Object numberM2017/007:027
DescriptionLetter to Franz Pete in Vienna dated 21 October 1946, sent from Hermann Elter in Shanghai. Hermann requests that Pete assumes administration of his interests in two realities. He informs him he has stood down Anton Wopicka and expects all relevant information to be transferred forthwith. It assumed that both Pete and Wopicka are lawyers.
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 1946-10-21 - 1946-10-21
Production periodpost World War II
Subjectrestitution, victims, Aryanisation
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Techniqueprinted
Dimensions
- letter width: 214.00 mm
height: 278.00 mm
Language
- German Through my son-in-law, Herr Schnitzer, to you, I permit myself to avail myself of your intervention in the following matter.
Before the upheaval, I was co-owner of the two realities in Wein v. Wimmergasse 15 and 16, each with a one-third share of these objects. The house Wimmergasse 15 is in land registry under deposit number 1296, Katastralgemeinde Margarethen, Konskriptionsnummer 1296 and the house Wimmergrasse 16 under deposit number 1297, Katastralgemeinde Margarethen, Konskriptionsnummer 1297, registered.
After the annexation of Austria by the German National Socialists I had to emigrate as a Jew to save my and my family's life and arrived in Shanghai in 1939 with my relatives. My real estate has been transferred without my knowledge and will to the property of the German state. The transfer of ownership was thus carried out arbitrarily for racial reasons.
On the basis of the order of assets issued on 9 September 1946, which has now been issued in Austria and has already come into force, I willingly take the necessary steps to regain my immovable property by bringing in a request to that effect and to the competent authority. I invite you to submit this petition, requesting it, keeping the matter in evidence, and intervening with the relevant authorities to ensure that the matter is handled smoothly and swiftly.
The administration of the aforementioned houses led on the basis of an agreement signed on April 11, 1939, to Mr. Anton Wopicka. This administrative agreement was made in return for a loan of RM 500 raised by me for 10 years. The loan was paid from the interest received; I also had 6% interest to pay.
Convinced that, after the two houses were transferred to the German state, Mr. Wopicka was at the same time deprived of his administration, I would ask you to take over the property management and understand Mr. Wopicka. At the same time, I inform you of the request, to give you a detailed account of the time of his administration. Difficulties on the part of Mr Wopicka are not to be expected, since in any case the administrative amount has expired due to the change of ownership. Should Mr Wopicka refuse to surrender the estate on the basis of the above-mentioned contract, then please tell him that the agreement concluded with him has been destroyed in view of the gross disproportion between his performance and my consideration of good morals and is therefore ineffective.
In order to facilitate your intervention with the authorities as well as to manage the management of my shares, I will send you a legalized power of attorney.
Assuming that you accept my mandate, I await with interest your business reply.
P.S. It goes without saying that I will reward you.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Len Mahemoff