Letter from Betty Caspari to Inge Herrmann
Object numberM2020/023:006a
TitleLetter from Betty Caspari to Inge Herrmann
Creator Betty Caspari
DescriptionLetter sent from Betty Caspari to her niece Inge Herrmann following the end of the war in October 1945, addressing the lack of communication from Inge's parents who they last knew to be in the ghetto Theresienstadt. Betty relays concerns on the fact that her last parcel in January to them didn't come back with a receipt, but did get a licence. Betty relays how she has contacted multiple sources to attempt to track down a possible location of their family, but so far has been in vain. Inge and Betty were yet to find out that their family in Theresienstadt had been deported to Auschwitz in October 1944.
Betty also relays her worries on the lack of communication from Inge (who is in Sydney), and generally wishes her well. Betty also speaks of how well treated the immigrants in Sweden are by the Swedish government, who she describes as having lost everything and 'have become stateless'.
Betty goes on to speak on her own condition, and mentions how much the Herrmann family has diminished.
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.
Betty also relays her worries on the lack of communication from Inge (who is in Sydney), and generally wishes her well. Betty also speaks of how well treated the immigrants in Sweden are by the Swedish government, who she describes as having lost everything and 'have become stateless'.
Betty goes on to speak on her own condition, and mentions how much the Herrmann family has diminished.
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 placeSweden
Production date 1945-10-01
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 225.00 mm
height: 285.00 mm
Language
- German From: Betty Caspari, Uppsala, 1/10/1945
To: Inge
My Dear Inge, it is already 3/4 years since receiving your last communication and since January (?) we are also missing letters from your dear parents. Then in January (?) I had sent them a large parcel of groceries and was so happy to get a licence but there is no confirmation of receipt. You know for sure from the press that the ghetto in Theresienstadt has been closed down in January - February but we still get news from people who are still there and one may again write to them after the peace. I have tried since then to hear from them but all in vain. Many of them too are supposed to have been sent to Switzerland. But whether your parents were included they would have written to me or to you from this free country. Only since a few days ago it is now permitted to write. I have just written to the senior councillor of the Jews in Prague, Phillip del Montegaose (?) who handled all written communication and investigation to Theresienstadt. And now I am faced wth this worry about you from whom I didn't get any news any more. Why you at least don't write any more. You after all did promise? You know that I love you and am always thinking about you with my whole heart I am hoping that you are in good health and are working. It is a pity that you didn't go to Sweden at the time. All the immigrants are living happily here, all of them work and have jobs and all the ones that can't work any more are well(?) looked after. And so this summer I was for two weeks in an emigrant hostel for respite close to Stockholm and everything paid for by the Swedish Government. You won't believe the marvellous people the Swedes are, how kind towards the poor emigrants who through the fault of the ....? have lost everything and have become stateless. Heinz and his family are now far north where he has a position as 'pastor' (?) and on account of this I have become very lonely (?). But I have found a few first class friends with whom I often get together. I am thinking such a lot about you and would be very happy if I could hear more about your job and your life. And so, my dear Ïngelein" (?) don't forget more about your 76 year old auntie, you would not know how much longer you have got her. Annalise (?) Herrmann is keeping very well. In August, on my birthday, she visited me for 3 days, we, between us were very happy about this. Unfortunately for a few weeks now she has been sick. Now she can't come here again in October(?) as she first wanted. Ilse Reifeisen (?) is still in Vanersborg (?), has got an office job, is here already 6 years went to school here, came to Sweden 11 years old and is now 18. She too does not hear from her parents and grandmother. And Hilde Kamine(?)-Herrmann still resides in North Rhodesia, has a laundry with her husband is supposed to be going well. Annalise(?) however is only getting a short telegram every year on her birthday. You can't get letters from there, that is all that is left of the previous large family Herrmann. And now my dear Ingelein(?) best wishes and kisses and again please a long letter from you. With love, your auntie, Betty Caspari.
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.