Letter
Object numberM2020/033:015
TitleLetter
DescriptionHandwritten letter in German dated 6 May 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 short letter Leopold and Cacilie wish Peter a Happy Birthday. They insist that Herbert "send pictures of all three of [them] and write very often, as it gives us pleasure when mail arrives and puts aside isolation"
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 short letter Leopold and Cacilie wish Peter a Happy Birthday. They insist that Herbert "send pictures of all three of [them] and write very often, as it gives us pleasure when mail arrives and puts aside isolation"
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 1940-05-06
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 206.00 mm
height: 328.00 mm
Language
- German
Piotrkow Trybunalski Ghetto to Shanghai
Letter #18
6 May 1940
My very dear children and Peterchen
First of all my dearest good Peterchen today I am reminded our Peterchen has a birthday on 8 July so I already send my heartiest congratulations together with the wish, that you will spend a pleasant day with your dear parents and grow up giving lots of happiness and becoming a well-behaved boy. Send a picture to your dear Omi. So how are you going my dear children? Please write again soon. I send my greetings to all and please give my greetings to my sisters and brothers-in-law.
Your Father
My very dear children and Peterchen
Dear Peterchen. For your birthday I send my heartiest congratulations be a well behaved boy and give your parents lots of happiness, and stay well Enjoy your birthday very pleasantly. We wonder very much that you don't receive our letters. From Lachmanns we again received 20 Zl and a very nice parcel Leopold also sent a very nice parcel. We hear often from Mrs Silbermann". How are you doing from the point of health and business, we would like to know exactly. How are the earning opportunities, you must write us about these. You must send pictures of all three of you and write very often, as it gives us pleasure when mail arrives and puts aside isolation. We also congratulate sincerely your dear child's birthday and that he brings you great joy. We wish you all the best good Pernosse health and very many greetings and kisses from
your dear Mother
(in left margin) Many greetings and kisses to our dear Peterchen. Regards to your dear mother and brother
Notes:
Leopold Weichmann, Cäcilie's brother, who with wife Herta were living in Berlin
Mrs Silbermann is Inge's sister Ruth
Heinz Lewin is Inge's brother in Shanghai
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.