Letter from Betty Caspari to Inge Herrmann
Номер объектаM2020/023:010
НазваниеLetter from Betty Caspari to Inge Herrmann
Создатель Betty Caspari
ОписаниеUndated postwar letter from Betty Caspari in Sweden to her niece Inge Herrmann in Sydney. The letter addresses the uncertainty surrounding the survival of their family, including Inge's parents. Betty relays that she has been in contact with the British Allies office in Prague about their family who had been in Theresienstadt, holding a small hope for their survival. Betty attributes this hope to her meeting a woman from the same ghetto, who was freed by Count Folke Bernadotte.
Betty goes on to scold Inge on the lack of news of her changing career from working in a "low-class" factory job, as per her advice in previous letters. She states she should at least look for work as a household helper, as it is at least higher class than factory work. Betty encourages Inge to train in business skills to assist in career ambitions. Betty emphasises that Inge is a "descendant of a first class family", and that for "over a 100 years were highly esteemed in their home town." She further scolds Inge for getting close with "low-class" people such as "seagoing people" who "have a girl in every port."
Betty says that Annaleise Herrmann was "much older and sensible" than Inge when she arrived to Sweden and attained a better career. Betty encourages Inge to attempt to find work through the Jewish Community in Sydney.
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 goes on to scold Inge on the lack of news of her changing career from working in a "low-class" factory job, as per her advice in previous letters. She states she should at least look for work as a household helper, as it is at least higher class than factory work. Betty encourages Inge to train in business skills to assist in career ambitions. Betty emphasises that Inge is a "descendant of a first class family", and that for "over a 100 years were highly esteemed in their home town." She further scolds Inge for getting close with "low-class" people such as "seagoing people" who "have a girl in every port."
Betty says that Annaleise Herrmann was "much older and sensible" than Inge when she arrived to Sweden and attained a better career. Betty encourages Inge to attempt to find work through the Jewish Community in Sydney.
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.
Место изготовленияSweden
Дата circa 1946
Темаpostwar family interactions, establishing new life, refugee experiences in Australia, Theresienstadt ghetto, Australian link to Holocaust
Наименованиеletters
Материалpaper
Размерность
- width: 225.00 mm
height: 280.00 mm
Язык
- German From: Betty Caspari, Aunt, Sweden, World War II.
To: Inge Ruth Herrmann, Sydney.
My Dear Inge. You may well imagine how happy I was when there was a letter from you in the mail this morning, how excited I was to open it. I also complained a lot that I am left without any news from all my dear siblings, especially from your dear parents, the only ones from whom I last heard , and I have done everything to hear something about you in spite of everything because shortly before the takeover of the deportation camp I had a pleasant card both from your father as well as grandmother Manneberg (?).Only 2 weeks ago I got an English card from the office of the Allies(?) in Prague, to whom amongst others, I had applied, that they are fully involved in clarifying the stay in Theresienstadt of the last remaining inmates and ready to advise us immediately. Also there is a small hope that they are still alive. May God grant that this happened. A few months ago a lady from Theresienstadt came here to Uppsala with the help of the extra ordinary Count Bernadotte who liberated many thousands from the Ghetto. From your house, bringing them to Sweden. This young lady, whose children were educated for 8 years here in Sweden, told me that many people were left in Theresienstadt to the very end and that it is possible that we will still hear from them. This lady was in charge there of a nursing home, one of many that were in
? ( you are still not allowed to write except (?) in German). Part from that I am not happy with your letter! For a start I cant grasp why you are still going to the factory and have not found any other work. I have already written you that in my last letter. After all from your home, as well as school education you have been ready to set a good example, as handed down from your parents, you have the right to accept socially a better position even when you are placed in a household as a helper, this being better than working in a factory. Domestic helpers are highly regarded in the whole world, especially as for you, as young as you still are, this would be better than a factory girl, morally too. Were the girls with whom you came from Germany, there too? I am profoundly asking you as a
. ? girl, perhaps the only
.? not to write superficially, but in great detail, about your position. In any case, see to it, that you will get a better position. You will have to try, even
..? to train further in instruction to write by typewriter, stenography and reporting so that you can go as secretary (?) in a business office. Are you
in the family
. How else ? .. no longer in contact. They loved you from the start your
.of all things, you must go to them and discuss your economic position with them. So, you have to be aware that you are descendant of a first class family, the relatives of your father, for over 100 years were highly esteemed in their home town and your dear father was
.happy when he knew his only child was in that position. How do get on to be so close to seagoing people so that you right away are full of praise for them. Dont you know that these people have a girl in every port and that is a great pity for a Herrmann ?? S..? and Annaliese ? have got themselves a praiseworthy position, but she was much older and sensible than you when she came here and they had a connection to Heinz (?) and Harriett a. little Ilse R. was 11yers old when she got here, went to school for 6 years, stayed in the home of a teacher but as they transferred to a pension, together with her husband last year she had of course start looking for herself an income (
?) She has a good office position in Hahnstadt (?), provides for herself very properly, as her parents and grandmother have at the time come to Riga and of course are no longer alive. One day I had a very dear long letter from D
.? by her and am delighted by her bravery in running her life. And now my dear one, if I had you here in Sweden, where all emigrants have a
. position. In any case go sometimes to the Jewish Community in Sydney, as a very pretty girl like yourself, should surely find something better than a factory. I am writing you all this because you are closest to me as the only child of my dear brother and I am after all 76 years old and dont know how long I shall stay alive and give my love and advice.
Here I know two well informed ladies ,50 and 60 years old, one from Vienna, the other from Berlin, both of them for many years as
..? domestic helps doing all the household work and only now, after 6 years, getting a position, corresponding to their learned training having found a position with a University professor, as assistant and translator, but neither going to a degrading job in a factory. Heinz is now a pastor (?) in Stensele (?), Lappland and at Xmas I was with visiting them for two weeks, where I was well looked after. Both of them are enjoying a well regarded position, with Harriet on top of that giving concerts, which are getting very good critiques, with Hans delivering scientific lectures. Birger is a most charming child, is going to school for two years and has already skipped over one year. Maybe, you could write to them once in a while, and they will surely reply and offer advice. After all, you dont have to think so much about getting married, that has got time, when you will be more sensible, with understanding the difference between highly esteemed people and inferiors. I have enough experience. These days I have read a very impressive essay about Sydney, which must be a wonderful city. Make sure you use you 2 free days in the week to go walking, preferably alone than in bad company
..your further development, and you will see that it deliver more satisfaction than these
.? But now dont think that aunt Betty is lecturing (?) but do feel that here is a person who is replacing your parents, whom you can tell everything you come across and who will , as senior member of the family, will do everything for the youngest member of the family towards generating a decent respected person.
this is a convoluted sentence in the script and hopefully conveys the meaning ............... How did your dear parents to stay happy in their humiliation, knowing that both of them were in touch and that I can offer advice to you. And now to finish was impossible for them, it is nearly 10 oclock at night, and my sister will be visiting and will see how we are going on, because for some weeks now I have been sick. So do write in detail. As I understand there is no old age
.? Here and the name Gustavson is so widespread that in order to get back the picture one would have to have a very accurate address. Why dont you send a pretty snap of you. Deepest wish and kisses from your faithful aunt, Betty Caspari.
Take the trouble to improve your hand writing.
Also write to me what kind of work you are doing in the factory, haw mush you are earning per hour or week and how are your expenses for upkeep in detail and truly and you
.? Towards your parents. Unfortunately it is very far from here for a trip to there would by itself cost 35
.? That we have not seen each other, but she will try to get a position here or in Stockholm so that we could be together more often. Oh, if you were only here. AuntBetty.
Кредитная линияSydney 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.