Object numberM2018/008:081
Description
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 in Australia, Leo makes various applications to the Australian government for landing permits on behalf of his parents and Paul, all of which are denied. All three family members would eventually perish during WWII.
Whilst in Australia, Leo remains in contact with a wide network of friends and family. Leo’s maternal aunt, Anna Seifter, wrote this letter in late 1942 from the POW camp Ferramonti-Tarsia in Italy. It contains the news that Leo’s mother, along with their Prague relatives, have been deported to the east. Anna writes that she sells her clothes in the camp for extra income, hinting that financial support would be welcome.
Leo's Aunt Anna and her husband Abraham Seifter are amongst the prisoners to be released from the Ferramonti di Tersia camp following the downfall of Mussolini in September, 1943. They are also two of the approximately 1,000 refugees from the camp shipped to the US for the Fort Ontario refugee settlement in Oswego, NY - the only concerted effort made by the US during WWII to house Jewish refugees. Anna migrated to Australia after the war and the demise of her husband in the United States.
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 in Australia, Leo makes various applications to the Australian government for landing permits on behalf of his parents and Paul, all of which are denied. All three family members would eventually perish during WWII.
Whilst in Australia, Leo remains in contact with a wide network of friends and family. Leo’s maternal aunt, Anna Seifter, wrote this letter in late 1942 from the POW camp Ferramonti-Tarsia in Italy. It contains the news that Leo’s mother, along with their Prague relatives, have been deported to the east. Anna writes that she sells her clothes in the camp for extra income, hinting that financial support would be welcome.
Leo's Aunt Anna and her husband Abraham Seifter are amongst the prisoners to be released from the Ferramonti di Tersia camp following the downfall of Mussolini in September, 1943. They are also two of the approximately 1,000 refugees from the camp shipped to the US for the Fort Ontario refugee settlement in Oswego, NY - the only concerted effort made by the US during WWII to house Jewish refugees. Anna migrated to Australia after the war and the demise of her husband in the United States.
Production placeTarsia, Italy
Production date 1942-10-11 - 1942-10-11
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, concentration camps, poverty, prisoners of war, POW camp, Ferramonti di Tarsia internment camp, family life
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 268.00 mm
letter width: 179.00 mm
envelope length: 146.00 mm
envelope width: 95.00 mm
Language
- German Dearest Leonku and Bettinko,
Am happy to have the opportunity to write to you but unfortunately I don’t have any good news to impart, because your dear mother went to Poland on 6.6 and we have no news of her to date. I am so broken-hearted over this, I can’t tell you; nor has there been news from Pauli for a year. I made an enquiry half a year ago with the Red Cross which went without response. Pauli was last known to be in Sabac with his wife and child. Maybe you could enquire too.
I would be happy to stay in contact with you because none of our relatives are here anymore, and everyone in Prague has gone to Poland. We are going so-so, with nobody to help us except for you via Switzerland if it is possible on your end. I have been with Uncle in the camp for 4 months, where we sell our clothes to improve our livelihood.
If I hear any news about your dear mother I will write to you straight away. May G-d keep her in good health and may we all see each other and be together again.
Write whether you received news from me.
A thousand kisses,
Aunt Anna.
Best regards from your Uncle Seifter.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit