I0037

Kalman Beeri

1895 — 1971

Karl Tiefenbrunner

Chiel Kalman Tiefenbrunner

Biography

Kalman Beeri was born Karl (also recorded as Chiel Kalman) Tiefenbrunner on 3 May 1895 in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Galicia, the son of Alfred Tiefenbrunner and Sarah Rachel, née Scharf. He worked as a diamond cutter and merchant, and was registered in Antwerp in 1913–14, before the family home at Bretten, Baden, drew him back around the outbreak of the First World War. He served in the Austro-Hungarian army, based at Cheb, from April 1915 to November 1918, and acquired Baden citizenship that November. He then lived in Cologne (1920–23) before moving to Chemnitz, Saxony, where on 24 October 1923 he married Rachel Hillinger/Schneeweiss. The couple moved to Karlsruhe in November 1924; their son Wolfgang (later Zeev Beeri) was born there in 1927, and Kalman worked as caretaker of the Youth Home and Study House. The family's Baden citizenship was revoked by the Nazi state on 9 October 1933, and on 8 September 1936 Kalman, Rachel and Wolfgang immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, arriving at Haifa and settling in Ra'anana. During the Second World War Kalman served in the British Army's Royal Pioneer Corps (Palestinian company PAL/13522) from November 1940. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war from April 1941 — at Stalag VIII B Lamsdorf, Stalag 383 and other camps — until August 1945. On 9 March 1949, in Ra'anana, he and Rachel changed their names from Karl and Rachel Tiefenbrunner to Kalman and Rachel Beeri. He filed a German restitution (Wiedergutmachung) claim in 1957 and visited family in the United States and Canada in 1961–62. He died in Ra'anana on 11 October 1971 and is buried at the Old (Klausner) Cemetery.

Occupations2

Diamond cutter
Merchant

Life events23

Birth
3 May 1895
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Poland
Birth of Karl Tiefenbrunner
Residence
estimated between 1913 and 1914
Antwerp, Belgium
Registered in Antwerp
Residence
8 Aug 1914
Bretten, Germany
7, Weißhoferstraße, Bretten, Germany
Military Service
between 12 Apr 1915 and 9 Nov 1918
Cheb, Czech Republic
World War I
Historical Significance in Karl's Timeline Timing (April 12, 1915): Karl left for Eger/Cheb less than a year after World War I began. Citizenship Connection: Since the document notes Karl was an Austrian citizen at the time, moving to Eger (then part of the Austrian-led empire) was essentially moving to his home country or a territory where his citizenship was recognized. Return: He remained away until November 9, 1918—the exact weekend the German Empire collapsed and the Armistice was being finalised—at which point he returned to Bretten.
Residence
9 Nov 1918
Bretten, Germany
20, Pforzheimer Str., Bretten, Germany
Citizenship
to 23 Nov 1919
Austrian
Naturalisation
24 Nov 1919
Baden citizenship acquired on November 24, 1919
Residence
between 13 Dec 1920 and 25 Jan 1923
Cöln, Germany
Moved to Cöln
Residence
20 Feb 1923
Chemnitz, Germany
Travel to Chemnitz
Residence
24 Oct 1923
Chemnitz, Germany
Registered at 9, Hartmannstraße, Chemnitz, Germany
Marriage
24 Oct 1923
Chemnitz, Germany
with Rachel Beeri
Marriage of Kalman Beeri and Rachel Beeri
Residence
17 Nov 1924
Karlsruhe, Germany
Moved to Karlsruhe
Birth of Son
9 Feb 1927
Karlsruhe, Germany
Zeev Beeri
Revoked Citizenship
9 Oct 1933
Bretten, Germany
The Baden citizenship was revoked
Employment
15 Jun 1934
Karlsruhe, Germany
Karl takes up the position of caretaker of the Youth Home and Study House
Immigration
8 Sep 1936
Haifa, Mandatory Palestine
From Germany to Palestine
Military Service
between 27 Nov 1940 and 21 Aug 1945
The military service of PAL/13522 Cp1 Karl Tiefenbrunner - Royal Pioneer Corps.
This is a record of military service for Corporal Karl Tiefenbrunner during World War II. Here is a breakdown of his service history: Service Timeline 27.11.40 Enlistment-Joined the Royal Pioneer Corps (Regular Army). 16.01.41 Promotion-Promoted to Acting Unpaid Corporal. 17.01.41 Egypt-Began overseas service in Egypt. 16.04.41 – 03.05.45 Prisoner of War-Spent over 4 years as a POW. 21.08.45 Discharge-Officially discharged from service.
Prisoner of War
29 Apr 1941
Stalag 383, Germany
Aug 2, 1941: Arrived at Stalag VIII B Lamsdorf from Stalag Marburg. Aug 26, 1942: Transferred from Stalag VIII B to Stalag 319. Apr 17, 1943: Transferred from Stalag 319 back to Stalag VIII B. May 24, 1943: Transferred from Stalag VIII B to Stalag 383
Date Movement Details Aug 2, 1941 Arrived at Stalag VIII B Lamsdorf from Stalag Marburg (Stalag XVIII D). Aug 26, 1942 Transferred from Stalag VIII B to Stalag 319 (Chelmo/Lublin, Poland). Apr 17, 1943 Transferred from Stalag 319 back to Stalag VIII B. May 24, 1943 Transferred from Stalag VIII B to Stalag 383 (Hohenfels, Bavaria). Military Information • Nationality: England (indicated by the blue stamp). • Rank: Uffz. (Unteroffizier), which is the German equivalent of a Corporal/NCO. • Unit (Truppenteil): Pion. (Pioneer Corps). • Matriculation No. (Matr. Nr.): 13522. • Captured: 29.4.41 (April 29, 1941) in Kalam. * Historical Context: This likely refers to Kalamata, Greece. Thousands of British and Allied troops were captured there in late April 1941 during the evacuation of Greece.
Name Change
9 Mar 1949
Raanana, Israel
From Karl and Rachel Tiefenbrunner to Kalman and Rachel Beeri
Restitution Claim
11 Feb 1957
Raanana, Israel
A German Wiedergutmachung (reparations/restitution) file for Kalman Beeri, formerly known as Karl Tiefenbrunner, born 3 May 1895 in Kalvaria, Poland.
Visit
between 15 Oct 1961 and 11 Feb 1962
United States
Travelled to the USA and Canada to visit family members on Board the ship SS "Israel"
Leaving Israel: 15 Oct 1961 Entered the USA: 30 Oct 1961 Entered Canada: 1 Jan 1962 Returned: 11 Feb 1962
Death
11 Oct 1971
Raanana, Israel
Death of Kalman Beeri
Burial
12 Oct 1971
The Old Cemetery, Raanana, Israel
Cemetery: Old Cemetery, Klausner | Block: 1 | Plot: Yod (10) | Row: 3 | Grave: 23
Residence
Date unknown
Raanana, Israel
18, Brener Street, Raanana, Israel