Object numberM2017/007:025
DescriptionLetter of employment termination issued to Hermann Elter by the Committee for the Assistance of European Jewish Refugees in Shanghai, 4 March 1942. They apologise they are unable to retain such a large staff and extend the gratuity of the free dining menu and extra bread for another 4 weeks.
Herman Elter was born 2 July 1888, in Kreszowice, Poland. Prior to WWI, he relocated to Vienna. Hermann served in the Austro-Hungarian Army throughout the conflict and on the 20 August, 1917 he was awarded a bronze medal for bravery. That same year, September 12, he married Regine Preczelmajer at the Israelite military pastoral care in Vienna. Post-war, his service entitled him to Austrian citizenship, granted also to his wife and daughter, Gertrude.
In the inter-war years, he became a merchant, opening a delicatessen which bore his name on the shopfront. Photos in the collection suggest there was been another deli co-owned by Hermann and his brother David Elter; perhaps they were partners in both enterprises. The brothers traded until the Anschluss. As well as his trading interests, Hermann was also co-owner of two realties, in an arrangement whereby he shared ownership with his brother David and another gentleman by the name of Aron Welner.
In 1939, Hermann took his wife and two young daughters and fled to Shanghai. Prior to this, he had obtained a police clearance in December 1938 to leave Austria for Australia but the journey was not fulfilled. Before leaving, he handed administration of his assets to a man called Anton Wopicka.
The documents and photographs pertaining to Hermann Elter were donated as part of deceased estate involving his son-in-law, Denis Carver. The majority of items relating to Hermann revolve around his restitution claim and his unceasing effort to have ownership of his property restored. The Elter family immigrated to Australia in 1949; Hermann died, 10 October 1951 in Bondi. He never won his compensation claim.
Herman Elter was born 2 July 1888, in Kreszowice, Poland. Prior to WWI, he relocated to Vienna. Hermann served in the Austro-Hungarian Army throughout the conflict and on the 20 August, 1917 he was awarded a bronze medal for bravery. That same year, September 12, he married Regine Preczelmajer at the Israelite military pastoral care in Vienna. Post-war, his service entitled him to Austrian citizenship, granted also to his wife and daughter, Gertrude.
In the inter-war years, he became a merchant, opening a delicatessen which bore his name on the shopfront. Photos in the collection suggest there was been another deli co-owned by Hermann and his brother David Elter; perhaps they were partners in both enterprises. The brothers traded until the Anschluss. As well as his trading interests, Hermann was also co-owner of two realties, in an arrangement whereby he shared ownership with his brother David and another gentleman by the name of Aron Welner.
In 1939, Hermann took his wife and two young daughters and fled to Shanghai. Prior to this, he had obtained a police clearance in December 1938 to leave Austria for Australia but the journey was not fulfilled. Before leaving, he handed administration of his assets to a man called Anton Wopicka.
The documents and photographs pertaining to Hermann Elter were donated as part of deceased estate involving his son-in-law, Denis Carver. The majority of items relating to Hermann revolve around his restitution claim and his unceasing effort to have ownership of his property restored. The Elter family immigrated to Australia in 1949; Hermann died, 10 October 1951 in Bondi. He never won his compensation claim.
Production date 1942-03-04 - 1942-03-04
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- letter width: 215.00 mm
height: 277.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Len Mahemoff