Walter Silberbach Collection

Collection

Identifier: LBIJER 34

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of materials (mostly official documents) pertaining to the physician Walter Silberbach (1892-1981) and his family.

Series I contains of materials pertaining to Silberbach's early childhood, his school time (certificates, programs of school performances), and his studies at the medical schools of the Universities of Bonn, Strasbourg, and Berlin (mostly certificates (originals and copies)) and his doctoral dissertation.

Series II consists of various documents pertaining to Walter Silberbach's service as army doctor including "Militaerpaesse" (army documents / draft cards) and iron crosses with attached certificates.

Series III contains mixed materials pertaining to Walter Silberbach's family in Germany and his emigration to Palestine. They include various family documents (birth certificates of himself and his daughters Suse and Maya, marriage certificates of himself and his wife Anni, and his parents and parents in law), certificates of vaccinations, documents of the "Wirtschaftliche Vereinigung der Aerzte des Stadt- und Landkreises Koeln", documents pertaining to Silberbach's tax payments, and documents pertaining to the membership in various organizations and clubs, furthermore, personal and official correspondence regarding his emigration and immigration to Palestine, his work permit as physician in Palestine, the Ha'avara transfer (transfer of goods), and various other materials.

Series IV contains materials pertaining to Silberbach's life in Mandate Palestine / Israel including documents about financial matters (invoices, bank documents, correspondence) and other official documents such as an application for a "certificate of naturalization" (1939), a student ID, and a curfew pass, food stamps, and correspondence and documents pertaining to applications for restitution.

Series V consists of materials (correspondence and official documents) pertaining to Walter Silberbach's profession as physician in Germany and Palestine / Israel from the beginning of his studies in 1913 to his retirement in 1962.

Series VI contains photographs of various family members ranging from 1914 (pictures from World War I) to the 1990s.

Dates

Creation: 1888-1994
Creation: Majority of material found within 1914-1962

Creator

Silberbach, Walter (Person)

Language of Materials

This collection is in German, Hebrew, English.

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:

Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

Biographical Note

Walter Silberbach was born in Solingen in 1892 to Sally Silberbach (1863-1923) and Martha Silberbach née Glaser (1962-1897). He grew up in Cologne and studied medicine in Bonn, Strassburg, and Berlin from 1913 to 1920.

In World War I he served as army doctor and was awarded several iron crosses.

In 1920, after having finished his medical studies, he married Anni Katzenstein (1897-1971), settled in Cologne, and opened his own medical office (general practitioner and obstetrician). The couple's first daughter Suse Esther was born in 1923 (who died shortly thereafter), the second daughter Maya in 1925. He was a member of the "Synagogengemeinde Coeln", Keren Kayemet, and the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith.

In November 1935 the family immigrated to Palestine. Walter Silberbach obtained a work permit as a physician and opened a medical practice in Tel Aviv, in which he worked until his retirement in 1962. He died in Tel Aviv in 1981.