A Czech customs guard's diligence and a blustery British weather have brought an end to three decades of secrecy surrounding a small suitcase filled with artworks, love letters, poems, and manuscripts created by Jewish artist and poet Peter Kien in the Theresienstadt ghetto during World War II. The suitcase, containing 681 items, had been jealously guarded by a Czech museum since its confiscation by communist forces, but it finally made its way to the Wiener Holocaust Library in London last Thursday.
The story begins with Helga Wolfenstein, Kien's lover and mother of Judy King, who received the small suitcase from her partner on the eve of his deportation to Auschwitz. After Kien's murder at the age of 25, along with his parents and estranged wife, Wolfenstein kept the suitcase safe for over three decades before passing it down to her daughter, who made a promise to reunite it with its rightful owner.
Wolfenstein had initially left the suitcase with her aunt in Prague, but it was confiscated by communist forces after being discovered by an informant. Despite repeated attempts to recover the suitcase, Wolfenstein's efforts were met with resistance from the Terezín Memorial Museum, which refused to return the artworks.
The situation took a turn for the better when Judy King visited the museum with her cousin and discovered that they were willing to work with her, but only if she could provide additional information. After months of coordination, the customs department finally relented, allowing the suitcase to be transported to London.
However, just as all seemed lost, a last-minute intervention by a friend who was coordinating the efforts from Prague managed to secure a customs clearance for the artworks. The suitcase arrived in London after a turbulent flight, but its contents were eventually settled into their new home at the Wiener Holocaust Library.
The library's senior archivist described the donation as "most grateful" and hailed it as a welcome addition to their archive of nearly 100 other Kien works that were smuggled out by King's cousin during the communist era. For Judy King, this reunion with her mother's legacy is a testament to her enduring love for Peter Kien's work and her dedication to preserving his memory.
The story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage during times of conflict and repression. Wolfenstein's determination to reunite with her suitcase and its contents was a beacon of hope in the face of adversity, and Judy King's perseverance has ensured that Kien's legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
The story begins with Helga Wolfenstein, Kien's lover and mother of Judy King, who received the small suitcase from her partner on the eve of his deportation to Auschwitz. After Kien's murder at the age of 25, along with his parents and estranged wife, Wolfenstein kept the suitcase safe for over three decades before passing it down to her daughter, who made a promise to reunite it with its rightful owner.
Wolfenstein had initially left the suitcase with her aunt in Prague, but it was confiscated by communist forces after being discovered by an informant. Despite repeated attempts to recover the suitcase, Wolfenstein's efforts were met with resistance from the Terezín Memorial Museum, which refused to return the artworks.
The situation took a turn for the better when Judy King visited the museum with her cousin and discovered that they were willing to work with her, but only if she could provide additional information. After months of coordination, the customs department finally relented, allowing the suitcase to be transported to London.
However, just as all seemed lost, a last-minute intervention by a friend who was coordinating the efforts from Prague managed to secure a customs clearance for the artworks. The suitcase arrived in London after a turbulent flight, but its contents were eventually settled into their new home at the Wiener Holocaust Library.
The library's senior archivist described the donation as "most grateful" and hailed it as a welcome addition to their archive of nearly 100 other Kien works that were smuggled out by King's cousin during the communist era. For Judy King, this reunion with her mother's legacy is a testament to her enduring love for Peter Kien's work and her dedication to preserving his memory.
The story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage during times of conflict and repression. Wolfenstein's determination to reunite with her suitcase and its contents was a beacon of hope in the face of adversity, and Judy King's perseverance has ensured that Kien's legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
this is amazing news! i mean, three decades of hiding a piece of history like that? it's crazy what people can do when they're driven by love and loss 
and the fact that Judy King went above and beyond to reunite her mom's suitcase with its rightful owner is just so inspiring 
. i'm glad the customs department finally came through (although that last-minute intervention by a friend was the real MVP 
). it's amazing what can happen when people work together for a common cause 
. anyway, i think this story is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the impact one person's love and perseverance can have on future generations 
.
. it's amazing what can happen when people just keep pushing forward 
. and i'm sure it wasn't easy for judy king, dealing with all that paperwork and whatnot 
. but in the end, it was worth it, right? to see her mom's legacy shine through again 
. anyway, it just goes to show that art can be a powerful thing, even in the darkest of times 
finally some good news about that suitcase! I mean, can you imagine having a piece of family history locked away for like 30 years? it's crazy how Wolfenstein kept holding onto it all this time. and the fact that Judy King didn't give up on trying to get it back is really inspiring. I'm glad everything worked out in the end and those artworks are going to be safe at the Wiener Holocaust Library 
I'm so thrilled to hear about this incredible story! The fact that a small suitcase containing Peter Kien's artwork, love letters, poems, and manuscripts was finally able to see the light of day after three decades is just heartwarming 
.
. It just goes to show that when people come together with a shared passion for justice and preservation, amazing things can happen 
! and judy king's dedication to preserving her mom's legacy is just amazing 
what a game changer for art & history lovers everywhere 
. and let's not forget the customs guard who helped make it all happen - that's some good ol' fashioned karma right there 