Naftali Rozenblum

Part 1. from Birth to Betrayal

Record on JRI Poland of the marriage of Naftali's maternal grandparents

Record on JRI Poland of the marriage Naftali's parents

Naftali's parents' marriage document of 1892

Remains of the Headstone of Naftali's grandfather

Naftali or Natan Rozenblum was born in Warsaw, Poland, on 15 July 1900, the son of Moshek Rosenblum and Rachel Chmielewski.

At about the age of 14, Naftali became an apprentice tailor.

As of 1918 he was a member of the Communist Party and he became involved in activities of the tailors trade union. In 1923  he moved to Vilno to work for the Communist party. Six months after his arrival he was imprisoned at Brest where he was held for a number of  years. 

In 1929, again wanted by the police, and motivated by the poverty and antisemitism in Poland, Naftali decided to leave for Belgium to be with Curtla (Suknik) who had emigrated there a year earlier.

He arrived in Belgium early 1930 and settled at Rue des Dominicains 6 in Brussels. At that time Curtla was living in Szyja's (her brother) home at Rue des Bouchers 71 (Brussels).
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Natan, studio portrait, 1929, Warsaw

1930 May

They moved into an apartment at Rue du Télégraphe 16 in Brussels where they had their own tailoring workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1931 January 3.

Naftali and Curtla married at the Brussels town.

1931 July 26. Their son Karol (Charles) was born. Six weeks later the family moved to Rue des Camions 4 in Schaerbeek, Brussels.

1935 Naftali & Curtla moved house and settled in Rue Gaucheret, 70 in Schaerbeek where they stayed until World War 2

Naftali and Karol 1930s

This photo was most probably taken on Boulevard Adolphe Max in Brussels. There was a street photographer there and we have quite some pictures taken around that area. The photographer would take a picture of passers by who could then buy it.
(info. from Kazerne Dossin Museum)

Naftali, Karol and Cesia 1930s

 

Naftali and Karol 1930s

Naftali and Karol 1930s

Naftali remained politically active and frequented Jewish Communist circles as well as veterans of the Spanish civil war, and attempted to bring Jewish tailoring workers together and create a union. Natan also remained a member of the Communist party and Secours Rouge (later Solidarité and Gezert).
1937 August 4th Police Report: Naftali was under surveillance by the Belgian security police.

Translation

Polish national ROZENBLUM, Naftali, born in Warsaw (Pol) on July 15, 1900, worker tailor, husband of SUKNIK, Curtha, born in Warsaw (Pol) on July 1902, worker tailor, residing at no. 17 de La rue Casino in Schaerbeek, goes every day by train from 8.30 am to Antwerp, and does not return home until 8.15 in the evening.

In addition, we have established by observation, that he goes every day after 9:00 in the evening to the restaurant K BLOJFEDER, located 3 Place Bara in Anverlecht, where the local "MEDEN VEREIN" is located. On August 3 and 4, 1937, he attended meetings where there were fifteen members including two women, these meetings ended at 11.30 pm ROZENBLUM appears to be one of the leaders of this association.

He received a rather voluminous correspondence and the newspaper "NAJE FOLESCAJTUNG" (New newspaper of the people) or organ of the Independent Jewish Socialist Party SE P 398 this newspaper was sent to him under tape by the name STRAZEWSKI, Mauryey, not in Piotrkow (Poland) on January 13, 1898, dess. I.397. ???, domicile Chaussee de Mons 254 in Anderlecht. Rozenblum still receives regular visits from SCHMIDT T. Dora, A 19871.

He buys the newspaper "Le Peuple" every day at the Gare du Nord and in winter, he receives many people at his home until late at night. The
Polish firm JACHINEK (?), Abram, Zloczan, born in Zleczen (?) (Pol) on December 28, 1904, factory worker, husband of SIERADZKI, Blima,
born in Sarnow (Pol) on March 31, 1908, living in rue Broyere 3 in Anderlecht (SP I580.425 / SE3655) is known as a militant communist, he isone of the very active members of the "Prokor", where he deals especially with the recreational parties, he interprets the revolutionary declamations and songs, and sometimes travels in the provinces and abroad for communist demonstrations.

Polish national Cukier, Rubin, born in Zrydlowec (Pol), on August 18? 1, jeweler, husband  of GARFINKIEL, Sossa, born in Warsaw (Pol) on November 26, 1897, residing 20 rue de la Grande Ile in Brussels (SPI 425.182) is a communist militant very active member of the "Prokor", he deals especially with the organization of conferences.

Russian national DVOLAITZKY, David, born in Lodz (Pol) on September 16, 1898, employee, husband of ARKUSZ, Sura, born in Kalisz on April 14, 1896, residing no. 29 rue des Camions in Schaerbeek (S.P. I.336.693 / S (?). E.2460) is a militant communist, member of Prokor and is employed in an information office, located at Place Anness-sens (?) I2 in Brussels. We learn that the MEDEN VEREIN ..... with Prokot. Considering the frequent and assiduous relations of these people with DORA SCHMIDT, the latter could well have played a role of this meeting of companies.

World War II

1939 - 40

At some point after the invasion of Poland (September 1939) Naftali, as a Polish citizen, was drafted into the Polish army (partially recruited from Polish army personnel who escaped from occupied Poland and émigrés volunteers), fought in the Battle of France and ended up in a hospital in Rouen.


1940 June 4.
Attended and was admitted to the Polish Army Reception Station in Bressuire as a soldier 1st class.
1940 June 22
The Consulate of Poland in Toulouse hereby certifies that Naftali in 15/8/1900 due to current circumstances is free from all military obligations and consequently he can resume work. 		 

Historical Note: After the French Marshal Pétain's call for an armistice and demobilisation on 16 June the Poles had fought on until 19th June. A total of 24,352 Polish troops managed to evacuate France by the armistice deadline of 25 June. 

1940 May 10 Germany invades Belgium 

The Rozenblum-Suknik family were living at Rue Gaucheret, 73 in Schaerbeek  Brussels until at least 7th January 1941 when they registered as Jews living in Brussels. The Jewish population of Belgium at the time was between 70 000 and 75,000 out of a population of 8 million.

Notice 1940 October 28 All Jews required to register in Belgium

1941 January 7 Registration of the family

Ordinance of the German military authority of October 28, 1940 relating to Jews.

The ff. Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Health prescribes that, by order of the German Military Authority, the municipalities must urgently publish this notice.

Jews are required to register in the Jewish register.

The owners of Jewish establishments must request the municipal administration to precede the posting provided for by the ordinance.

By establishments we mean hotels, restaurants, cafes and various drinking establishments.

Reproduction rights  belong to the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels.

Their entries in the Jewish Register of Belgium (KD_00008) :

Registration in this municipal register was obligatory for all Jewish men, women and children older than 15 who were living in Belgium from December 1940 onwards.

The names of younger children were only added to their parents’ entry.

Naftali's ID card with Juif  - Jood stamped in red

Hiding and Resistance

1940 November

Naftali joined the army resistance group which passed en bloc to the Milices Patrotiques of the Front Patriotique I in July 1941.

He was recruited and engaged in clandestine activites under the command of A. Jochimek disseminating posters and pamphlets promoting resistance & sabotage and also worked recruiting new members to the Milices Patriotiques in Schaerbeek ( a district of Brussels)

He engaged in a number of sabotage actions which included prevents delivery of material to the Wehrmacht, the destruction of the railway line between Brussels and Charleroi.3 and the destruction of military vehicles. He also helped with other illegal activities, fundraising etc).

1942

Membership form of the Association des Juifs en Belgique( Jewish Association of Belgium)

Registration by this so called “Jewish Council” was obligatory for all Jewish families living in Belgium from the spring of 1942 onwards.


The reproduction rights of these images belong to the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Society in Brussels.

As of autumn 1942 Naftali also worked for the Comité de Défense des Juifs (Jewish Defense Committee) whose prime purpose was to protect and hide as many Jewish children as possible from transportation to the Concentration Camps.

He was involved in editing and distributing the clandestine newspaper Le Flambeau and also worked with Prof. Perelman collecting and distributing money to the people in hiding.

Chaim and Fela Perelman

Naftali's portrait taken at some point in 1943 presumably for the false identity papers (see below).

1943 October 25 False Indentity Papers

Naftali used the name Andre Kolarof, a Bulgarian, born 100 July 15. He is a tailor living at Chaussee de Helmet 100, Schaerbeek, Brussels. He used his real birthdate and profession, but a false address, but only 700 metres away from 68 rue Guido Gezelle where Naftali and Cesia were in hiding.

One can only guess at the choice of this identity. His identity card could be demanded for inspection by a member of the German occupying forces at any time. If Naftali retained a foreign accent, posing as a French or Dutch speaking Belgian would have been seen through quickly. 

At this point in the War Bulgaria was an ally of Germany and therefore being a Bulgarian was a safer choice as long as he was not stopped by any one who could tell the difference between French spoken with a Polish or Bulgarian accent . 

1944 April 3 - Betrayal and arrest

Naftali was going to an appointment and  was recognized by the traitor "Fat Jacques", (Gros Jacques - Icek Glosgowski), a well known jewish traitor.

He was arrested by the Sicherheitspolizei-Sicherheitsdienst  and was transferred from their Headquarters on Avenue Louise to the Dossin barracks in Mechelen on the same day .


Last update February 2021