Unpacking the Suitcase: German-Jewish Refugees in New Zealand and the Afterlives of their Displaced Objects 1933-2015

<p>When German-Jewish refugees arrived in New Zealand in the 1930s fleeing Hitler’s Europe, they brought with them everything they could from their former homes: furniture, luggage, personal documents, musical instruments, artwork, books, silverware, linen, a typewriter. These humble and remarkable domestic objects survive today, a few in public heritage collections, but most in the private family homes of descendants. But while the Jewish refugee migration story is well known in public and academic circles, less so is the story of those objects. This thesis explores the relationship between refugee families, their descendants, and the material objects they have inherited. To what extent do refugee objects embody the memory of the prewar, European past? And how do the objects’ meanings change for refugees and their descendants, over time and in different custodial contexts? A major part of this thesis involved oral history interviews with refugee survivor families (mainly second-generation participants), and studying the interviews, letters, memoirs, and reminiscences of the first generation. Material culture objects were also analysed, and curated in an electronic archive (available for review). This thesis charts the slowly evolving significances of the objects throughout the various stages of the object migration journey. It examines themes of cultural identity, intergenerational memory, collection practices, and the private-public tensions inherent in the institutional custody of family objects. These themes are explored in three chapters, the first of which defines the German-Jewish refugee archive in New Zealand against the existing literature on displaced Jewish objects, by contextualising the New Zealand objects within the specific historical circumstances determining their owners’ migration journeys. The final two chapters analyse the usage and meanings of the objects in the ‘private archive’ of the family, and the ‘public archive’ of local and international collecting institutions. Drawing on insights from migration, material culture, Holocaust, and memory studies, this thesis is premised on the widely accepted argument that such mementoes function as mobile depositories of cultural identity and knowledge to ensure continuity between generations. Considering objects as nodes of memory for remembering a German-Jewish past (between Europe and New Zealand) characterised by the traumatic rupture of first generation silence, brings my research into conversation with the work of second-generation scholar Marianne Hirsch and Nina Fischer. But by addressing the role of collective memory and cultural identity in determining the future location and preservation of such artefacts, this thesis significantly extends the findings of Hirsch and Fischer beyond the private sphere to interrogate the perspectives of both families and collecting institutions. In doing so, it argues that New Zealand’s German-Jewish refugee objects bear multiple identities and meanings as a result of their dispersed, transnational history. In light of current international repatriation movements to return such artefacts to Germany, the provenance and significance of these objects is particularly pertinent today, as the first person authenticity of survivors rapidly fades, and the memorial sphere transforms to accommodate this change.</p>

Unpacking the Suitcase: German-Jewish Refugees in New Zealand and the Afterlives of their Displaced Objects 1933-2015

<p>When German-Jewish refugees arrived in New Zealand in the 1930s fleeing Hitler’s Europe, they brought with them everything they could from their former homes: furniture, luggage, personal documents, musical instruments, artwork, books, silverware, linen, a typewriter. These humble and remarkable domestic objects survive today, a few in public heritage collections, but most in the private family homes of descendants. But while the Jewish refugee migration story is well known in public and academic circles, less so is the story of those objects. This thesis explores the relationship between refugee families, their descendants, and the material objects they have inherited. To what extent do refugee objects embody the memory of the prewar, European past? And how do the objects’ meanings change for refugees and their descendants, over time and in different custodial contexts? A major part of this thesis involved oral history interviews with refugee survivor families (mainly second-generation participants), and studying the interviews, letters, memoirs, and reminiscences of the first generation. Material culture objects were also analysed, and curated in an electronic archive (available for review). This thesis charts the slowly evolving significances of the objects throughout the various stages of the object migration journey. It examines themes of cultural identity, intergenerational memory, collection practices, and the private-public tensions inherent in the institutional custody of family objects. These themes are explored in three chapters, the first of which defines the German-Jewish refugee archive in New Zealand against the existing literature on displaced Jewish objects, by contextualising the New Zealand objects within the specific historical circumstances determining their owners’ migration journeys. The final two chapters analyse the usage and meanings of the objects in the ‘private archive’ of the family, and the ‘public archive’ of local and international collecting institutions. Drawing on insights from migration, material culture, Holocaust, and memory studies, this thesis is premised on the widely accepted argument that such mementoes function as mobile depositories of cultural identity and knowledge to ensure continuity between generations. Considering objects as nodes of memory for remembering a German-Jewish past (between Europe and New Zealand) characterised by the traumatic rupture of first generation silence, brings my research into conversation with the work of second-generation scholar Marianne Hirsch and Nina Fischer. But by addressing the role of collective memory and cultural identity in determining the future location and preservation of such artefacts, this thesis significantly extends the findings of Hirsch and Fischer beyond the private sphere to interrogate the perspectives of both families and collecting institutions. In doing so, it argues that New Zealand’s German-Jewish refugee objects bear multiple identities and meanings as a result of their dispersed, transnational history. In light of current international repatriation movements to return such artefacts to Germany, the provenance and significance of these objects is particularly pertinent today, as the first person authenticity of survivors rapidly fades, and the memorial sphere transforms to accommodate this change.</p>

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in a trauma patient presenting with pneumoperitoneum: a case report

Background Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is a rare and usually benign condition in which multiple thin-walled cysts develop in the submucosa or subserosa of the gastrointestinal tract. While usually asymptomatic, severe cases can result in pneumoperitoneum, which can be managed surgically or medically depending on circumstances. We present a case of a patient with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, which presented as pneumoperitoneum following trauma. To our knowledge, there are no other published cases in which a trauma patient with pneumoperitoneum was found to have radiologic evidence of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Case presentation We present the case of a 37-year-old Hispanic male admitted to the hospital after being involved in a motorcycle accident. Computed tomography imaging of the abdomen and pelvis with oral and intravenous contrast demonstrated trace pneumoperitoneum, possibly originating from the splenic flexure of the colon without evidence of extravasation of oral contrast. Laparoscopy with conversion to exploratory laparotomy revealed bowel abnormalities at the distal transverse colon and splenic flexure, which were identified as pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis by pathology. There was no evidence of bowel perforation. A panel of abdominal radiologists attended the computed tomography interpretation to note that incidental atraumatic or traumatic rupture of the cysts could have caused the pneumoperitoneum. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and was transferred to another facility per insurance request. Conclusions When presenting in the context of trauma, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis can lead to difficult management decisions. To our knowledge, there are no existing evidence-based guidelines for the scenario of concurrent pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, blunt abdominal trauma, and pneumoperitoneum in a patient with a benign abdominal exam. This patient’s pneumoperitoneum was likely caused by rupture of preexisting cysts rather than frank bowel perforation. Patients who are asymptomatic, lack signs of clinically worrisome disease, and have a low pretest probability will likely not benefit from surgery and can be medically managed. Thorough discussion between surgeons and radiologists can be helpful when evaluating the clinical significance of a patient’s pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis and aid in the decision to perform surgery.

Traumatic rupture of thoracic epidural capillary hemangioma resulting in acute neurologic deficit: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Thoracic epidural capillary hemangioma is exceedingly rare, with only a few reported cases. The typical presentation usually includes chronic, progressive symptoms of spinal cord compression in middle-aged adults. To the authors’ knowledge, this case is the first report in the literature of acute traumatic capillary hemangioma rupture. OBSERVATIONS A 22-year-old male presented with worsening lower extremity weakness and paresthesias after a fall onto his spine. Imaging showed no evidence of spinal fracture but revealed an expanding hematoma over 24 hours. Removal of the lesion demonstrated a ruptured capillary hemangioma. LESSONS This unique case highlights a rare occurrence of traumatic rupture of a previously unknown asymptomatic thoracic capillary hemangioma in a young adult.

Surgical treatment of sagittal band injury and classification according to operative findings

Purpose: The indications for surgery in patients with acute closed sagittal band injuries are still undecided. The purpose of this study is to classify the types of injuries based on intraoperative findings of patients who underwent surgery for sagittal injury, and to present treatment plans and surgical methods.Methods: Twenty-five patients who had undergone surgical exploration for closed sagittal band injury between January 2011 and December 2020 were included in the study, comprising of 17 patients with acute injury within 3 weeks, four patients with chronic injury, and four patients who underwent surgery because symptoms did not improve during conservative treatment were included. Patients with laceration, fracture, and rheumatoid arthritis were excluded. Results: Sagittal band injury was classified into two groups: superficial sagittal band (SSB) injury and proper sagittal band (PSB) injury. SSB injury was observed in 75.0% of spontaneous rupture cases and PSB injury was observed in 66.7% of traumatic rupture cases. SSB injury was observed in 83.3% of Rayan and Murray classification type II cases and PSB injury was observed in 61.5% of type III cases (p=0.041). All four patients who failed conservative treatment and underwent surgery had PSB injuries.Conclusion: We successfully corrected the sagittal band injury with extensor digitorum communis tendon instability through surgical treatment. Sagittal band injury can be classified into two types depending on the anatomical injury pattern; SSB and PSB injuries. Surgical method and treatment plan can be chosen based on this.

Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Treatment of Posttraumatic Choroidal Neovascularization: a Case Report

An analysis of the case of applying a course of fibrinolytic therapy and one intravitreal injection of an angiogenesis inhibitor in a patient with traumatic rupture of the choroid complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is presented. Patient B., 20 years old, complained of a lack of objective vision after a blunt injury to his right eye in March 2018. Visual acuity decreased to 0.01 (ETDRS 0 characters). During the examination revealed: partial hemophthalmus, rupture of the choroid, Berlin retinal opacification. Local fibrinolytic conservative therapy with positive dynamics was carried out in the form of increasing visual acuity to 0.3 (ETDRS 21 characters) and partial resolution of hemophthalmus. According to optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), minimally active CNV was detected. Due to the weak activity of the pathological process, a decision was made on dynamic observation. A follow-up examination in August 2018 revealed an increase in CNV activity according to OCTA and fluorescence angiography (FAG), in connection with which intravitreal administration of ranibizumab (lucentis) was performed. Subsequently, the patient was under dynamic observation for one year. Positive dynamics was revealed in the form of an increase in visual acuity, first to 0.7 (ETDRS 48 characters) 3 months after intravitreal injection, and after a year — to 0.9 (ETDRS 55 characters). After treatment according to OCTA and FAG, the activity of CNV was not determined. Despite the favorable result of treatment, further monitoring of the patient is necessary, since the long-term prospects for maintaining the achieved high visual functions remain unclear due to the insufficient experience in treating patients with this pathology according to the literature.