Object numberM2018/020:006
DescriptionLetter from the National Association of the Jews in Germany, Berlin-Charlottenburg, to Hilde Ehrlich, Hamburg, Germany, 16 February 1940. Written by Gerhard Springer (?) in response to her letter, he writes: "I am delighted with you that it is after all possible for you to get to your husband in Shanghai." He requests news about "our Melbourne group" as most of the time the parents "have to rely on the usual 25 words. The happy news from Mr. Fixl about Ingrid and Marion are a real pleasure. I am hoping that we will stay in touch with you, even when you are in Shanghai and from time to time you will send news about the children or even better send occasional letters."
On the eve of Kristallnacht, SS officers arrested Paul Ehrlich and deported him to a concentration camp. Paul’s sister and family crossed the border into Holland and managed to organize him travel papers for Shanghai. He was given two weeks to leave Germany. Paul left for Shanghai. His wife, Hilde, tried to get their daughters out of Germany, approaching different organizations. In early 1939 a friend who worked in the German Jewish Welfare in Berlin, told her that the Australian Jewish Welfare Society were willing to accept 17 Jewish children.
Hilde applied for her daughters, 10-year-old Ingrid and nine-year-old Marion; they found refuge in Australia on the Kindertransport. Hilde escaped Germany to join her husband in Shanghai; the family were eventually reunited in 1946 in Australia, after seven years of separation.
On the eve of Kristallnacht, SS officers arrested Paul Ehrlich and deported him to a concentration camp. Paul’s sister and family crossed the border into Holland and managed to organize him travel papers for Shanghai. He was given two weeks to leave Germany. Paul left for Shanghai. His wife, Hilde, tried to get their daughters out of Germany, approaching different organizations. In early 1939 a friend who worked in the German Jewish Welfare in Berlin, told her that the Australian Jewish Welfare Society were willing to accept 17 Jewish children.
Hilde applied for her daughters, 10-year-old Ingrid and nine-year-old Marion; they found refuge in Australia on the Kindertransport. Hilde escaped Germany to join her husband in Shanghai; the family were eventually reunited in 1946 in Australia, after seven years of separation.
Production date 1940-02-16 - 1940-02-16
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 300.00 mm
Language
- German National Association of the Jews in Germany. Berlin-Charlottenburg
Department: Migration. 16 February 1940
To: Mrs Hilde Ehrlich, Hamburg
Dear Mrs Ehrlich,
I have just received your letter of the 13th this month and am delighted with you that it is after all possible for you to get to your husband in Shanghai. I am still thinking about the night in Bremen, and it really is a happy solution for you how everything has worked out. Whether anybody else is going on the 20th this month, that you could contact, I don’t know at the moment but will make inquiries at the auxiliary club and will advise you then. I would be more than happy if we could make contact here in Berlin. Perhaps you could arrange this. I might add that our office has now moved to Meineke Street 10, Hartenhaus IV, Portal 1, Telephone 91 9031, Extension 84. To make sure, I am passing on to you my private address if you want to get in touch by letter or telephone on Saturday/Sunday: Berlin15, Dusseldorfer Street, 44/45, Telephone: 92 3254.
I would have been happy to take you to the train on your departure date, but can’t do it as I was lying in hospital over many weeks after a heavy operation, and only am working again for a week and have to look after myself. Perhaps you will still manage that we could have a chance to meet. In case this does not happen I would be delighted if we could get some news about our Melbourne group through yourself. Most of the time, after all, the parents have to rely on the usual 25 words. The happy news from Mr. Fixl about Ingrid and Marion are a real pleasure. I am hoping that we will stay in touch with you, even when you are in Shanghai and from time to time you will send news about the children or even better send occasional letters.
I am still hoping to meet up in Berlin, even if for a short time only, and send my sincere best wishes,
Yours Gerhard Springer? (difficult signature to decipher).
Contact Bank: A.E. Wasserman, E.J. Meyer Berlin.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ingrid Naumburger