Object numberM2003/021:132
DescriptionHandwritten letter in black ink, in German, on three sheets of paper written double-sided, addressed to Lotte from Max. Part of the correspondence between Charlotte and Max before they were re-united and married after the war. Letter dated 10 May 1947
- Max reflects their correspondence: how much he enjoyed Charlotte's letters and the pictures she sent [he also tells she looks much better on the 2nd picture), that he finally received the letters she sent in 1946
- Max tells her, she is so unique that he never even thought of marrying another woman, but kept praying 'Dear heaven, please bring my Lotte to me'
- about travelling to the embassy in order to obtain several visa [seem to be for himself, he later mentions to travel with her to the Netherlands, Switzerland, France]
- he proposes she should have a big birthday party and invite all her friends
- he mentions several times, that this letter will be the last one before they re-unite and that a new part of their life is about to begin
- Max’ cruise (1 ½ days) from Istanbul will depart in half an hour, he is relaxed but also excited about seeing her soon
Part of Lutufmen collection that documents the entire life of Charlotte Lutufmen from before the war in Germany, through survival of the Holocaust, return to Germany, marriage of long-time fiancee Maw Lutufmen (nee Lowenstein) who has escaped the Holocaust working in Turkey during the war, migration to Australia ect. This document is significant in the context of repatriation and treatment of Holocaust survivors immediately after WW2 in Germany.
Part of a collection of 168 letters, postcards, documents, photographs and restitution claims belonging to Charlotte Lutufmen (nee Ostertag), born in Hannover, Germany on 3 April 1908 to Alfred and Gertrud Ostertag (nee Callomon). Charlotte was engaged to Max Loewenstein before the war. He moved to Turkey, changed his name to Mahir Lutufmen, converted to Islam, and obtained Turkish citizenship while working for a Dutch tobacco company. Charlotte was unable to obtain a permit to leave Germany and marry her fiancé. In December 1941, age 33, she was deported to Riga Ghetto. In September 1943 she was taken to do forced labour. Then in August 1944, she was deported to Kaiserwald. One month later, she was deported to Stutthof concentration camp and then to Sofienwalde from October 1944 to February 1945. Charlotte lost all her toes to frostbite during the death march back to Germany. After the war, she and Max were reunited. They married in Suelbeck, Germany, in 1947. Charlotte was 39 and Max was 45 years old. She moved to Turkey with him. A few years later they immigrated to Australia where she became an Australian citizen in 1955. Despite her impaired mobility that worsened as she aged, she made something of her life. When she retired in her late 60s she went to TAFE to get the matriculation she was deprived of in Germany and then went on to Macquarie University in her 70s, where she graduated with a BA in her early 80s – the oldest graduate at the time.
- Max reflects their correspondence: how much he enjoyed Charlotte's letters and the pictures she sent [he also tells she looks much better on the 2nd picture), that he finally received the letters she sent in 1946
- Max tells her, she is so unique that he never even thought of marrying another woman, but kept praying 'Dear heaven, please bring my Lotte to me'
- about travelling to the embassy in order to obtain several visa [seem to be for himself, he later mentions to travel with her to the Netherlands, Switzerland, France]
- he proposes she should have a big birthday party and invite all her friends
- he mentions several times, that this letter will be the last one before they re-unite and that a new part of their life is about to begin
- Max’ cruise (1 ½ days) from Istanbul will depart in half an hour, he is relaxed but also excited about seeing her soon
Part of Lutufmen collection that documents the entire life of Charlotte Lutufmen from before the war in Germany, through survival of the Holocaust, return to Germany, marriage of long-time fiancee Maw Lutufmen (nee Lowenstein) who has escaped the Holocaust working in Turkey during the war, migration to Australia ect. This document is significant in the context of repatriation and treatment of Holocaust survivors immediately after WW2 in Germany.
Part of a collection of 168 letters, postcards, documents, photographs and restitution claims belonging to Charlotte Lutufmen (nee Ostertag), born in Hannover, Germany on 3 April 1908 to Alfred and Gertrud Ostertag (nee Callomon). Charlotte was engaged to Max Loewenstein before the war. He moved to Turkey, changed his name to Mahir Lutufmen, converted to Islam, and obtained Turkish citizenship while working for a Dutch tobacco company. Charlotte was unable to obtain a permit to leave Germany and marry her fiancé. In December 1941, age 33, she was deported to Riga Ghetto. In September 1943 she was taken to do forced labour. Then in August 1944, she was deported to Kaiserwald. One month later, she was deported to Stutthof concentration camp and then to Sofienwalde from October 1944 to February 1945. Charlotte lost all her toes to frostbite during the death march back to Germany. After the war, she and Max were reunited. They married in Suelbeck, Germany, in 1947. Charlotte was 39 and Max was 45 years old. She moved to Turkey with him. A few years later they immigrated to Australia where she became an Australian citizen in 1955. Despite her impaired mobility that worsened as she aged, she made something of her life. When she retired in her late 60s she went to TAFE to get the matriculation she was deprived of in Germany and then went on to Macquarie University in her 70s, where she graduated with a BA in her early 80s – the oldest graduate at the time.
Production placeHannover, Germany
Production date 1947-05-10
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 205.00 mm
height: 76.00 mm
Language
- German letter dated 10 May 1947
- Max reflects their correspondence: how much he enjoyed Charlotte's letters and the pictures she sent [he also tells she looks much better on the 2nd picture), that he finally received the letters she sent in 1946
- Max tells her, she is so unique that he never even thought of marrying another woman, but kept praying 'Dear heaven, please bring my Lotte to me'
- about travelling to the embassy in order to obtain several visa [seem to be for himself, he later mentions to travel with her to the Netherlands, Switzerland, France]
- he proposes she should have a big birthday party and invite all her friends
- he mentions several times, that this letter will be the last one before they re-unite and that a new part of their life is about to begin
letter dated 11 May 1947
- Max’ cruise (1 ½ days) from Istanbul will depart in half an hour, he is relaxed but also excited about seeing her soon
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Annette Brett