Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

cartographic material

Date

1942-1995

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

During the Second World War, Dunkelman served as a major in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. After enlisting in 1940, he became a platoon commander. Dunkelman took part in the second wave of D-Day landings in 1944 and later assisted in the final Allied assault on Germany, earning the Distinguished Service Order. He left the army in 1945 after the war had ended. The Queen's Own Rifles Association and the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science organized a reception in 1976 to honour the publication of Dunkelman's autobiography, Dual Allegiance.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting Ben Dunkelman's involvement in the Second World War. Included are newspaper clippings, maps, photographs, and correspondence. Some files deal with Dunkelman's experiences during the war; others relate to Dunkelman's relationship with veterans after the war and, in one case, with his memories of the war. The files cover such subjects as The Queen's Own Rifles, Veterans, the liberation of The Netherlands, Aubrey Cosens (a soldier under Dunkelman’s command who was killed in battle but later honoured with the Victoria Cross), and the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

Notes

Physical description: Includes 85 photographs, 1 album, and 10 maps.

Name Access

Cosens, Aubrey, 1921-1945 (subject)

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

World War, 1939-1945

Related Material

See fonds 2, series 6 for more information on Dunkelman's involvement in the Second World War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1982

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of two letters, one to Ben Dunkelman from James Erskine, Commissioner and President of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, informing Dunkelman that he has been given life membership in the institute. The second letter is a reply to Erskine from Dunkelman.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1945

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of three newspaper articles related to Ben Dunkelman's success as a soldier in the Second World War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

3

Material Format

cartographic material

Date

1942-1943

Physical Description

10 maps

Scope and Content

File consists of nine operational maps and one map index of Europe. Dunkelman used the maps while fighting with the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada during the Second World War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

[194-?]-[198-?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of clippings related chiefly to Ben Dunkelman's work as a soldier during the Second World War. Several clippings, however, relate to his role in the Arab-Israeli War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1960-1976

Physical Description

85 photographs : b&w (84 contact sheet) ; 12 x 9 cm and 7 x 6 cm

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of photographs documenting a 1976 Toronto reception held to honour Ben Dunkelman and the publication of his autobiography Dual Allegiance. The reception was hosted by the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Weizmann Institute. Identified in the photographs are: Ben Dunkelman, Yael Dunkelman, Arthur Gelber, Rabbi Plaut, Phil Givens, Min Givens, Jules Hayman, Pep Levy, Jimmy Kay, Murray Koffler, and Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg.

Also included is a booklet by the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada entitled "1860-1960: 100th Anniversary Dinner, April 30th, 1960," a celebration that Dunkelman attended. This booklet includes religious service brochures, a dance programme, a pencil, a list of head table guests, and a letter in connection with the event. Several paragraphs outlining the regiment's history are printed on the back of the booklet.

Notes

.

Physical Condition

Records are warped.

Related Material

See fonds 2, series 1, file 26 and fonds 2, series 6, file 60 for additional material related to the 1976 reception.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

6

Material Format

textual record

Date

1995

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of one issue of The Rifleman, the journal of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. The magazine refers to Dunkelman on page 14.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

7

Material Format

textual record

Date

[194-?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains two newspaper articles related to Ben Dunkelman's activities during the Second World War. One refers to Sgt. Newell Corrigan, a man under Dunkelman's command in the Queen's Own Rifles.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

8

Material Format

textual record

Date

1980

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of notes, correspondence and a business card related to an interview Dunkelman took part in with Dutch television. The subject of the interview was Dunkelman's experience of the Second World War and the liberation of Holland and the Netherlands. The interview was with producer John Muller.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1981-1987

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains photocopies from a book about the liberation of Holland signed for Dunkelman by the author, Margot van Boldrik. The file also includes a newspaper article by Lew Gloin about Canadians--including Dunkelman--fighting in the Second World War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

10

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1986

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 album ; 30 x 26 cm

Admin History/Bio

Aubrey Cosens served as a sergeant in the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada during the Second World War and was under Dunkelman's command when the Queen's Own were fighting in Germany in 1945. He won the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence, papers and a newspaper article from the Toronto Sun relating to the 1986 opening of a Latchford, Ontario, bridge in honour of Cosens. Also included is an album containing 31 photographs and textual records relating to the Latchford bridge opening. Dunkelman attended the ceremony and unveiled a commemorative cairn in memory of Cosens.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1978-1979

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence and a newsletter related to the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC). The correspondence is a letter to Ben Dunkelman from Ben Kayfetz at the Canadian Jewish Congress, congratulating him on assuming full-time responsibility of the Joint Community Relations Committee at the CJC. The newsletter consists of announcements, along with a report providing information about an Anti-Nazi Committee.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Physical Condition

Some records are fragile.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

12

Material Format

textual record

Date

1987

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains correspondence and clippings in connection with the Canadian Jewish Congress and its attempt to bring Second World War Nazi war criminals to justice. Some items refer to the Deschenes Inquiry, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and former Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn. Ben Dunkelman assisted the CJC in persuading the federal government to track down Nazi war criminals.

Name Access

Canada. Prime Minister (1984-1993 : Mulroney)

Subjects

War crimes

Source

Archival Descriptions