Wartime Letters of Richard and Hilda Löbl 1939
Object numberM2021/036:005
TitleWartime Letters of Richard and Hilda Löbl 1939
DescriptionLetter from Hilda Löbl (nee Gerstl), Berlin, to George and Dora Fekete (nee Löbl), 9 February 1939, Sydney.
Part of a collection of letters written by Richard and Hilda Löbl (nee Gerstl) from Berlin and Shanghai to their daughter, Dora, their son-in-law, George Fekete, and their granddaughter, Susie, who were in Sydney, between 1939 and 1941.
George Fekete was born in Hungary in 1901. Anti-Semitism at Budapest University forced him to study civil engineering in Berlin. There he met Dora Löbl, born in 1902. They married in 1927 and in 1932 their daughter Susie was born.
According to the donor, "George did not want Susie to go to a Jewish ghetto school, nor did he want her to go to a school where they espoused Nazi principles, so they decided to emigrate". The Feketes fled to Budapest and later to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 10 February 1938.
Although Dora's parents, Richard and Hilda Löbl, were booked to travel to Australia on the RMS Strathmore on 6 November 1939, their landing permits were cancelled with the outbreak of World War II.
The 38 Berlin letters, written during 1939, are a record of correspondence between Richard and Hilda who were stranded in Nazi Germany, and the Fekete family who were newly settled in Sydney.
Richard and Hilda managed to escape to Shanghai in April 1940. They were on the final voyage made by the SS Conte Rosso, one of four Italian ships which carried Jewish refugees from Trieste to Shanghai - prior to Italy joining the Axis alliance.
The 53 Shanghai letters follow the narrative of the Löbl's lives in Hongkew between 11 July 1940 and 15 November 1941. They provide political commentary of the German-Jewish experience in the Shanghai ghetto during World War II. The letters also provide first-hand social commentary on the intersection between Eastern and Western cultures. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, it became impossible for Richard and Hilda to send letters to Australia.
Dora and George had no further correspondence until May 1945, when a note arrived from Richard via the Red Cross; "Since July 21 1942 am alone. Mama died of typhus without suffering. Her thoughts were always with you. Your good news is my only comfort."
Richard arrived in Australia in 1946 and lived with the Feketes. He passed away on 2 August 1964.
Dora and her parents were prolific correspondents, writing almost weekly. Dora wrote long letters, sometimes nine pages in length, detailing the lives of her family in Sydney. The letters that Dora wrote to her parents have not survived, however, the letters which they wrote to her mostly did. Richard and Hilda's letters were much shorter due to the 5-gram weight restriction, having to pay more if the letter exceeded that weight.
As far as is possible, the English translations of these letters are an accurate record of the experiences shared between family members separated by long distances.
Part of a collection of letters written by Richard and Hilda Löbl (nee Gerstl) from Berlin and Shanghai to their daughter, Dora, their son-in-law, George Fekete, and their granddaughter, Susie, who were in Sydney, between 1939 and 1941.
George Fekete was born in Hungary in 1901. Anti-Semitism at Budapest University forced him to study civil engineering in Berlin. There he met Dora Löbl, born in 1902. They married in 1927 and in 1932 their daughter Susie was born.
According to the donor, "George did not want Susie to go to a Jewish ghetto school, nor did he want her to go to a school where they espoused Nazi principles, so they decided to emigrate". The Feketes fled to Budapest and later to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 10 February 1938.
Although Dora's parents, Richard and Hilda Löbl, were booked to travel to Australia on the RMS Strathmore on 6 November 1939, their landing permits were cancelled with the outbreak of World War II.
The 38 Berlin letters, written during 1939, are a record of correspondence between Richard and Hilda who were stranded in Nazi Germany, and the Fekete family who were newly settled in Sydney.
Richard and Hilda managed to escape to Shanghai in April 1940. They were on the final voyage made by the SS Conte Rosso, one of four Italian ships which carried Jewish refugees from Trieste to Shanghai - prior to Italy joining the Axis alliance.
The 53 Shanghai letters follow the narrative of the Löbl's lives in Hongkew between 11 July 1940 and 15 November 1941. They provide political commentary of the German-Jewish experience in the Shanghai ghetto during World War II. The letters also provide first-hand social commentary on the intersection between Eastern and Western cultures. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, it became impossible for Richard and Hilda to send letters to Australia.
Dora and George had no further correspondence until May 1945, when a note arrived from Richard via the Red Cross; "Since July 21 1942 am alone. Mama died of typhus without suffering. Her thoughts were always with you. Your good news is my only comfort."
Richard arrived in Australia in 1946 and lived with the Feketes. He passed away on 2 August 1964.
Dora and her parents were prolific correspondents, writing almost weekly. Dora wrote long letters, sometimes nine pages in length, detailing the lives of her family in Sydney. The letters that Dora wrote to her parents have not survived, however, the letters which they wrote to her mostly did. Richard and Hilda's letters were much shorter due to the 5-gram weight restriction, having to pay more if the letter exceeded that weight.
As far as is possible, the English translations of these letters are an accurate record of the experiences shared between family members separated by long distances.
Production placeBerlin, Germany
Production date 1939-02-09
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Techniquehandwritten
Language
- German 9 February 1939
My beloved,
Tomorrow you will be arriving, if God wills it, in your new homeland, even though it will take another few days before you get to Sydney. You can believe us when we say that our thoughts are always travelling with you. Therefore, you will not be surprised that I have to search for my reading glasses again. But what is even worse is that nothing from the English language sticks with me, no matter how hard I try. I hear it very often from the English lessons records that Papa listens to.
Your letters from Colombo were, as always, very interesting. I would have liked to see Susie with her letter, and Anna too. Zsibi [the budgerigar] says “Thank you” for your greetings. He says very clearly, “Zsibi good.”
Incidentally, today people booked a passage at Hamburg for a berth on a Dutch ship leaving in June. They only need the permit now from the Minister of the Interior because the line is one where you can’t get a concession. Hirsches have the permit for their trip to Bolivia already, but Paul Stein and family are still waiting for theirs. They visited us yesterday.
I will often be asked now by our friends about your well-being, and besides our friends, Frau Kohner and another single young lady who sings with Frau Markus in the choir send their greetings. This young lady is waiting for a permit to go to where the rest of her family is already. She has learnt how to knit, and from her (Frau Markus) is learning how to assemble them.
Tomorrow morning Frau Handler is going to Potsdam for a few weeks. Edith’s health is not very good. [One sentence not translated.] Yesterday, Frau Rolle was here, and she is very worried because people over 60 cannot get a visa for Argentina. She hopes, if it is true, that she will be able to survive.
At the moment, I am very busy putting my clothing in order. This week I have ¼ dozen shirts and ¼ dozen nightshirts.
I wanted to buy Papa some polo shirts but they were not available. I think that in Springtime we will be able to get them again.
I hope this letter finds you in good health,
I greet you,
Mama
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Hazel Hillier
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.