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 in order 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. When the German occupation began, her group was placed behind barbed wire and was subjected to abuse and murders. 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. By January 1942, the entire group, including Marta, had been murdered.
 

February 19th, 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 congratulation business is actually a 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 it and it is quite natural that I come to you.
 

November 18th, 1941

To: Trude Byk
Brooklyn, NY

…Above all, do not worry; I am well off, 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 go into shock. I did not get 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, in Sabac, Jewish Emigration Camp, Serbia; 24 years old; Profession: auto mechanic, electrician and radio technician. At the moment he can not write as he has been working in the surroundings fro a few weeks.
Mutti, I have to know that you understand me, otherwise I am sad. I have known for the longest time that you are my best friend.
Many greetings and kisses
From Marta and Marjan