Letter from Kaethe Manneberg to Inge Herrmann
Object numberM2020/023:060
TitleLetter from Kaethe Manneberg to Inge Herrmann
Creator Kaethe Manneberg
DescriptionLetter from Kaethe Manneberg in Germany to her niece Inge Herrmann in Australia on 14 November 1938. This letter was written a few days after the events of Kristallnacht. Kaethe begins by assuring Inge that the Committee in Sydney (Joint American Jewish Distribution Committee), would take care of Inge. She asks how Inge has found work and comments that she is glad she is enjoying her time in Sydney.
Kaethe goes on to say: "Unfortunately you will already be confronted with great worries when you receive my letter, worries so great, they are far too great for such a young person.... Your dear little Daddy and Uncle Heinrich, are, as you know, no longer at home and everything possible needs to be done with the greatest urgency that they can emigrate."
This is in reference to the arrest of Otto Herrmann and Heinrich Manneberg during Kristallnacht, who were then sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp. Kaethe emphasises how important it is that Inge attains permits for her parents for Australia. Kaethe also relays that she has lost her job at 'the office' and is unsure if she will ever be able to work there again.
Kaethe ends the letter by cautioning Inge to be careful with what she says in her letters to them "for our sake."
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.
Kaethe goes on to say: "Unfortunately you will already be confronted with great worries when you receive my letter, worries so great, they are far too great for such a young person.... Your dear little Daddy and Uncle Heinrich, are, as you know, no longer at home and everything possible needs to be done with the greatest urgency that they can emigrate."
This is in reference to the arrest of Otto Herrmann and Heinrich Manneberg during Kristallnacht, who were then sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp. Kaethe emphasises how important it is that Inge attains permits for her parents for Australia. Kaethe also relays that she has lost her job at 'the office' and is unsure if she will ever be able to work there again.
Kaethe ends the letter by cautioning Inge to be careful with what she says in her letters to them "for our sake."
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
SubjectKristallnacht, migrant experiences, loved ones' contact, American Joint Distribution Committee, families
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 292.00 mm
height: 205.00 mm
Language
- German Berlin, 14 November 38
My dear, sweet little Inge,
Just now your dear mother has sent us your first letter from Sydney. We are very happy that you have now arrived at your destination after the wanderings. You have no idea how perturbed I was that you were left in Adelaide. Now, hopefully everything has turned out well and you, my little girl, can rely on the Committee from now on. For the time being that is the best thing, the members will always take care of you. And you, my little Inge, have really believed that we had not written to you yet? Surely you yourself don't believe it, I think we have given you enough proof of our love for you already. So, go to the Committee and pick up your birthday letter which I had sent there with an accompanying letter. We had also sent you a card to Colombo with good wishes for Rosh Hashana. We didn't write to A., because I wanted to wait and see how things would develop, I could imagine that the Committee in Sydney would request you. Now everything is going well with you and I am hopeful and wish you with all my heart, that you continue to enjoy your work, that you cope with it and that you obtain the position you are aiming for soon. First it is wonderful that you have what you have. And so much leisure time. Use it to your advantage and take good care of yourself, my dear little girl, you surely know, what I mean, don't waste yourself. Unfortunately you will already be confronted with great worries when you receive my letter, worries so great, they are far too great for such a young person. Your dear mother would have already written to you, that you have to try immediately to obtain a sponsorship to Australia for your parents. Your dear little Daddy and Uncle Heinrich, are, as you know, no longer at home and everything possible needs to be done with the greatest urgency that they can emigrate. I have written to America for Uncle Heinrich and asked very urgently for an affidavit. You, my little Inge, have to do all you can to find somebody to sponsor your parents. And it has to happen quickly. How things are for us here you would have learnt in the meantime from newspaper reports or through your German acquaintances, so I can spare you and myself to tell you about the misfortune that has engulfed us. We are all praying to a dear God that he may save us. I no longer work in the office, whether that will ever be the case, I dont know, in any case, we are trying to emigrate as quickly as possible. I feel so very sorry that my first letter to your new homeland contains so many sad things, but we cannot keep it from you, because all our hopes rest with you. So, do what you can for your parents. Speak with the members of the Committee, whether they can give you some advice and also with the lady who employs you. Eventually you could write to the Adelsons in Adelaide, they had made some promises in this matter already, didn't they. It is hard to judge from here what would be the right approach to take, so you have to make the decisions yourself. We load you with a proper burden but, my dear child, there is no other way.
By the way, the letter I had sent to the Committee had a reply slip enclosed, unfortunately I can't put one in to this letter because the post office had none left. There is no need to answer us directly, we receive copies from your letters, so you can save the postage. Just confirm that you have received this letter when you next write to your dear mother, whether we will be able to let your daddy read them later, we just don't know yet. And be careful in your letters, little Inge, for our sake. Oma (grandma) is heartbroken, I am to send you a thousand greetings and kisses from E. as well, he is since sometime visiting acquaintances. Don't forget us, as we do not forget you either. In love, your loving aunt Käte.
ADDED ON FRONT PAGE IN HANDWRITING ACROSS THE TOP:
I take this opportunity to send you cordial greetings and wish you all the best. Your aunt
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.