Letter from Otto Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 23 January 1939
Object numberM2020/023:069
TitleLetter from Otto Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 23 January 1939
Creator Otto Herrmann
DescriptionLetter from Otto Herrmann to his daughter Inge Herrmann on 23 January 1939. The letter mainly speaks of the growing concern around permits for travel out of Germany, both for Otto, his wife Regina, as well as the greater Jewish community in Magdeburg. The letter speaks of how many Jewish people in the city were leaving for a variety of places.
It also appears that Inge was imploring her parents to leave Germany for any other country they could access while awaiting their Australian permit. However, Otto states that it would not be feasible as "the regulations state that we need a permit or affidavit in order to get a passport," and even then, they would also need an 'invitation' from another country. Otto addresses that in the case of England only "people under the age of 45" were being allowed to immigrate into their 'holding-camps'.
Otto also briefly speaks of the 'Jewish Newsletter', stating that it is "the only newspaper available to Jews (Familien blatt, Rundschau, Schild, etc. are no longer in existence)."
There is an associated letter from Regina Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:068).
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.
It also appears that Inge was imploring her parents to leave Germany for any other country they could access while awaiting their Australian permit. However, Otto states that it would not be feasible as "the regulations state that we need a permit or affidavit in order to get a passport," and even then, they would also need an 'invitation' from another country. Otto addresses that in the case of England only "people under the age of 45" were being allowed to immigrate into their 'holding-camps'.
Otto also briefly speaks of the 'Jewish Newsletter', stating that it is "the only newspaper available to Jews (Familien blatt, Rundschau, Schild, etc. are no longer in existence)."
There is an associated letter from Regina Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:068).
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 1938-01-23
Subjectfamilies, loved ones' contact, immigration
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 205.00 mm
height: 291.00 mm
Language
- German Magdeburg, the 23 January 1939
My dearly beloved little Inge!
We enjoyed your dear letter, which arrived yesterday, Sunday, very much, as we had longingly awaited for its arrival, for this time you have let us wait for an answer very long. You must not do that again, but you need to send a letter every week, even when you have nothing special to report, so there is no need for us to worry.
Mrs. Henschke came visiting us the other day and has asked for your address, she has written a letter to you whether you are able to do something for them to get a permit for Australia, they tried themselves, but were rejected, as were the Kallmannsohns. Kallmannsohns are going to Shanghai; what they want to do there is a mystery to me, they have taken a 4 hour lesson in English at Mrs Lili's, and Aron K said: we do know the basics of English now. To come back to the Henschkes, Mrs. H was going to send you a letter telegram with a paid reply slip a few days ago, and she will probably do that within the next few days, although we have repeatedly explained to her that you have very little influence on the issue of permits, however you can pass her request onto the Committee, but there is little else you could do for her, do frame your response to her in this way. We enjoyed the little picture you send very much, unfortunately it is hard to see anything on it without a magnifying glass, didn't you receive any other copies, Gisela had sent 4 pictures, on 3 of which you were featured, we had access to those pictures for a day, Mr. Z had brought them over, by the way, Mr. Z of Leipzig had been here yesterday for Sunday. Imagine, the newspapers and menus arrived yesterday with the letter, we enjoyed them greatly, now we know that you didn't starve on the SS Oronsay, and we also enjoyed the newspapers, there is so much to learn and to understand by reading them.
What are you writing that we should go abroad as soon as possible to await the permit, is without doubt meant well, but not feasible. The regulations state that we need a permit or affidavit in order to get a passport. Even if we have a passport we are only able to go abroad if we can get a letter of invitation of the sort you had received, then the question remains how are we going to make a living abroad. Unfortunately these holding-camps, as they are being established in England, are only intended for young people and people under the age of 45, as was reported in the Jewish newsletter, which is by the way the only newspaper available to Jews (Familienblatt, Rundschau, Schild etc are no longer in existence). So, I can only write to you again and again, go and see the Committee as often as you have the time and remind them or bring back into their memory that the permit for your parents is issued as soon as possible and that we need to leave Germany before the 31st of March, the permits for the men who had been in the camp during the last "Aktion" should and must be issued in a preferential way. As Uncle Heinrich told us, Gunter has written to you a letter, which you probably have in the meantime received, here is his address: G. Mbg c/o Boys Training Centre, Ham Green Pill. Nr. Bristol (England). Healthwise we have no complaints, otherwise we can manage everything in a calm and timely way, and as far as the new emigration is concerned we have to have patience like so many others and wait. We also had a card today from Grandma in Berlin. Uncle Heinrich also wants to get out, but is also not yet certain where to. Now, my dear child, I want to finish for today, please write, we hope to hear from you soon, be many times greeted and kissed by your very dear Daddy. It is possible that the matter about the permit could be sped up if it could be arranged to invoke the interest of the Governor of Tasmania, because such an important official can naturally achieve a lot.
Once again, greeting and kiss,
Daddy
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.