100 Years of Erika Arlt and the Lost Transport

On March 30, 2026, Erika Arlt would have celebrated her 100th birthday. Her tireless dedication to the history of the transport of 2,500 Jews, which ended in Tröbitz, made it possible to preserve and share eyewitness accounts, photographs, documents, and correspondence with survivors. Rainer Bauer, who sees himself as her successor and heir, and the “Verlorener Transport” Working Group paid tribute to this important figure from the region. This was followed by a special highlight of the event: the premiere of the film “Jaap Hillesum” by Andreas Oettel from Hamburg. Jaap Hillesum was a passenger on the “Verlorener Transport” and was buried in Schipkau. Although the film is only 10 minutes long, it offers a concise insight into the events surrounding the “Lost Transport” and one of its victims. With the author’s permission, we are able to present it on the pages of our Arlt Archive.

- Photographs -

Click on the selected images (Source: Arlt-Archiv) to open a larger view.

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  1927: The earliest photograph: Erika with her family
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  1941: Erika as a young woman
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  1944: Destruction of Leuna, near Erika's home
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  1948: End of Nazi rule: Exhibition The Other Germany (GDR)
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  1952: Erika and Richard Arlt get married
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  1966: Jewish Memorial Cemetery inaugurated
  
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  1995: Memorial wall at the Jewish Memorial Cemetery under construction
  
  
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  Title page of Erika Arlt's documentation on the Lost Transport
  
  

100 Years of Erika Arlt and the Lost Transport: Documents and links -

- Press Releases and Documents -

• - Speech of Rainer Bauer (AG Verlorener Transport)
• - Article in the Lausitzer Rundschau marking the 100th anniversary of Erika Arlt's birth