Letter from Regina Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 14 November 1938
Object numberM2020/023:059
TitleLetter from Regina Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 14 November 1938
Creator Regina Herrmann
DescriptionLetter from Regina Herrmann in Magdeburg to her daughter Inge in Australia on 14 November 1938. This letter was written a few days after the events of Kristallnacht. Regina writes:
"Now, my beloved child, your beloved daddy together with all our friends and relatives has gone on a journey and you, my beloved.... have to do everything in your power to request us as soon as possible, do not worry, that is pointless, we are here together as a large group."
This is referring to the arrest of Inge's father Otto and his brother during the events of Kristallnacht. It should be noted that the Herrmanns owned a business, which would have made them particular targets. They were sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. Regina emphasises multiple times the importance of Inge acquiring them a permit for Australia.
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.
"Now, my beloved child, your beloved daddy together with all our friends and relatives has gone on a journey and you, my beloved.... have to do everything in your power to request us as soon as possible, do not worry, that is pointless, we are here together as a large group."
This is referring to the arrest of Inge's father Otto and his brother during the events of Kristallnacht. It should be noted that the Herrmanns owned a business, which would have made them particular targets. They were sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. Regina emphasises multiple times the importance of Inge acquiring them a permit for Australia.
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 1938-11-14
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 295.00 mm
height: 205.00 mm
Language
- German Magdeburg, 14.11.38
My most beloved golden child!
Yesterday, Sunday, I received your dear letter and I can't tell you how happy I was to receive an address for you at last, may the dear God give that you have now been lucky and that you can stay there for a while. If you want to change I think it is a good idea to go to a hotel, learn fine and plain cuisine, you will succeed everywhere. Such
are sought after greatly and paid brilliantly. As you write, you also act as a translator/interpreter, that is also nice, so you meet many people and you can probably do something for us.
Now, my beloved child, your beloved daddy together with all our friends and relatives has gone on a journey and you, my beloved
have to do everything in your power to request us as soon as possible, do not worry, that is pointless, we are here together in a large group. Mrs. K sleeps at my place and in the evenings we are all at the ??
Mrs. Heu/Hen, belongs to us, she is more than charming towards me. Yesterday we were all in B., even ? Lieschen, ? Franke and Ruth - this evening I want to write a letter together with Ruth to ? Mrs. Mis Adelsohn ? [3 lines illegible] and now was the right moment. Grandma has to write to America at once, on account of uncle ? Friedrich ? . Hopefully you, my little sweet Inge, are healthy, which I can tell you, is also the case with me, that is the most important thing at present, to remain healthy
L
, Lotte
had gone to London, is supposedly dead, dreadful isnt it? Try not to go out so much in the evenings, that doesn't give a good impression
a lot to tell you
for the time being they have not received the permit to
Gisela would probably not have had a lot of mail from her mum, does she have an employment/a position yet? Did you get
or what/how was it done? Wasn't the committee rather
that you first stayed in Adelaide? Next week we are going to do a big wash, that means ? Franke ? and I will do the laundry together, we are really looking forward to that. When you are going to send pictures, little one, do not send them by air-mail, that is too expensive, we are already looking forward to them. The Berliners have written to you for your birthday as well
[3 words illegible]. How are Erich ? H ? and his family, the son probably looks often after you/checks on your well-being and have you spoken to any others Magdeburg? The ? Schilds ? have not yet
their
Now, my beloved child, I shall finish, see what can be done, you may eventually have to become our ? sponsor ?, we must not let anything leave undone/untried, everything has to be done, I embrace you, my beloved, little Ingechild, and kiss you a 1000000 times, your loving and sweet Mum,
All friends send their cordial greetings.
Grandma and grandpa are treating us with great kindness.
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.