Letter
Object numberM2020/033:013
TitleLetter
DescriptionHandwritten postcard in German dated 9 April 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 explain that they "cannot settle down in the Ghetto and [are] out of sorts ... but [they] will remain here for a while and then come to you [in Shanghai]. Soon we will move into a private room but our address stays the same".
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 explain that they "cannot settle down in the Ghetto and [are] out of sorts ... but [they] will remain here for a while and then come to you [in Shanghai]. Soon we will move into a private room but our address stays the same".
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 1940-04-09
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 206.00 mm
height: 328.00 mm
Language
- German Piotrkow Trybunalski Ghetto to Shanghai
Letter #16
9 April 1940
My very dear children and Peterchen!
We received your letter No. 21 and sensed your well being I cannot settle down in the Ghetto and am out of sorts but it will with G'd's help get going again if only it got warmer. Your letters sent to Gnesen did not arrive, did they get sent back? From Uncle Julius and Martin we again received a parcel and also 10 R.M. so for the second time, which is very appreciated. We will remain here for a while and then come to you. Soon we will move into a private room but our address stays the same. As our postman is a Mr Krokowick from Inow. I don't know if you know him. In our Ghetto the districts Gnesen, Ino Mogilno Wagnowicz are together.
Many greetings and kisses from your Father.
An extra special greeting for my Peterchen. Please send a picture of him soon.
1 Reply Coupon received
(in left margin)
My dear children. I wish you a good Easter festival and all the best
Your Father
(on overleaf side) My very dear children and Peterchen!
We received your letter today and were very thrilled that you are all well, that is the main thing today your dear Father does not cope well with life in the Ghetto He cannot settle in I don't have it so easy, and with eating dear Father must go on a diet a bit I know that you are trying to do everything for us, but one cannot go forward using force dear G'd should grant us the one joy that we come together if I had the address from Lewins I would get various things. We need a suitcase and a bag maybe you have friends in Berlin that can supply these, one can send 5 Kg. Is there someone there from the Mursynski family, I have a lot of time, want to write everywhere but must have addresses write very often even if it is only a card. You don't say anything how the earning opportunities are it seems like you have enough to live on. We wish you healthy holidays very good business and many greetings and kisses from your loving Mother
(in left margin on overleaf side)
If I could get the address of Miss Dawidsohn she was at Lewin's. You must write more about Peterchen. Greetings and kisses from me
(in top margin)
Do you have the address from Johanna Juda' and Rosa Levy?
Notes:
Julius Lachmann married Paula (née Weichmann) sister of Cäcilie Nachemstein
Martin Weichmann is the brother of Cäcilie
Reich Mark: German currency used in Danzig where Julius and Martin lived
Inow./Ino = Inowroclaw, Polish name for former Hohensalza
The mention of Osterfest = Easter is very odd
Lewin's address: this implies Inge's sister Ruth Silbermann née Lewin
Mursynski (or Murzynski) is family on Cäcilie's mother's side
Johanna Juda née Murzynski and Rosa Levy née Murzynski, are daughters of Jacob Murzynski, and Cäcilie's cousin on her mother's side
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.