Postcard from Theresienstadt by Otto and Regina Herrmann to Heinz Caspari and his wife
Object numberM2020/023:002
TitlePostcard from Theresienstadt by Otto and Regina Herrmann to Heinz Caspari and his wife
Creator Regina Herrmann, Otto Herrmann
DescriptionPostcard from Otto and Regina Herrmann in the Theresienstadt ghetto to Heinz Caspari, their nephew, and his wife in Uppsala, Sweden in August 1944. The Herrmanns address Heinz, thanking the couple for a gift received via Lisbon. They relay well wishes to the Casparis and their family, and enquires after the lack of correspondence from their daughter Inge and sister Betty (Heinz' mother). They also relay gratitude to God that Regina's mother who is 85 years old that June is still alive in the ghetto with them.
Part of a collection of over 60 letters to Inge-Ruth Poppert (nee Herrmann) from 1937 to 1957, as well as memorabilia and personal documents that detail the Holocaust experiences of the Herrmann family, and the establishment Inge's life in Sydney, Australia.
Inge was born on 12 October 1922 in Wolmirstedt, near Magdeburg, Germany to Otto and Kate-Regina Herrmann (nee Manneberg). Inge lived in Wolmirstedt, but attended school in Madgeburg from 1933. The family relocated to the city of Magdeburg in 1935 where Otto owned two shops. Due to anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish legislation, Otto had lost his clothing business in Wolmirstedt. However, from 1937 with the increasing Aryanisation of Jewish assets and property, the Herrmann family again forcibly lost their remaining businesses and way of life.
Despite the worsening risk to all Jews in Germany, Inge's parents initially resisted emigration, though in 1937 they decided that their daughter should leave. Inge was approved to go to Australia after being assessed in Berlin. She arrived in Sydney via London in September 1938.
Otto and Regina lived in increasing poverty and anxiety. Otto was arrested in 1938 and sent to Buchenwald for a brief period before being released. In October 1942 they were deported to Theresienstadt. Inge received no sign of life from her parents from 1944 and only learned years after the war that they were deported to Auschwitz in October 1944 where they were murdered.
Part of a collection of over 60 letters to Inge-Ruth Poppert (nee Herrmann) from 1937 to 1957, as well as memorabilia and personal documents that detail the Holocaust experiences of the Herrmann family, and the establishment Inge's life in Sydney, Australia.
Inge was born on 12 October 1922 in Wolmirstedt, near Magdeburg, Germany to Otto and Kate-Regina Herrmann (nee Manneberg). Inge lived in Wolmirstedt, but attended school in Madgeburg from 1933. The family relocated to the city of Magdeburg in 1935 where Otto owned two shops. Due to anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish legislation, Otto had lost his clothing business in Wolmirstedt. However, from 1937 with the increasing Aryanisation of Jewish assets and property, the Herrmann family again forcibly lost their remaining businesses and way of life.
Despite the worsening risk to all Jews in Germany, Inge's parents initially resisted emigration, though in 1937 they decided that their daughter should leave. Inge was approved to go to Australia after being assessed in Berlin. She arrived in Sydney via London in September 1938.
Otto and Regina lived in increasing poverty and anxiety. Otto was arrested in 1938 and sent to Buchenwald for a brief period before being released. In October 1942 they were deported to Theresienstadt. Inge received no sign of life from her parents from 1944 and only learned years after the war that they were deported to Auschwitz in October 1944 where they were murdered.
Production placeTheresienstadt ghetto
Production date 1944-08-07
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 150.00 mm
height: 100.00 mm
Language
- German From Otto and Regina Herrmann, Theresienstadt. 21/09/1944
To: Mr. and Mrs. Caspari, Uppsala (Sweden)
(Stamp) Replies only through Jewish Elders Council Prague V, Phillip de Monte Gasse 18.
Dear Heinz! this morning I received a small packet via Lisbon and thanking you and your dear wife very much for the gift. Just for today, the birthday of your dear mother, lots of my thoughts are with you in Sweden and I hope that my dear sister is in good health. Unfortunately for a long time now we are left without any correspondce from her, neither from Inge, which is causing us great concern. The mother of my wife, who was 85 years old in June is thank G.o.D still around, the same for her sister Kate, we are still in daily contact with them. How is your little son, the small Birger who is giving you a lot of pleasure, for sure, he by now a strapping young fellow. We would be very happy to hear from you soon in some detail. And best wishes from your uncle and aunt. Keep well,
Otto and Regina Herrmann
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Kim Poppert
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.