Object numberM2020/040:006
DescriptionLetters from Karolina Sonnenfeld in Vienna to her daughter Elsa Strauss in England in June 1939. Elsa and her daughter Hetty had immigrated to London in March of that year. Karolina wrote often to her family; usually every second day. The letters give insight into her loneliness and the increasing persecution and restrictions for Jews in Austria.
On 10 June 1939 Karolina wrote about an English book, which was almost impossible to buy because One is not allowed to own books, which are not original from here (M2020/040:006c). In the process of Nazification which began immediately after the Anschluss, it was forbidden to own degenerate artefacts, literature or any kind of media. Karolina wrote often about her difficulties with the public authorities, for instance her attempts to obtain all necessary emigration documents. She had appointments at the currency office and kept contact with her lawyer, who was managing her emigration. On 22 June 1939 she received a notice to appear at the regional court in order to assess her health condition. She attended the court but was never called up and she went home completely desperate and concerned about the future (M2020/040:006h).
Part of a collection of 71 letters and postcards, a diary and driver's license relating to Henrietta (Hetty) Hardy (nee Strauss), her mother Elsa Strauss (nee Sonnenfeld) and her grandmother Karolina Sonnenfeld (nee Löwy).
Hetty was born 21 April 1920 in Vienna. They family lived in an apartment in the city but owned a large farm about 25km away. When her father Jacob died of heart failure in 1929, they moved into her maternal grandmother's apartment, so Karolina could look after Hetty while Elsa worked at the farm. They lived there for six years; the three women were incredibly close.
After the Anschluss in March 1938, Elsa was stripped of her ownership of the farm. Hetty eventually received a domestic permit to live in England and immigrated at the beginning of March 1939. She worked as an au pair in Sussex. Hetty was considered a 'friendly alien' – her father was born in Czechoslovakia and as a result she had attained a Czech passport. Elsa was torn between following her daughter and staying to support her mother, but at the urging of family she soon followed Hetty at the end of March 1939.
Almost immediately after arriving, Elsa met Edward Bingham, a retired farmer who travelled frequently between England and New Zealand. Elsa and Edward married in April 1939, which was a marriage of convenience and compassion. Edward allowed Elsa to receive British citizenship and save her farm in Vienna, which became foreign owned. He also enabled Elsa and Hetty to attain a permit for New Zealand, and they left in August 1940. Edward soon moved back to England and their marriage was dissolved.
Hetty and Else remained in frequent contact with Karolina throughout 1939-1940, however their letters mostly ceased at the onset of war. Both Elsa and her brother Richard, who was living in Venezuela, tried to get a visa for Karolina but were unsuccessful. On 23 October 1941 she was deported to Lodz ghetto. In 1942 she was deported to a concentration camp where she was murdered. The family never learned the details of her fate, and always felt a lack of closure.
While on vacation in Australia in December 1947, Hetty met Nathan Hardy, soon became engaged, and married in April 1948 in Sydney.
On 10 June 1939 Karolina wrote about an English book, which was almost impossible to buy because One is not allowed to own books, which are not original from here (M2020/040:006c). In the process of Nazification which began immediately after the Anschluss, it was forbidden to own degenerate artefacts, literature or any kind of media. Karolina wrote often about her difficulties with the public authorities, for instance her attempts to obtain all necessary emigration documents. She had appointments at the currency office and kept contact with her lawyer, who was managing her emigration. On 22 June 1939 she received a notice to appear at the regional court in order to assess her health condition. She attended the court but was never called up and she went home completely desperate and concerned about the future (M2020/040:006h).
Part of a collection of 71 letters and postcards, a diary and driver's license relating to Henrietta (Hetty) Hardy (nee Strauss), her mother Elsa Strauss (nee Sonnenfeld) and her grandmother Karolina Sonnenfeld (nee Löwy).
Hetty was born 21 April 1920 in Vienna. They family lived in an apartment in the city but owned a large farm about 25km away. When her father Jacob died of heart failure in 1929, they moved into her maternal grandmother's apartment, so Karolina could look after Hetty while Elsa worked at the farm. They lived there for six years; the three women were incredibly close.
After the Anschluss in March 1938, Elsa was stripped of her ownership of the farm. Hetty eventually received a domestic permit to live in England and immigrated at the beginning of March 1939. She worked as an au pair in Sussex. Hetty was considered a 'friendly alien' – her father was born in Czechoslovakia and as a result she had attained a Czech passport. Elsa was torn between following her daughter and staying to support her mother, but at the urging of family she soon followed Hetty at the end of March 1939.
Almost immediately after arriving, Elsa met Edward Bingham, a retired farmer who travelled frequently between England and New Zealand. Elsa and Edward married in April 1939, which was a marriage of convenience and compassion. Edward allowed Elsa to receive British citizenship and save her farm in Vienna, which became foreign owned. He also enabled Elsa and Hetty to attain a permit for New Zealand, and they left in August 1940. Edward soon moved back to England and their marriage was dissolved.
Hetty and Else remained in frequent contact with Karolina throughout 1939-1940, however their letters mostly ceased at the onset of war. Both Elsa and her brother Richard, who was living in Venezuela, tried to get a visa for Karolina but were unsuccessful. On 23 October 1941 she was deported to Lodz ghetto. In 1942 she was deported to a concentration camp where she was murdered. The family never learned the details of her fate, and always felt a lack of closure.
While on vacation in Australia in December 1947, Hetty met Nathan Hardy, soon became engaged, and married in April 1948 in Sydney.
Subjectloved ones' contact, escape pre-war, families, immigration
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Language
- German M2020/040:006a 1 June 1939
My dear children, this morning received your letters of 29 and 30… I should tin… Friday Pentecost… then Tuesday… today is Thursday, so every two days… I believe you have no grounds to be not satisfied… whole responsibility… the postal service… not functioning at your end… and that you child are worried. This is for sure exaggerated. The nice letter, dear Edward has made me very happy and… answered immediately… that you dear child… dear Edward… and I very happily… I only want, dear Else, write about it… I am keeping quite well, thank God, I have got such… together… friend here… and will everyday… in the afternoon I am daily with Mrs Oppenheim… who is looking after my mother… with Mrs Bloch I am together too who… after my mother… every Sunday and holidays I also get together with Neubauers… I am after all alone… no reason… this morning you rental has to be paid, have sent it on Mark 68… I am thank God getting along… my emigration is after all not very urgent… my emigration prepared… looking after my mother by dear God… have received my approval from Biberstreet… have paid Mark 8…is in work, but not ready… my brown dress… paid the same price there will visit at 5 o’clock… and are curious to hear from you… weather very cool and raining every day… I think you should come here… now we still have to have a bit of patience, we look forward in this regard… still a few months ahead to get there… yesterday my landlady… Dr Kohn was here… she has been in touch for some time… I could only give notice… boarding house… and with God’s help will write tomorrow. Lotte could do something for me… not yet paid… have borrowed… is her getting the interest… financial institute…Braun… although I did write to her… stern was here… has not heard from his son… why don’t you my dear child, write in detail what… is still owing, that it could be settled… all the best from his daughter Gisela (?)… kisses to you and Edward. Mama.
M2020/040:006b A letter from Karolina, Vienna, to her daughter Else, London, 5 June 1939
Karolina give Else advice to contact M. and tell them all about her wishes.
She received news from her brothers, both don’t feel well and also Poldi died. Karolina was invited to the funeral. In the letter Else was asked to write a condolence letter to Poldi’s family.
M2020/040:006c A letter from Karolina, to her daughter Else and her granddaughter Hetty, London, 10 June 1939
Karolina wrote about an English book, which was almost impossible to buy because Karolina added: “One is not allowed to own books, which are not original from here”. [Note: Karoline was referring to the Gleichschaltung of media, culture and education, in this process of Nazification it was forbidden to own degenerated “entartete” artefacts, literature or any kind of media]. Karolina wrote the Kurkommission again, regarding to stay in Baden, but they didn’t respond.
M2020/040:006f A letter from Karolina, Vienna, to her grandchild Hetty and child Else, England, 18 June 1939.
Karoline wrote, she was hopping everything will work out with the move and she wishes good look with the new apartment. She was wondering why she hasn’t received any news from Ing.[?]. She also wrote about her plan to submit things at the currency office tomorrow, but still was waiting of something which should be delivered by Ms. Braun [but didn’t mention what exactly], however she wanted to send “everything” soon [probably she was writing about emigration documents, because she mentioned the currency exchange control office]. She expressed her pleasure regarding receiving letters from Richard.
She also informed Hetty: “There hasn’t been an answer from Marienbad. I wrote already 14 days ago.” She explained that Lily was there and had moved to M. [probably Marienbad]. “She [maybe Lily] will write you, I gave her your address.”
An English letter from [Oskar?] to Mrs. Bingham is enclosed.
M2020/040:006g A letter from Karolina, Vienna to her child Else and grandchild Hetty, London, 20 June 1939
“I received your dear letter from London this morning and I am pleased that you arrived there well.” She felt unconfutable about the apartment issue and hoped for her children, that they soon will find a flat. Karolina expressed her concern about sending things [presumably furniture] to London. “Sending you things is not that easy. […] I don’t want to create a big sensation with the furniture in the house. There is again a new law, which exclude J. from the tenant protection. I am writing you now about the lawyer and we are going to hinge our further behaviour [steps] on him. I called the lawyer today, Tuesday. I told him you haven’t received any news from him and you are very concerned about this. He said he had wrote you 8 days ago and now the second time to the new address. He had got a completely rejected answer. Something was written to him, regarding to your marriage. This would be just a marriage of convenience and furthermore, your commissar is a factotum. And a further point, which I should not forget to wrote about: He is going to refer back to this [German word has two meanings, could also mean: raise an objection against this] and when this won’t work out, he would ask the embassy. I have the registered letter, which states that your commissar works against it. The lawyer will be in London next Monday, Tuesday until Wednesday. He is called Paul. You know the other name. He will stay at the Hotel Royal Palast, he wants to talk to you of course. Please contact the hotel previously. Give something to the porter that when the lawyer will come, he will inform you immediately and you could get in touch with him. Make some notes before you are going to meet him in order to be informed about everything. He told me also, you should take all your original documents to the meeting. Please write to me immediately if you have received this letter. Otherwise I have to repeat everything for you again. […] Yesterday I received the 200 MR [Reichsmark] from M. […] I was at the currency exchange control office and picked up the confirmation. I was there from 7 am to 9.30 am. It is very strict now in terms of sending. The other people went without having achieved anything. Thank God, my documents were all granted. But now dear children, I have more than enough from those harassments. There is an end now, for a long time. I was very nervous as I saw everyone was coming back unsuccessful. […]. ”
M2020/040:006h A letter from Karoline, Vienna, to her daughter Else, London, 22 June 1939
Karolina has received a citation at the regional court, which was send as a document by the police, in order to assess her health condition. As she was at the regional court, they forgot to call her up and she went home completely desperate and concerned about the future.
M2020/040:006i 29 June 1939
My dear children… your dear letter… received Tuesday, I am extremely alarmed about the contents, have always told you, the engineer has a second roll and a second… business… dear child that you are nervous… but everything is going… not everything is to be believed… when you are alone… excitement… Poldie did not die (?)… but transferred of remains… you are writing I should not stay here… I can in my unit… is impossible in my kitchen… 14 days to London… modestly… Rheumatism… enjoy outdoors… fresh air which is lacking here… my child you have already forgotten… gone to Baden. I am not in favour to leave the flat empty at this moment… have got excitement with it… cannot get back… I am not in favour that our child… I am happy that you are not here… always about her health… Trude’s sister… have sent her already… Richard’s letter this time does not sound happy… a big worry… he should look at an opportunity… to thank God… sent him the English… London… have phoned Scheff… that today… Thursday… don’t agree with any delay… should I pat Scheff something… Pistl/Pisk was here in the morning… asking dear child don’t worry… one is in God’s… what should I say… to go somewhere for recreation… my nervous mood… of all the brothers he is the cleverest… therefore you see dear child that Dear God does not abandon… I would not have any other person that I could consult… My photographs have come out so badly that I can’t send them… all photo snaps are closed… Oppenheimers told me… if I can’t send express letters… asking you not to worry… should I not phone your… many thousand kisses to dear Edward. Please write in detail… will you with dear Edward… the cold… impression.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by David Hardy
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.