Object numberM2019/052:001
DescriptionPhotograph of Fritz Brandmann (top row, third from left) and his military unit of the German Army, 1912. Fritz Brandmann was born in Berlin on 25 July 1887. He was Sub-lieutenant in the German army in 1912 and served in the First World War. With his wife Charlotte he had five children, Fritz (Fred), Johanna, John (Hans), Liselotte and Eva. The family operated a Jewellery business, Brandmann Jewellers and Watchmakers, which had very impressive premises in Berlin.
Fritz’s proud military involvement did not save him from being targeted on Kristallnacht, when Brandmann Jewellers was ransacked and the Brandmann family forced into hiding. Fritz, Charlotte and Eva hid in the home of the Scheffler family. Eva was friends with Else Scheffler, whose parents Karl Vick and Marie Scheffler risked their lives by hiding Jews. Fred was hidden by one of the Brandmann Jewellers employees. Hans stayed with one of his sports friends, Johanna with the Broker family and Liselotte with her friend Fritz Koblitz.
Else remembers the months that the Brandmann family stayed with them as a very painful time during which Fritz felt like a caged animal. While in hiding the family arranged their immigration to Australia. They were not allowed to take any money out of the country and all the goods in the Jewellery shop were taken away. They arrived on the Ocean Liner Narkunda in Sydney on 13 April 1939.
The family lived in Bondi and established Brandman, Expert Watchmakers and Jewellers, with premises at 89 King Street Sydney. Fritz sang as cantor at Temple Emanuel.
He passed away on 14 Jun 1959.
Fritz’s proud military involvement did not save him from being targeted on Kristallnacht, when Brandmann Jewellers was ransacked and the Brandmann family forced into hiding. Fritz, Charlotte and Eva hid in the home of the Scheffler family. Eva was friends with Else Scheffler, whose parents Karl Vick and Marie Scheffler risked their lives by hiding Jews. Fred was hidden by one of the Brandmann Jewellers employees. Hans stayed with one of his sports friends, Johanna with the Broker family and Liselotte with her friend Fritz Koblitz.
Else remembers the months that the Brandmann family stayed with them as a very painful time during which Fritz felt like a caged animal. While in hiding the family arranged their immigration to Australia. They were not allowed to take any money out of the country and all the goods in the Jewellery shop were taken away. They arrived on the Ocean Liner Narkunda in Sydney on 13 April 1939.
The family lived in Bondi and established Brandman, Expert Watchmakers and Jewellers, with premises at 89 King Street Sydney. Fritz sang as cantor at Temple Emanuel.
He passed away on 14 Jun 1959.
Production placeBerlin, Germany
Production date 1912 - 1912
Object namephotographs
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 260.00 mm
height: 200.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Margaret Brandman