Letter from Otto Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 16 September 1938
Object numberM2020/023:054
TitleLetter from Otto Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 16 September 1938
Creator Otto Herrmann
DescriptionLetter from Otto Herrmann to his daughter Inge on 16 September 1938 while Inge was traveling from Germany to Australia via England on the SS Oronsay. This letter gives Inge an update on the lives of Otto and her mother Regina, as well as some of the people living in Inge's hometown of Magdeburg. Otto remarks on the fact that he believes Inge "will have a beautiful service for Yom tov on board", stating that they could all use prayers for good fortunes in these times.
Otto also speaks on the fact that around the time the letter is received Inge would be arriving in Fremantle, Australia. Otto says that "may God grant that you may step on Australian soil at a happy time, for this land shall become your homeland for the rest of your life."
There is an associated letter from Regina Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:053).
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.
Otto also speaks on the fact that around the time the letter is received Inge would be arriving in Fremantle, Australia. Otto says that "may God grant that you may step on Australian soil at a happy time, for this land shall become your homeland for the rest of your life."
There is an associated letter from Regina Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:053).
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 1938-09-16
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 208.00 mm
height: 294.00 mm
Language
- German Magdeburg, 16 September 1938
My dearly beloved little Inge!
We had actually already expected a letter a few days ago from you, well, let us hope that it will arrive tomorrow. Now my dear child, this letter will reach you only a few days after Rosh Hashana, which is a great pity, I wish you my heartfelt good wishes and blessings for the new year, may the Eternal One give you good health and every happiness in this world, may God grant that you may step on Australian soil at a happy time, for this land shall become your homeland for the rest of your life. You will probably find our last letter (when you arrive) in Colombo, we did not write to you in Aden because our local post office did not know how long a letter would take to get to Colombo, which is the reason why I sent it a few days earlier. When you arrive in Fremantle you are nearly at the end of your journey and hopefully you have withstood it well healthwise. The Jankos are beside themselves because Gisela has not received any mail, Gisela told her parents to get a manual from us how we go about that you are receiving our mail, I told them to add "Orient Line", for then the mail will possibly be forwarded. The other day we spoke with Mrs. Oppenheim-Sternau, she sends her regards, she has a present for you which she will send you at the next opportunity. Then there was a piece of news your dear mother had forgotten to tell you, Rosel Eichhorn has become engaged to a certain Mr. Schmidt of Berlin, Linienstreet, it was published in the "Rundschau". Werner Lindheim has written to us that he had been successful with everything he had wanted in the USA, only because of the great demand at present he will have to wait quite a while before he has assembled all the required papers/documents. On Sunday evening we were with Mr. Z at the St's, who went out although they knew that we were coming, we considered that rude, quite rightly. As we hear Gudrun is supposed to get married tomorrow, as we are officially not aware, we will not let on. Mrs. Herzberg has died, not Erich H's mother but the wife of Herzberg who lives in Arndtstreet, you once took a petticoat to them, the husband owns an "Aulis", now you know whom I mean, don't you? I had asked already before whether you had looked after Mr. Ratz's letter, he comes to see us all the time, asking us about it. Then we had asked you to send us a menu, we want to know whether our dear little daughter has enough to eat and what she is given. The other day we had a very cool day and Mr. Z made a fire with his coals in our lounge to delight us and as we got home he said we should take our meal there; I have to tell you that for some time now we eat in your room, grandma Wandrow has taken our curtains and we didn't want to eat in a room without curtains; and there is room back there, after our evening meal we go back to the front. Wasn't that hugely kind of Mr. Z. Now my child I will finish for today. I think you will have a beautiful service for Yom too on board, pray for yourself and us for a lot of good fortune, you know, we all can do with it in these times. So, once more all the very best for the high holidays and for your new year of life and also for your arrival on a new continent, this wishes you wholeheartedly with cordial greetings and kisses, I am your Daddy.
IN HANDWRITING:
On Saturday the trade-fair will start on the square in front of the cathedral, people will be surprised when their sales of fish-rolls decrease, since you are no longer here. From now on I shall give the letters numbers and you can let us know which numbers you have received, don't forget.
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.