Object numberM2002/023a
Description8-page letter from Shanghai China, written in German by several people to their aunt, Frau Else Czwiklitzer, in Berlin circa 1940 - 1946. The letter was returned unopened to the senders in Shanghai on 29.08.1946. The writers all send birthday wishes. They give news about life in China – the weather, difficulties, relationships etc. See inscriptions/marks for translation.
Subjectfamilies, migrants, childbirths
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Techniquehandwritten
Dimensions
- letter height: 285.00 mm
width: 185.00 mm
Language
- German To: Miss Else Czwiklitzer, Berlin Tempelhof, Berlinerstr. 28A
From: Lina Fleischer, c/o Otto J.Pinkus P.O.B. 751 Shanghai/China
My dear Else, I don't know if that letter will arrive in time, but you never know it. I wish I could come to your birthday to give you a lovely birthday kiss. With that would be more say than with this letter. But the most important thing is, that all of you will remain healthy, that's my permanent prayer.
Now I will talk to all my beloved ones, big and small. We replied to your postcard, and I forwarded it to Sesharo. He’s always looking forward to hear from you often. But the case with aunt Emma is solved, as Gerlach received a letter from Ernst. She forgot that they have immigrated to Australia.
We’re now ready for the reception of the family offspring. Ilse is doing fine, nobody can believe that she's close to giving birth. We all hope that everything will be good. Not even in my dreams I would have expected that my grandchild would be born in China. This is something different!
Lyria Haher sold her house and immediately bought a new house. Aunt Emma directly visited us and reported about that. The new house is in this area. But it’s surrounded with wreckage. They are saying that everything is fine, but if you look more exactly you will see that it isn’t right. For example, Lyria's husband doesn’t like Carola. She’s permanently standing in front of her shop door and watching out for men. She would like to have a boyfriend, but so far she is not fortunate.
But otherwise our life is constant. The worst thing at the moment is that the food prices are rising every day. And the incomes don’t increase. Furthermore it is a very cold winter in China, the heating is very expensive and the rooms are only prepared for summers. In the wintertime they're uncomfortable. It's good that the winter here isn't very long.
But right now we still have beautiful autumn weather with warm shining sun.
A few days ago we went to a nice park. There we saw Lilly with her boyfriend. He's very good looking. Tall, attitude like an officer, well-dressed. I said to Gerda, Lilly needs to put some effort in this to keep up with this man. He also has a good profession, but in spite of all this, Lilly made a bored impression. I think life as a single was better for her. Have you got your little Raudi already at home? You have to write us sometimes the news about him.
I hope you can enjoy the 24th.
Greeting and kisses from your Lina
My lovely!
The news yesterday reported, there isn’t a single American ship, which goes to Shanghai. In this case, we would be cut off from the world. But we’re still hoping that these are transitory circumstances and this is also the reason why I decided to complete this letter. I always say: You can’t plan everything! In the end you either make mistakes or the circumstances change.
Right now, I’m very fine. I hope it will remain so in the hour of the decision. Our little things are all ok. I received great things as presents.
I don’t know if I wrote you that my parents live with acquaintances in a house. They look after their 9 months old baby girl. It’s a lot of work for them but a pecuniary relief. You see, this is really an advantage for me. I can even use the baby basket including the mattress and the curtain. That’s good, because we can't afford such things and wouldn't have spent money for both a basket and a bed. So we can save the expenditure for that. - I hope that the nice autumn weather will remain for a long time. I think you can’t imagine that we can sit in the sun with open doors and windows at the end of October. But now it is time, which compensates us for the other ugly 8 months.
What’s Gaesta doing? Has he already returned or is he still enjoying the rural air?
Kisses and greetings from your Ilse
Oh, I forgot to congratulate my lovely aunt Elli for her anniversary. Remain healthy. That’s the most important thing.
Birthday kiss from your Ilse!
My lovely,
Ilse had already written so detailed, that I will write only a short text. I wish you, lovely aunt Elli, only the best for your birthday. Hoping to hear from you soon via Pacific.
Greetings and kisses from your Helmut
My beloved Aunt Elli, I don't need to tell you that only good wishes arise from the bottom of my heart, when I think of you and your beloved ones. Sometimes you don't dare to do this anymore. We were so spoiled to hear from each other once a month and now, you will hopefully receive this letter in a good state of health. I just recognized, I've written every single line in a different handwriting. Maybe I am also getting soft. It wouldn't be a miracle: in the office, I don't have anything to do (?). So far they didn't fire me, they still believe it will soon start again and then we will have "???" ??? ???. I also read "Handelskorrespondenz" to keep myself in practice and to educate myself
We are all very nice to each other in the office, our language (?)??. I will probably take Mum's ???. For bigger rooms, unbelievable prices are charged and paid. With my small income, I can't keep up with this. We will reduce the space we need and Mum won't have as much work as she had with 4 ???. A lot of food had to be prepared for us "Fresser" (big eaters) and ??? empty ???. I'm very anxious what Ilse will deliver us as masterpiece. What are ??? and Nida and Hans doing? We hope to see you again one day. Thousand regards, a kiss to Aunt Elli, your Gerda.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Susanne Pinkus