Letter from Regina Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 7 September 1938
Object numberM2020/023:051
TitleLetter from Regina Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 7 September 1938
Creator Regina Herrmann
DescriptionLetter from Regina Herrmann to her daughter Inge on 7 September 1938 while Inge was traveling from Germany to Australia via England on the SS Oronsay. Since the previous letters from Inge's parents on 2 September, they seem to have received multiple letters from Inge. Regina replies to these letters stating her joy at Inge's well-being, and also advises her on how to live and conduct herself while on the ship.
There is an associated letter from Otto Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:052).
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.
There is an associated letter from Otto Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:052).
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 placeGermany
Production date 1938-09-07
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 207.00 mm
height: 294.00 mm
Language
- German Magdeburg, 7.9.38
My dearly beloved sweet child,
As Daddy already told you, we were happy when we had mail from you on Tuesday, says how good you are that you write so often, and it is after all the only joy one has now. I have to tell you, everybody is asking us whether we have news and what it is and I am always very proud and happy when I can say to everybody that we have, God be praised, positive news. Tell me, my good child, what do you need Persil* for, there is no need for you to do the washing or is
already dirty. Do you have hot and cold running water in your cabin, so that you can wash at any time of day? Do you still have such hot weather,
NOTE: LEFT SECTION OF PAGE 2 (12) ILLEGIBLE.
RIGHT SECTION:
Some work to knit
stockings.
Gisela writes that you are given such splendid fruit, isn't that just what you enjoy my dear little Inge? Tell me, my dear child, did you receive the postcard which Uncle F. had sent to you in London? Please write again to Berlin, grandma is old and happy when she hears from you. Sigrid had also been here on Monday and she was over the moon that you had written to her, I think she tells the whole world. Did you give as a present my good
, the crocheted one, when you were in London, if not you can give it to Mrs. B
, because the people are so nice. One always gets on in life when one behaves properly and pleasantly, people see at once what kind of home one comes from. Have you, my dear child, been able to get everything into your suitcase in London? I want to send the letter off, therefore I finish now. Stay healthy, embracing you and a thousand greetings and kisses,
Your loving Mum
*Persil: washing powder
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.