Letter
Object numberM2020/033:011
TitleLetter
DescriptionHandwritten postcard in German dated 17 March 1940. This letter was written by Leopold and Cacilie Nachemstein in Piotrkow Trybunalski Ghetto, Poland, to their son Herbert, his wife Ingeborg, and their grandson Peter in Shanghai, China.
In this letter Leopold and Cacilie inform Herbert that they have received his most recent letter, but that they wish he would write more regularly as the post is often significantly delayed. They also note that "to date nothing has been heard from Danzig about Uncle Nathan and his two sons and nephews".
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 inform Herbert that they have received his most recent letter, but that they wish he would write more regularly as the post is often significantly delayed. They also note that "to date nothing has been heard from Danzig about Uncle Nathan and his two sons and nephews".
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 1940-03-17
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 205.00 mm
height: 328.00 mm
Language
- German Piotrkow Trybunalski Ghetto to Shanghai
Letter #14
17 March 1940
My very dear Children!
We were very happy with your letter dated 4.2.1940 which we received 10 March. Your letter does not mention one word of dear Inge, not one word of our dear Peterchen, so hopefully he is well and up and about, and also that there is a letter coming with a greeting from him. In any case we often mention to your sister-in-law in Berlin if she has heard from you, and then we calm down some. My dear children write a letter every week so that we get mail from you regularly. And please a few words about your dear boy. So my dear children be many greetings and kisses from
Your Father
To date nothing has been heard from Danzig about Uncle Nathan and his two sons and nephews
Please give regards to my sisters and brothers-in-law. We got the Reply Coupon, here we cannot get them, otherwise I would have enclosed some.
My very dear children and Peterchen!
After a long while we received your lovely letter and we are very worried, that no mention was made of your dear child and that gives us terrible worries, not even a greeting was mentioned from the child. You can imagine how we are feeling. We are not so young anymore your dear Father is not feeling special. The letters to Gnesen did not get here. We will do everything as you tell us. Everyone had to inform where one has relatives, but nothing happens quickly. We already asked Inge's sister why you made no mention of Peterchen. How is your health and do you earn enough to live have you settled already and can you stand the climate better write to us soon, even if it is only a card. We wish you all the best health and Pernosse, and send many greetings and kisses from your loving Mother
Notes:
This letter took 5 weeks to get from Shanghai
Nathan Nachemstein and two unnamed sons = Lothar and Hans) and Lisser nephews
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.