Sydney Jewish Museum Collection

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Actions Displays	Remove from selection Add to selection Object numberM1996/034:023 DescriptionThis is a draft of a letter from Hans Charmatz to the Department of the Interior regarding his parents’ permits dated 26 February 1940. He has made corrections in pencil. The letter describes how his parents sold their furniture, obtained passports and booked their passage in preparation to leave. However, due to the outbreak of war, all permits have been cancelled and they must remain in Austria. As a result of applying for a passport, the Austrian government has cancelled all pensions for such persons and he writes how his parents are now in a terrible predicament. He begs for the granting of a permit for his parents and writes, “my parents are in the worst possible situation. I hate to appear dramatic, but I beg you, not only to grant the permit but to grant it immediately to save the lives and souls of my parents”. In 1938 Hans Charmatz was able to leave Austria for London. From there, he set about trying to help friends from his Zionist Club in Vienna to leave the country. Hans developed a plan to establish a knitwear factory in Australia, arguing that he needed skilled workers from Austria. He wrote to the Australian government requesting immigration permits for 20 "specialists" and their families. His bold plan was successful and was responsible for saving the lives of 20 of his friends and their families. Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia Production date 1940-02-26 Subjectimmigration, escape, desperation, Visa Refusal Object nameofficial correspondence Materialpaper Dimensions width: 206.00 mm height: 260.00 mm Language English Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Paul and Hanni Chalmers

Object numberM1996/034:023

DescriptionThis is a draft of a letter from Hans Charmatz to the Department of the Interior regarding his parents’ permits dated 26 February 1940. He has made corrections in pencil. The letter describes how his parents sold their furniture, obtained passports and booked their passage in preparation to leave. However, due to the outbreak of war, all permits have been cancelled and they must remain in Austria. As a result of applying for a passport, the Austrian government has cancelled all pensions for such persons and he writes how his parents are now in a terrible predicament. He begs for the granting of a permit for his parents and writes, “my parents are in the worst possible situation. I hate to appear dramatic, but I beg you, not only to grant the permit but to grant it immediately to save the lives and souls of my parents”.

In 1938 Hans Charmatz was able to leave Austria for London. From there, he set about trying to help friends from his Zionist Club in Vienna to leave the country. Hans developed a plan to establish a knitwear factory in Australia, arguing that he needed skilled workers from Austria. He wrote to the Australian government requesting immigration permits for 20 "specialists" and their families. His bold plan was successful and was responsible for saving the lives of 20 of his friends and their families.

Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia

Production date 1940-02-26

Subjectimmigration, escape, desperation, Visa Refusal

Object nameofficial correspondence

Materialpaper

Dimensions

Language

Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Paul and Hanni Chalmers

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