Object numberM2007/093:006
Creator Elisabeth Schulze (author)
DescriptionLetter from Elisabeth Schulze to Charlotte Meyer (nee Jacobius - the donor's sister), Halbe, Germany, 25 July 1946. It describes that Elisabeth took in her parents, Alexander and Pauline Jacobius, when they lost their business. She writes that Alexander and Pauline lived with her in Halbe from June 1940 until 11 April 1941, when they were collected by two policemen. They were transported to Berlin and then to Warsaw. Frau Schulze received news from them through Frau Lowenthal. Frau Schulze sent them packages, which appeared to have arrived, until the mass killings in Warsaw, after which time no more was heard from them.
From the condition of the letter it is clear that it has been unfolded, read and refolded many times.
Part of a collection of documents, photographs, letters and military memorabilia donated to the Sydney Jewish Museum by Heinz Jacobius (Henry James).
Heinz Jacobius was born in 1922 in Halbe, Germany, to Alexander and Pauline (nee Loewenstein) Jacobius. Alarmed by the news of the war and the persecution of the Jews, Heinz was sent to England. There he got caught in the internment of “enemy aliens”. Aged 18, he became one of the 1,750 Jewish refugees who were shipped on 10 July 1940 on the HMT Dunera from Liverpool to Australia - together with 800 other enemy aliens. The dangerous voyage took 57 days and left a lasting impression on the detainees. On arrival in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the detainees were incarcerated behind barbed wire in remote camps in Hay in New South Wales and Tatura in Victoria, guarded by friendly elderly armed Australian reservists, under the watchful eye of a Military Commandant. It was left to the new arrivals to organise camp life, which was filled with a rich program of cultural events and educational and vocational activities. Internees were gradually released, beginning in late 1940. Of the 2,542 Dunera passengers, two thirds made the decision to leave Australia. Almost half accepted the offer to return to England or to other countries that were open to new arrivals.
When given the opportunity to join the Australian military, Heinz enlisted on 8 April 1942 and served in the Citizen Military Forces employment companies until 5 July 1946; a total effective period of 1,549 days and all within Australia. Heinz remained in contact with his parents in Germany until early 1942 when his letters came back unopened and marked ‘Return to sender’. He later learned that his parents were murdered in Treblinka. He kept in contact with his uncle and aunt, Max and Margarete Loewenstein (Pauline's brother), and their son Hans-Joachim, who had immigrated to Australia in 1938 and had started a chicken farm called, ‘Loewenstein’s Chickens.’
From the condition of the letter it is clear that it has been unfolded, read and refolded many times.
Part of a collection of documents, photographs, letters and military memorabilia donated to the Sydney Jewish Museum by Heinz Jacobius (Henry James).
Heinz Jacobius was born in 1922 in Halbe, Germany, to Alexander and Pauline (nee Loewenstein) Jacobius. Alarmed by the news of the war and the persecution of the Jews, Heinz was sent to England. There he got caught in the internment of “enemy aliens”. Aged 18, he became one of the 1,750 Jewish refugees who were shipped on 10 July 1940 on the HMT Dunera from Liverpool to Australia - together with 800 other enemy aliens. The dangerous voyage took 57 days and left a lasting impression on the detainees. On arrival in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the detainees were incarcerated behind barbed wire in remote camps in Hay in New South Wales and Tatura in Victoria, guarded by friendly elderly armed Australian reservists, under the watchful eye of a Military Commandant. It was left to the new arrivals to organise camp life, which was filled with a rich program of cultural events and educational and vocational activities. Internees were gradually released, beginning in late 1940. Of the 2,542 Dunera passengers, two thirds made the decision to leave Australia. Almost half accepted the offer to return to England or to other countries that were open to new arrivals.
When given the opportunity to join the Australian military, Heinz enlisted on 8 April 1942 and served in the Citizen Military Forces employment companies until 5 July 1946; a total effective period of 1,549 days and all within Australia. Heinz remained in contact with his parents in Germany until early 1942 when his letters came back unopened and marked ‘Return to sender’. He later learned that his parents were murdered in Treblinka. He kept in contact with his uncle and aunt, Max and Margarete Loewenstein (Pauline's brother), and their son Hans-Joachim, who had immigrated to Australia in 1938 and had started a chicken farm called, ‘Loewenstein’s Chickens.’
Production placeHalbe, Germany
Production date 1946-07-25
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 213.00 mm
height: 290.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Mrs. Meyer!
Through our Mayor's office I have found out that you enquired through UNRA about the whereabouts of your dear parents. I can now let you know that until the 11th April 1942 they lived with me. On the 11th April 1942 they were collected by two policemen and transported to Berlin. From Berlin the trip went to Warsaw. From Warsaw Mrs. Lowenthal still got a few times news. Mrs L. then passed them (the news) on to me. Thereafter I sent small (2 kg) parcels several times. When I did not have anything else I sent them potatoes. It appears that the things arrived there several times which could be derived from the news of your dear mother. Once a man on leave from Buchholz wanted to tell us that he had seen your dear mother in Warsaw. Whether that was based on truth I was not able to confirm. Soon after that there were the large assassinations in Warsaw so that we since that time obtained no more news.
The Ritter family had come to Lodz (Litsmanstadt). Mr Ritter must have died from the [a] cold as a money order sent was returned with the note: addressee has died. That news I got still from your dear mother. Your parents lived with me since June of 1940. At that time it was very difficult to find accommodation for the elderly in Halbe. Everybody refused because they did not want to bump into the Nazis. I was very happy to have your parents here while I went out to work, so that the property was not left without someone looking after it the whole day. We also adapted our lives to each other very well. On the same day as the two of them were taken away from here I resigned from my work and did not take it up again as long as Hitler was in power. There was still some of your parents' furniture in my place which during the last happenings of the war got destroyed with my buildings. There is nothing left over. The arrangement with your mother was that I should look after anything of value for the future, but that did not succeed.
With very hearty greetings from Elisabeth Schulze
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Henry James