Object numberM2012/010:079
DescriptionHandwritten letter in Old German script from Philipp Aldor, Pressburg, Nikolaig.20 to Moritz Kohn in Theresienstadt, L.407. Sender and receiver's details are typed; letter is handwritten in black ink signed Filip and Erna, dated 15 April 1943, Bratislava. Red official stamp on top right hand side. Paper is lined. Letter reports to Marci (Moritz Kohn) on family & friends. They write that "from Lajos Falk we received news that he works in Birkenau." Birkenau was the largest of more than 40 camps & sub-camps that made up the Auschwitz complex of camps. It is not known how Philipp Aldor (the writer of this letter) knew about Lajos Falk or what sort of "work" he did in Birkenau.
Phillip Aldor also writes that if they get permission, they will send care packages to Moritz in Terezin.
Rich archive of personal correspondence is a significant part of the Eva Gertler’s Collection of Moric Kohn’s Theresienstadt documents in SJM. Some 50 postcards and about 35 letters are moving witness to the joy of receiving news from those still outside the ghetto, as well as the anguish and pain of close family members and friends when no news was forthcoming and a worrying silence took place. Bearing many postal censorship and rubber stamps the mail also documents the story of regimented and often restricted postal system operated under the Nazi occupation in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and Tiso’s Slovakia. Further, from numerous date stamps we can also establish that it often took several months for mail to reach its destination in Theresienstadt. Not only we have a date of writing the letter, there usually is a date of posting, together with a large, undated, red circle stamp of Nazi eagle and swastika confirming that letter was checked by the ‘Oberkommando der Wehrmacht’ (High Command of the Armed Forces).
Phillip Aldor also writes that if they get permission, they will send care packages to Moritz in Terezin.
Rich archive of personal correspondence is a significant part of the Eva Gertler’s Collection of Moric Kohn’s Theresienstadt documents in SJM. Some 50 postcards and about 35 letters are moving witness to the joy of receiving news from those still outside the ghetto, as well as the anguish and pain of close family members and friends when no news was forthcoming and a worrying silence took place. Bearing many postal censorship and rubber stamps the mail also documents the story of regimented and often restricted postal system operated under the Nazi occupation in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and Tiso’s Slovakia. Further, from numerous date stamps we can also establish that it often took several months for mail to reach its destination in Theresienstadt. Not only we have a date of writing the letter, there usually is a date of posting, together with a large, undated, red circle stamp of Nazi eagle and swastika confirming that letter was checked by the ‘Oberkommando der Wehrmacht’ (High Command of the Armed Forces).
Production placeBratislava, Slovakia
Production date 1943-04-15
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- length: 215.00 mm
width: 300.00 mm
Language
- German Translation of M2012/010:079
Acc. No: MK.3.8 Location 4
Object: Letter
Size: 300x210
Translation: Sender: Philipp Aidor, Pressburg, Nikolaig, 20
To
Moritz Kohn Bratislava 15 Apr 1943
Theresienstadt
L.407
Dear Marci
Your dear letter gave us great pleasure and we let you know that your Uncle Zinsenheim and my father –in-law died on 8th March. If possible, please tell his daughter. He is buried close to my dear mother-in-law. Dear Erna, with us, did everything to make his last years easy. He died as a consequence of his diabetes. We all are healthy. Only from our Robert we haven’t received any mail yet. Ludi and family feel well and also dear Ditta. We are in frequent correspondence with Frieda. They all feel well. Mimi, Adi and children are now at Mimi’s parents and feel very well. From Lajos Falk we received news that he works in Birkenau. Trude and children have not written yet. Lotte is already going to school and she learns very well. Best greetings to Uncle Mindi and wife. Many many kisses to my dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law. If we get permission we are going to send you care packages.
Your Philipp and Erna
Our new address: Mikulasska 13
There is an interesting red stamp in the top right-hand corner, both in Slovak and German; translation:
It is permittes to send post from Slovakia to the 'settlement region' only through the Jewish Headquarters in Bratislava, Lenardova {Street] 29.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Eva Gertler