrude Byk managed to obtain U.S. immigration permits for herself and her two children, Marta and Herbert. Marta refused to come along. In November, she set out for Palestine, joining a group of 1,300 Jewish refugees who sailed down the Danube to reach the Black Sea. They got as far as Serbia but could go no further and organized for a stay in Sabac.
Marta began to write letters to her mother in January 1941. At the onset of the German occupation, her group was placed behind barbed wire and its members were subjected to abuse and murder. In October 1941, the men in the camp were taken away, ostensibly for labor, and were murdered. Marta, unaware of the men’s fate, told her mother in a letter that she had married a man named Marjan Furstenberg in March. She described him as a tall, dark-complexioned man, a car mechanic and radio technician by trade. On November 6, 1941, Marta communicated with her mother for the last time. By January 1942, the entire group, including Marta, had been murdered.

 

February 19, 1941

My beloved mother:

[This letter is not suitable for reading out loud!]
You don’t know how lonely I am. Today is my birthday and not a single person has written to me. The greetings business is nonsense but something like this is nevertheless hard to take. Do not be angry that this letter is so bitter, but there is no one with whom I can discuss the matter and it is quite natural that I turn to you.
 

November 18, 1941 To: Trude Byk

Brooklyn, NY

… Above all, do not worry; I am well, I am healthy and something else: I got married; in fact, already in March. This will appear very odd to you. The little girl! It has not been very long since I still went to school. Muttilein [little mother], don’t be shocked. I did not have a baby and also have no intention to make you a grandmother any time soon; that really can wait.
I am very happy and you will be very satisfied with your son-in-law. I shall introduce him to you: tall, dark etc.; name: Marjan Furstenberg, from Sabac, Jewish Emigration Camp, Serbia; 24 years old; profession: auto mechanic, electrician, and radio technician. At the moment he cannot write, as he has been working in the vicinity for a few weeks.
Mutti, I have to be reassured that you understand me, otherwise I would be sad. I have known for the longest time that you are my best friend.
Many greetings and kisses,
From Marta and Marjan