Номер объектаM2018/008:032
ОписаниеLetter from Hermine Steiner, Austria, to her son Leo in Australia, 1939. Her son Leo escaped Vienna and arrived in Australia in 1938. Hermine writes, “…We were very pleased with your lovely letter, where you wrote that you went to Canberra. We hope that we will soon be approved. Don’t worry about the ship deposit. We’ll be able to take 350 pennies which should be enough. We won’t be a burden on the state as all three of us are able to work in order to make a livelihood. I can still work as a cook myself – as you know I have had a restaurant before, so could earn some extra money that way...” Luggage arrangements for their prospective journey to Australia are also discussed.
In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in the “Anschluss”. From May 1938, the racist Nuremberg laws applied in Austria, and Austrian Jews were steadily ostracised from their societies during the process of “Aryanisation.” This tension came to a climax in the Kristallnacht pogrom from 9th-10th November.
In the meantime, Hardy Brothers, a British jewellery-making firm, offer young Leo Steiner from Vienna employment in Sydney, Australia as a jewellery mounter in July 1938. However, the Gestapo threaten to arrest Jews issued with travel documents who do not leave within a short time. Whilst Leo’s Australian landing permit is pending, it is therefore prudent to seek temporary refuge in a third country. Before he is discharged from his erstwhile firm Vienna Art Designs, Leo’s employer Oscar Fastlich writes that his stay in Switzerland is necessary for business. In July, Leo moves to Zurich on a temporary stay visa, leaving his parents, Adolf and Hermine, and brother Paul, behind in Vienna.
Once established, he wrote constantly to the Australian Government petitioning for permits for his parents Adolf and Hermine, and brother Paul to come to Australia. Each time his applications were denied. They all perished in the Holocaust.
In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in the “Anschluss”. From May 1938, the racist Nuremberg laws applied in Austria, and Austrian Jews were steadily ostracised from their societies during the process of “Aryanisation.” This tension came to a climax in the Kristallnacht pogrom from 9th-10th November.
In the meantime, Hardy Brothers, a British jewellery-making firm, offer young Leo Steiner from Vienna employment in Sydney, Australia as a jewellery mounter in July 1938. However, the Gestapo threaten to arrest Jews issued with travel documents who do not leave within a short time. Whilst Leo’s Australian landing permit is pending, it is therefore prudent to seek temporary refuge in a third country. Before he is discharged from his erstwhile firm Vienna Art Designs, Leo’s employer Oscar Fastlich writes that his stay in Switzerland is necessary for business. In July, Leo moves to Zurich on a temporary stay visa, leaving his parents, Adolf and Hermine, and brother Paul, behind in Vienna.
Once established, he wrote constantly to the Australian Government petitioning for permits for his parents Adolf and Hermine, and brother Paul to come to Australia. Each time his applications were denied. They all perished in the Holocaust.
Место изготовленияVienna, Austria
Дата 1939-04-12 - 1939-04-12
ТемаHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), refugee experiences in Australia, refugees, refugees, visa application, Canberra, landing permit, Visa Refusal, family life
Наименованиеletters
Размерность
- letter length: 211.00 mm
letter width: 148.00 mm
envelope length: 162.00 mm
envelope width: 112.00 mm
Язык
- German My dearest Leo,
We were very pleased with your lovely letter, where you wrote that you went to Canberra. We hope that we will soon be approved. Don’t worry about the ship deposit. We’ll be able to take 350 pennies which should be enough.
We won’t be a burden on the state as all three of us are able to work in order to make a livelihood. I can still work as a cook myself – as you know I have had a restaurant before, so could earn some extra money that way. At this stage we are still able to work, as we are healthy, which is the most important thing. Your father longs for work but unfortunately we don’t have any at the moment; we are used to working.
Pauli would love to go to Italy, and we are trying to talk him out of it since the permit will arrive soon and we’ll leave Vienna together. I have no idea what he will end up doing. Today he bought me a beautiful carrier bag, a big brown leather one, and I am so excited for the journey.
[Unclear passage about luggage arrangements].
Write to me soon about what you have arranged. Uncle and Aunt send their regards as well as all of our friends.
A thousand kisses,
From,
Your Mama.
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit