Object numberM1999/036:015
DescriptionPostcard from Moritz Baumoehl in Theresienstadt, bearing the Postmark Berlin/Charlottenburg, 30/08/1944, addressed to Selma and Wilhelm Vollmann in Ludenscheid, 9 July 1944. The postcard is marked with a stamp: Replies only on postcards in German language.
The relationship between Moritz and the Vollmann's is unknown. He thanks the couple for their regards and expresses his concerns over Rosalie and her husband Ernst, though they are getting better again. He writes that he was able to enjoy the sun for a bit.
Part of a collection of 20 postcards sent by Helene Levy (the mother), Julie Levy (daughter) and Rosalie and Ernst Salm (daughter and son-in-law), from Theresienstadt between 1943 and 1944, to their sister Selma Vollmann (nee Levy) and her Christian husband Wilhelm Vollmann. Selma and Wilhelm lived in Lüdenscheid, Germany. Selma was protected from deportation as she lived in a 'privileged' mixed marriage. Nevertheless, the fate of Jewish spouses in mixed marriages was precarious and Selma was interned from 1944 until the war ended, working as a forced labourer.
The address the inmates initially wrote on the postcards was 'Theresienstadt' followed by numbers (L501, Q703), however, the postcards sent after 1943 replaced the numbers with proper street names such as 'Berggasse', 'Badhausgasse' - as part of the deception to deceive the world that life under the Nazi yoke is benign.
Correspondence with the outside world was highly controlled and supervised by the SS command. At different times during the inmates' lives in the ghetto, correspondence was either restricted or forbidden by the SS - usually as a form of punishment. The content of the postcards was strictly regulated and censored. It had to be written in German and could not exceed 30 words (Sedlicka, 2018). Beginning in September 1943 inmates were allowed to send a post card each month, later reduced to one postcard every two months. The family are forced to contend with these postal restrictions (M1999/036:019 & 020). Postcards were also used as confirmation for receipt of packages; receiving parcels was important as they included food to supplement what was provided by the ghetto. Selma is their lifeline. The sole provider of news as well as their food parcels. The family are indebted to her and deeply appreciate her sending monthly packages of food (M1999/036:005, 006, 007, 008 & 009). Helene writes that her joy is 'indescribable' whenever they hear from her. They yearn and are 'hungry' for her words (M1999/036:003 & 007) and the knowledge that she is safe and well.
The content of the postcards is private and personal - to write about anything else was forbidden and dangerous. They could not write about living conditions, struggles in the ghetto, growing despair or fear of deportation. The majority of the postcards are from Julie; her second last postcard dated 10 September 1944 ends with 'regards as always without joy' (M1999/036:018). As this was written shortly before her deportation to Auschwitz it is assumed that 'without joy' refers to this. A dominant motif of the correspondence is thanking God for being healthy. This ensures that they are able to work, be considered useful and, therefore, to be alive (M1999/036:005, 007, 008 & 009). Helene's health is delicate. She has been hospitalised and receives on-going treatment. Her 'good care' attests to devoted staff (M1999/036:003 & 005). Julie is close to her mother. She visits her 'every spare moment she can spare' (M1999/036:005 & 006). Helene dies on 3 August 1943. Letters reveal that she was a 'very special' person, loved by one and all (M1999/036:006). Walter and his bride have become estranged from the family. Julie writes how saddened she is by their behaviour (M1999/036:007).
Aftermath: Rosalie and Ernst survived the war. Julie, deported from Darmstadt to Theresienstadt in September 1942, was deported to Auschwitz in October 1944 where she was murdered. Her mother Helene followed in February 1943, but died six months later, on 3 August 1943; her death certificate states cancer as the cause of death. It is not known what happened to Walter.
The relationship between Moritz and the Vollmann's is unknown. He thanks the couple for their regards and expresses his concerns over Rosalie and her husband Ernst, though they are getting better again. He writes that he was able to enjoy the sun for a bit.
Part of a collection of 20 postcards sent by Helene Levy (the mother), Julie Levy (daughter) and Rosalie and Ernst Salm (daughter and son-in-law), from Theresienstadt between 1943 and 1944, to their sister Selma Vollmann (nee Levy) and her Christian husband Wilhelm Vollmann. Selma and Wilhelm lived in Lüdenscheid, Germany. Selma was protected from deportation as she lived in a 'privileged' mixed marriage. Nevertheless, the fate of Jewish spouses in mixed marriages was precarious and Selma was interned from 1944 until the war ended, working as a forced labourer.
The address the inmates initially wrote on the postcards was 'Theresienstadt' followed by numbers (L501, Q703), however, the postcards sent after 1943 replaced the numbers with proper street names such as 'Berggasse', 'Badhausgasse' - as part of the deception to deceive the world that life under the Nazi yoke is benign.
Correspondence with the outside world was highly controlled and supervised by the SS command. At different times during the inmates' lives in the ghetto, correspondence was either restricted or forbidden by the SS - usually as a form of punishment. The content of the postcards was strictly regulated and censored. It had to be written in German and could not exceed 30 words (Sedlicka, 2018). Beginning in September 1943 inmates were allowed to send a post card each month, later reduced to one postcard every two months. The family are forced to contend with these postal restrictions (M1999/036:019 & 020). Postcards were also used as confirmation for receipt of packages; receiving parcels was important as they included food to supplement what was provided by the ghetto. Selma is their lifeline. The sole provider of news as well as their food parcels. The family are indebted to her and deeply appreciate her sending monthly packages of food (M1999/036:005, 006, 007, 008 & 009). Helene writes that her joy is 'indescribable' whenever they hear from her. They yearn and are 'hungry' for her words (M1999/036:003 & 007) and the knowledge that she is safe and well.
The content of the postcards is private and personal - to write about anything else was forbidden and dangerous. They could not write about living conditions, struggles in the ghetto, growing despair or fear of deportation. The majority of the postcards are from Julie; her second last postcard dated 10 September 1944 ends with 'regards as always without joy' (M1999/036:018). As this was written shortly before her deportation to Auschwitz it is assumed that 'without joy' refers to this. A dominant motif of the correspondence is thanking God for being healthy. This ensures that they are able to work, be considered useful and, therefore, to be alive (M1999/036:005, 007, 008 & 009). Helene's health is delicate. She has been hospitalised and receives on-going treatment. Her 'good care' attests to devoted staff (M1999/036:003 & 005). Julie is close to her mother. She visits her 'every spare moment she can spare' (M1999/036:005 & 006). Helene dies on 3 August 1943. Letters reveal that she was a 'very special' person, loved by one and all (M1999/036:006). Walter and his bride have become estranged from the family. Julie writes how saddened she is by their behaviour (M1999/036:007).
Aftermath: Rosalie and Ernst survived the war. Julie, deported from Darmstadt to Theresienstadt in September 1942, was deported to Auschwitz in October 1944 where she was murdered. Her mother Helene followed in February 1943, but died six months later, on 3 August 1943; her death certificate states cancer as the cause of death. It is not known what happened to Walter.
Production placeTerezin, Czech Republic
Production date 1944-07-09
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 148.00 mm
height: 104.00 mm
Language
- German From: Baumoehl (difficult to read), Moritz
sent from Theresienstadt
German Postmark Berlin/ Charlottenburg, 30/08/1944
The postcard is stamped “Reply only on postcard in German.”
To: Vollmann, Ludenscheid/ Westfalen. Stamped “Reply only on postcard in German”
My Dear Ones, A deep thank you for your June greetings to all of us. We are always very pleased and our thoughts are with you as yours are with us. Your cards from May gave us a lot of pleasure to hear about your health. Has Willi recovered well with time spent on River Rhein and have you conveyed our thanks to all friends? Rosalie and husband are getting better again, we are always worried about them. Today I was lying down in the sun in my training gear, that was wonderful. Stay well my Dear Ones, Kisses to all, Moritz.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Rabbi Brian Fox