Letter fom Otto Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 18 February 1939
Object numberM2020/023:071
TitleLetter fom Otto Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 18 February 1939
Creator Otto Herrmann
DescriptionLetter from Otto Herrmann in Magdeburg to his daughter Inge Herrmann in Sydney on 18 February 1939. Otto urges Inge to ensure their hopeful sponsors know of the urgency of their situation in Germany. Otto also speaks of the continued exodus of the members of the Jewish community in Magdeburg, with many immigrating to other countries.
There is an associated letter from Regina Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:070).
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 Regina Herrmann on the same date (M2020/023:070).
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 1939-02-18
Subjectfamilies, loved ones' contact, immigration
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 297.00 mm
height: 205.00 mm
Language
- German From: "Vati" (Dad), Magdeburg, 18/02/1939.
To: Ingelein, Australia (?).
My Dearest and loved Ingelein. Many thanks for your dear letter, having gathered from it that you are keeping well, and as we hear this from you we are always delighted. They must be wonderful people surrounding you who mean very well through you and with us (?). For sure you would have told the ladies in what situation we find ourselves and they would do everything possible for us, in keeping with their Jewish feelings, perhaps Dear God may grant that we will be able to compensate them for it all. My dear child, you have to always carry out all requests to the complete satisfaction of the ladies so that they may have no cause to complain about you. Have you heard at all anything whether the lady the lady has written to the Governor(?) of Tasmania, and if yes, whether he was interested at all about the permit for us. By chance last Sunday we spoke
...? on
.street tin Bruckhaus and he said that his parents still haven't got the permit and when they are to get it is also not shown. For you
.? Rosenbergs (
.?) who wanted to request the arrangements has not been heard from and now Guenter (?) does not know at all what to do. Recently you wrote to us that you had sent through our Guenther (?) a letter (?) in English (?) to
.?, but we never received such. If the time should arrive at all that our emigration were in close proximity and really travel away, will be when we are on the boat. The congregation (?) is getting smaller day by day. Your mother is after all keeping you informed about all things new in the country so that you are fully aware about everything. Have you been in touch with the Erich Herzberg family all together, please send regards to them from all of us when you see them, when I am in the mood I shall write to the eminent family And so my dear child for today I am going to close, they disturb me all the time, at the moment F(?) Schubert and Walter Schubert are in the apartment again grumbling so that I can't concentrate your thoughts. Keep altogether well and stay pretty and good dear child with all the best wishes, 1000 kisses I remain with love, your father
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.