Letter from Otto and Regina Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 14 June 1939
Object numberM2020/023:075
TitleLetter from Otto and Regina Herrmann to Inge Herrmann on 14 June 1939
Creator Otto Herrmann, Regina Herrmann
DescriptionLetter from Regina and Otto Herrmann to their daughter Inge on 14 June 1939. Regina writes for the majority; Otto contributes a shorter message at the end.
Regina relays to Inge that Otto has found "very, very heavy work" in a road construction job. She was worried Otto would not be able to cope with it, but he assured her it is manageable. Regina says that "there are other Jews there, there is no other work available for them, and one doesn't know how to earn a living." It pays 30 marks a week. Regina also adds that she is earning money too, although whether this is from some pay from her community kitchen or another job it is unclear. However, she does state that her work load has grown from serving 40 people every day, as of the last letter, to 70 people.
Regina laments that her and Otto have still not a received a permit to Australia. She states that "all the rich people get out and the (poor) stay behind." She also reports that "on Tuesday the Jewish school commenced again here, a teacher has come from Berlin, naturally the children don't like the lessons."
The letter continues with Otto's message. There is likely a page missing. Otto speaks of his attempts in contacting some cousins in Tel Aviv, despite, as he acknowledges, the hopelessness of doing so. Otto ends the letter after "only... a few words" as his hand, which was injured in Buchenwald, was too sore following his days work. He mentions that he has to leave for work at a quarter to 6 and that, despite the difficulty of the work, he hopes to adjust to it.
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.
Regina relays to Inge that Otto has found "very, very heavy work" in a road construction job. She was worried Otto would not be able to cope with it, but he assured her it is manageable. Regina says that "there are other Jews there, there is no other work available for them, and one doesn't know how to earn a living." It pays 30 marks a week. Regina also adds that she is earning money too, although whether this is from some pay from her community kitchen or another job it is unclear. However, she does state that her work load has grown from serving 40 people every day, as of the last letter, to 70 people.
Regina laments that her and Otto have still not a received a permit to Australia. She states that "all the rich people get out and the (poor) stay behind." She also reports that "on Tuesday the Jewish school commenced again here, a teacher has come from Berlin, naturally the children don't like the lessons."
The letter continues with Otto's message. There is likely a page missing. Otto speaks of his attempts in contacting some cousins in Tel Aviv, despite, as he acknowledges, the hopelessness of doing so. Otto ends the letter after "only... a few words" as his hand, which was injured in Buchenwald, was too sore following his days work. He mentions that he has to leave for work at a quarter to 6 and that, despite the difficulty of the work, he hopes to adjust to it.
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 1939-06-14
Subjectfamilies, loved ones' contact, immigration, forced labour
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 290.00 mm
height: 209.00 mm
Language
- German Magdeburg, 14.6.39
My most beloved sweet little Inge!
On Monday we received your so dear letter, many many thanks, we are happy and content when you are healthy and well. Ingechld, Daddy didn't mean it that way, when he mentioned the money, we do know that you are saving your money, Daddy was worried about the expense of sending mail by air. I am now used to the conditions in the kitchen, everything is going well and I am no longer so stressed, although I cook everyday for 70 people, sometimes even more. But now hear and be astonished: our very beloved daddy has work, very, very heavy work, road construction, since 8 days ago, I thought daddy wouldn't be able to cope, but he always says, it's manageable. There are other Jews there, there is no other work available for them, and one doesn't know, how to make a living. If daddy can bear it, he will get 30 Mark a week and I am also earning now, so we hope by G-d that we remain healthy, so we can pick ourselves up a bit again. Did you, beloved little Inge receive Aunt Kate's letter and did you go and see the doctor. How happy would we be if we only had something in our hands, at last, and could leave. All the rich people get out and the [1 word illegible] stay behind. Next week
are gong to England and wait there till they can get into the USA
.. Riesse came to see me in the kitchen today, she has good prospects of getting to England in the near future.
's luggage has already been sent on and he is expected to depart any minute. On Tuesday the Jewish school commenced again here, a teacher has come from Berlin, naturally the children don't like the lessons. The sportsground has been restored wonderfully, that's where the children have their sports-lessons. Apart from going to Bukau, we don't get away any more at all. Daddy is too exhausted when he gets home after work. We are delighted about the picture you have sent, we long so much to be with you again, our little Inge. How much will grandma enjoy it, when she receives your picture and news from you, hopefully they will arrive in time. We leave here on the 24.6 and return on the evening of 26, grandma and all the others are looking forward to it. I am going to finish this letter at home, so far I have been writing in the kitchen. Tell me, dearest little Inge, has Miss Wain taken on our sponsorship or not? Please tell us about it. I had heard from Mrs. ? Mannes ?, who is often in the kitchen here, that things are not working out well for W and ? H ?. ? Trautchen ? had been here for 2 days recently, and hopes to be able to leave soon, the whole family Stein sends you cordial greetings. How are you managing your hair, I had mine washed but I felt awkward about it. Gunter Janko has finally got the permit and his joy is great. Now I will finish. Remain healthy, beloved child, cordially greets and a thousand times kisses you, your loving Mum.
My beloved little Inge! The dear mum has told me all the news worth knowing, I can only offer you a few words, because my hand, which has worked all day with shovel and spade, refuses to get engaged with the fountain pen. From tomorrow we start half an hour earlier and finish half an hour later. I have to be there at 6 oclock, that means I have to leave home at a quarter to six at the latest, drive till
..
..have a ride up to O
.square and have then to go by foot for 12 minutes, I have to do very difficult work but it is earning money I think the body will get used to it. Have you received the letter from aunt Kate ? What steps have you taken to receive a permit ? Please dear child please write to me in the next letter (?) in great detail so that I can be informed (?). What have Herzbergs said about this that for us the Permit has been rejected? How
.no solution. Please send kind regards from me to Herzbergs. And now I have to close, keep well and stay well, well behaved too, best wishes , kisses in 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.