Object numberM2021/008:011
DescriptionGerman citizenship certificate for Alice Philipps (nee Borchardt), issued by the German embassy in Johannesburg on 20 September 1976.
Part of a collection of 11 documents related to Alice Philipps (nee Borchardt) and her escape from Berlin, Germany, to Johannesburg, South Africa in October 1937. The collection includes documents Alice needed in order to emigrate from Germany, including police registration forms and clearance certificates.
Alice Philipps (nee Borchardt) was born in Charlottenburg, Berlin on 15 March 1913 to Fritz Emil Borchardt and Irma (Erna) nee Sommerfeld. Her younger sister Inge was born six years later on 11 October 1919. Fritz was a businessman and had a paint factory in Berlin. Alice was living with her parents in Berlin when they decided they had to leave Germany.
In May 1937, Alice’s parents prepared everything for her emigration to South Africa and collected all necessary documents she needed. According to the farewell letter from her father, dated 10 October 1937, he organised her escape and escorted her to the harbour in Antwerp, Belgium. Alice took a boat from Antwerp to Johannesburg in the first weeks of October 1937.
Due to emigration constraints, the Borchardt family was forced to separate across the globe. Fritz immigrated to London via Shanghai, were he remarried. Inge made it to Melbourne, Australia, while Irma escaped to New York via Spain. Inge and Irma were reunited in Australia in 1947, and Alice joined them with the Philipps family in 1988.
Alice died in 2010 in Sydney.
Part of a collection of 11 documents related to Alice Philipps (nee Borchardt) and her escape from Berlin, Germany, to Johannesburg, South Africa in October 1937. The collection includes documents Alice needed in order to emigrate from Germany, including police registration forms and clearance certificates.
Alice Philipps (nee Borchardt) was born in Charlottenburg, Berlin on 15 March 1913 to Fritz Emil Borchardt and Irma (Erna) nee Sommerfeld. Her younger sister Inge was born six years later on 11 October 1919. Fritz was a businessman and had a paint factory in Berlin. Alice was living with her parents in Berlin when they decided they had to leave Germany.
In May 1937, Alice’s parents prepared everything for her emigration to South Africa and collected all necessary documents she needed. According to the farewell letter from her father, dated 10 October 1937, he organised her escape and escorted her to the harbour in Antwerp, Belgium. Alice took a boat from Antwerp to Johannesburg in the first weeks of October 1937.
Due to emigration constraints, the Borchardt family was forced to separate across the globe. Fritz immigrated to London via Shanghai, were he remarried. Inge made it to Melbourne, Australia, while Irma escaped to New York via Spain. Inge and Irma were reunited in Australia in 1947, and Alice joined them with the Philipps family in 1988.
Alice died in 2010 in Sydney.
Production placeJohannesburg, South Africa
Production date 1976-09-20
Production periodpost-World War II
Object namecertificates of citizenship
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 211.00 mm
height: 297.00 mm
Language
- German
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ralph Philipps
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.