Letter
Object numberM2020/033:003
TitleLetter
DescriptionHandwritten letter in German dated 4 June 1939. This letter was written by Leopold and Cacilie Nachemstein in Gniezno, Poland, to their son Herbert, his wife Ingeborg, and their grandson Peter in Shanghai, China.
In this letter Leopold and Cacilie wish Peter a happy birthday and enquire as to whether the family has secured accomodation in Shanghai. Cacalie ask after the health of Ingeborg's parents, Isidor and Alice Lewin, who have also emigrated to Shanghai.
This letter is part of a collection donated by Peter Nash (Nachemstein). The letters document his family's migration to Shanghai, where approximately 18,000 European Jews relocated from 1938 to 1941. Many of these refugees continued on to Australia and the United States at the end of the War.
Peter's maternal grandfather refused to leave Berlin during Hitler's rise to power. As a World War I veteran who had fought for the former Kaiser, he firmly believed that the Nazis would never harm him. Soon after Kristallnacht, in November 1938, Peter's parents, Herbert and Ingeborg, received an eviction notice from the owners of their apartment in Berlin. It stated, "Under the principles of the Nazis it is not acceptable for Aryan tenants to live under the same roof with Jews. We therefore demand that you vacate the premises."
The family chose not to vacate immediately as they were unable to obtain entry visas to another country. On hearing that Shanghai did not require an entry visa, Peter, Herbert, Ingeborg, her parents Isidor and Alice, and her brother decided to leave Berlin. The family travelled by train to Genoa, Italy in April 1939, before boarding the German steamship SS Scharnhorst. Peter recollected that his maternal grandfather was devastated to leave Germany, but that unlike dozens of other family members, their lives were saved by their decision to leave. Sadly, Peter's grandfather died one month after reaching Shanghai, after suffering complications from a heart attack before the journey.
Herbert's parents, Leopold and Cacilie were still living in Poland in 1939 and did not want to emigrate. Soon after Germany occupied Poland, Peter's grandparents were sent to Piotrkow Trybunalski ghetto, along with over 300 other Jews. Herbert and Inge exchanged letters with them throughout 1940 until April 1941, after which they never heard from them again. In late 1942, all the remaining inmates of Piotrkow Trybunalski were transported to Treblinka and murdered.
"My parents rarely spoke about Europe or our lives there. What I know I mostly learned from many artefacts they brought with them to Shanghai, then to Sydney, such as letters, certificates and photos. My father also made carbon copies of his typed letters, from which I learned about myself in Shanghai to the age of six. One of his parents' letters suddenly had a different return address, which meant my grandparents had been sent to a ghetto." - Peter Nash
In this letter Leopold and Cacilie wish Peter a happy birthday and enquire as to whether the family has secured accomodation in Shanghai. Cacalie ask after the health of Ingeborg's parents, Isidor and Alice Lewin, who have also emigrated to Shanghai.
This letter is part of a collection donated by Peter Nash (Nachemstein). The letters document his family's migration to Shanghai, where approximately 18,000 European Jews relocated from 1938 to 1941. Many of these refugees continued on to Australia and the United States at the end of the War.
Peter's maternal grandfather refused to leave Berlin during Hitler's rise to power. As a World War I veteran who had fought for the former Kaiser, he firmly believed that the Nazis would never harm him. Soon after Kristallnacht, in November 1938, Peter's parents, Herbert and Ingeborg, received an eviction notice from the owners of their apartment in Berlin. It stated, "Under the principles of the Nazis it is not acceptable for Aryan tenants to live under the same roof with Jews. We therefore demand that you vacate the premises."
The family chose not to vacate immediately as they were unable to obtain entry visas to another country. On hearing that Shanghai did not require an entry visa, Peter, Herbert, Ingeborg, her parents Isidor and Alice, and her brother decided to leave Berlin. The family travelled by train to Genoa, Italy in April 1939, before boarding the German steamship SS Scharnhorst. Peter recollected that his maternal grandfather was devastated to leave Germany, but that unlike dozens of other family members, their lives were saved by their decision to leave. Sadly, Peter's grandfather died one month after reaching Shanghai, after suffering complications from a heart attack before the journey.
Herbert's parents, Leopold and Cacilie were still living in Poland in 1939 and did not want to emigrate. Soon after Germany occupied Poland, Peter's grandparents were sent to Piotrkow Trybunalski ghetto, along with over 300 other Jews. Herbert and Inge exchanged letters with them throughout 1940 until April 1941, after which they never heard from them again. In late 1942, all the remaining inmates of Piotrkow Trybunalski were transported to Treblinka and murdered.
"My parents rarely spoke about Europe or our lives there. What I know I mostly learned from many artefacts they brought with them to Shanghai, then to Sydney, such as letters, certificates and photos. My father also made carbon copies of his typed letters, from which I learned about myself in Shanghai to the age of six. One of his parents' letters suddenly had a different return address, which meant my grandparents had been sent to a ghetto." - Peter Nash
Production placePoland
Production date 1939-06-04
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 216.00 mm
height: 273.00 mm
Language
- German Gniezno to Shanghai
Letter #4
4 June 1939
My very dear Children!
On the coming of the birthday of your beloved son my heartiest congratulation the blessed G'd grant you always good health, all you wish for so that you only experience joy from your son.
Hopefully when you receive this letter you will already have accommodation, because we get very worried about you and the Lewin family. How is the health of Mr. Lewin and Peter. Not a minute goes by that we don't think about you. So far we have had various letters. We wish you all the best, have a pleasant birthday and be many times greeted and kissed from your dear Mother
Greetings to the Lewin family
My dearest Peterchen!
I send you my heartiest congratulation to your birthday and wish you good health, and give your dear parents much joy, be a hard-working boy, hopefully you are now completely well when you get this letter. How do you like it there, tell your father to write all about it. Enjoy your birthday and stay real well and be many times greeted and kissed from your dear Omi
My dear Peterchen!
I send my heartiest congratulation for your birthday, and wish you all the best and above all good health. Enjoy the day really pleasantly and think of your Opi.
Best regards, your Opi
Notes:
The date was at the bottom of the overleaf page a?: Gniezno d. 4/6.39
Isidor Lewin: Inge's father had a heart attack prior to leaving Berlin in April 1939 for Shanghai via Genoa, Italy. He passed away on 19 June 1939.
Omi and Opi: the affectionate names for Peter's grandmother and grandfather which he never had the chance to say to their face
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Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Peter Nash
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.