Object numberM2018/018:037
DescriptionFinal letter from Jozsef Spitzer to his son Laszlo. There is a short message from Laszlo's brother Jeno at the end. Dated 25 April 1944.
Written upon hearing that Laszlo would be heading "into the theatre of war" as a forced labourer, Jozsef writes with the awareness he and his son may never be in contact again.
Alluding to the increasingly dire situation facing Hungary's Jews since the German occupation of Hungary one month earlier, Joszef writes "I am extraordinarily distressed by this legislation. All is to be lost after my hard work throughout a long life. My dear children’s life, happiness. Everything! Everything! But let us be men my dear son. We will bear our fate with courage and strength."
Jeno briefly similarly sends Laszlo his wishes at the end of the letter.
Jeno would be in contact with the family until later in 1944, but neither Jozsef nor Jeno would survive the Holocaust.
Joszef Spitzer was born into a poor family in Kunszentmiklos, a large village just south of Budapest. He ran a business transporting agricultural produce, building materials and household items. His difficult marriage to Etelka Spitzer produced three daughters and two sons: Ilonka, Margitka, Piroska, Jeno (b. 1897) and Laszlo. The Spitzer family was observant and involved with the synagogue. They fled their village in 1919 due to the anti-Semitic violence of the Hungarian White Terror. They returned in 1921 to a ransacked house and rebuilt, establishing a wheat and flour business. Etelka died before the War.
Jeno served in World War I. During World War II, he was drafted into the Jewish Labour Service, and died in forced labour at some time in late 1944 or 1945.
Joszef, along with his daughters and their children, were living in their houses in Csepel in 1944 until they were deported to Auschwitz. All were murdered, except for Piroska.
At the outbreak of war, László was conscripted into the army and then into the Jewish forced labour service. He survived and was reunited with his wife and children. The family Hungarianised their name to Sarkadi.
Fleeing Communist persecution, the Sarkadi's moved to Melbourne in 1958 and opened a restaurant. Laszlo died in 1986.
Written upon hearing that Laszlo would be heading "into the theatre of war" as a forced labourer, Jozsef writes with the awareness he and his son may never be in contact again.
Alluding to the increasingly dire situation facing Hungary's Jews since the German occupation of Hungary one month earlier, Joszef writes "I am extraordinarily distressed by this legislation. All is to be lost after my hard work throughout a long life. My dear children’s life, happiness. Everything! Everything! But let us be men my dear son. We will bear our fate with courage and strength."
Jeno briefly similarly sends Laszlo his wishes at the end of the letter.
Jeno would be in contact with the family until later in 1944, but neither Jozsef nor Jeno would survive the Holocaust.
Joszef Spitzer was born into a poor family in Kunszentmiklos, a large village just south of Budapest. He ran a business transporting agricultural produce, building materials and household items. His difficult marriage to Etelka Spitzer produced three daughters and two sons: Ilonka, Margitka, Piroska, Jeno (b. 1897) and Laszlo. The Spitzer family was observant and involved with the synagogue. They fled their village in 1919 due to the anti-Semitic violence of the Hungarian White Terror. They returned in 1921 to a ransacked house and rebuilt, establishing a wheat and flour business. Etelka died before the War.
Jeno served in World War I. During World War II, he was drafted into the Jewish Labour Service, and died in forced labour at some time in late 1944 or 1945.
Joszef, along with his daughters and their children, were living in their houses in Csepel in 1944 until they were deported to Auschwitz. All were murdered, except for Piroska.
At the outbreak of war, László was conscripted into the army and then into the Jewish forced labour service. He survived and was reunited with his wife and children. The family Hungarianised their name to Sarkadi.
Fleeing Communist persecution, the Sarkadi's moved to Melbourne in 1958 and opened a restaurant. Laszlo died in 1986.
Production placeHungary
Production date 1944-04-25
Subjectforced labour, labourers, Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, deportation, loved ones' final contacts, farewells, separation
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Techniquehandwritten
Dimensions
- letter height: 272.00 mm
letter width: 211.00 mm
envelope length: 161.00 mm
envelope height: 115.00 mm
Language
- Hungarian [ENVELOPE]
My dear father’s last letter 1944
[LETTER ITSELF]
Jozsef Spitzer Kunszentmiklos
Fuel and construction material merchant 25 April, 1944
Kunszentmiklos
My Dear Laci,
I was very much pained to read that you will need to go into the theatre of war. Unfortunately, we live in extraordinary times! Our lives, our fortune, our family face huge uncertainties. May God grant my dear Laci that I see you again with your dear wife and your sweet sons in good health. There is every need for you to bring them up to be decent people. May God guide and protect you. For our relief and that of your dear family we need you to keep your dear life and your good humour. When you were out the last time we didn’t even think about this. Before, when you took the bacon, I said an emotional good-bye. My dear Laci, we know nothing. I feel that I am losing ,my strength, my nerves are giving up on me and my blood circulation is getting worse. I am extraordinarily distressed by this legislation. All is to be lost after my hard work throughout a long life. My dear children’s life, happiness. Everything! Everything!
But let us be men my dear son. We will bear our fate with courage and strength. This was not caused by us. May God be with you. I want to thank you for being such a good son. You were a great help to me in everything. You were there for me in my widowhood. You gave me a lot of joy and happiness. And also your dear siblings. My hand that holds the pen is shaking and there are tears in my eyes as I ask God to to help you back to your family. If there is an afterlife, your dear mother will also pray for you.
With hugs and kisses
Your loving father
Jozsef Spitzer
I send my regards, kisses and love to Ilus and the grandchildren.
My dear Laci,
May God help you, so we can see each other again with our honesty intact, in good health. Write as soon as you can.
Lots of love and asking God’s blessing,
Your loving brother
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke