Object numberM2018/008:005
DescriptionIn March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in the “Anschluss”. From May 1938, the racist Nuremberg laws applied in Austria, and Austrian Jews were steadily ostracised from their societies during the process of “Aryanisation.” This tension came to a climax in the Kristallnacht pogrom from 9th-10th November.
In the meantime, Hardy Brothers, a British jewellery-making firm, offer young Leo Steiner from Vienna employment in Sydney, Australia as a jewellery mounter in July 1938. However, the Gestapo threaten to arrest Jews issued with travel documents who do not leave within a short time. Whilst Leo’s Australian landing permit is pending, it is therefore prudent to seek temporary refuge in a third country. Before he is discharged from his erstwhile firm Vienna Art Designs, Leo’s employer Oscar Fastlich writes that his stay in Switzerland is necessary for business. In July, Leo moves to Zurich on a temporary stay visa, leaving his parents, Adolf and Hermine, and brother Paul, behind in Vienna.
At this point in Leo’s life, he is still in contact with a wide network of friends and extended family. A friend of his, a Dr Josef Mondschein, has also been offered a position working for Hardy Bros in Sydney. Whilst anxiously awaiting the issuing of his landing permit to Australia, Mondschein seeks refuge in Finland and writes emotively to Leo from Helsinki during this time; “So I don’t know, but I think that the opportunity has somehow slipped away from me. I could also be wrong and I hope that I am.” Receiving their permits to travel to Australia takes longer than expected and both Leo and Mondschein face uncertainty regarding their visa status in Switzerland and Finland respectively. In this letter, Mondschein writes of his frustration with having to wait so long for his Australian landing permit and his growing doubts over whether he will ever receive it.
In the meantime, Hardy Brothers, a British jewellery-making firm, offer young Leo Steiner from Vienna employment in Sydney, Australia as a jewellery mounter in July 1938. However, the Gestapo threaten to arrest Jews issued with travel documents who do not leave within a short time. Whilst Leo’s Australian landing permit is pending, it is therefore prudent to seek temporary refuge in a third country. Before he is discharged from his erstwhile firm Vienna Art Designs, Leo’s employer Oscar Fastlich writes that his stay in Switzerland is necessary for business. In July, Leo moves to Zurich on a temporary stay visa, leaving his parents, Adolf and Hermine, and brother Paul, behind in Vienna.
At this point in Leo’s life, he is still in contact with a wide network of friends and extended family. A friend of his, a Dr Josef Mondschein, has also been offered a position working for Hardy Bros in Sydney. Whilst anxiously awaiting the issuing of his landing permit to Australia, Mondschein seeks refuge in Finland and writes emotively to Leo from Helsinki during this time; “So I don’t know, but I think that the opportunity has somehow slipped away from me. I could also be wrong and I hope that I am.” Receiving their permits to travel to Australia takes longer than expected and both Leo and Mondschein face uncertainty regarding their visa status in Switzerland and Finland respectively. In this letter, Mondschein writes of his frustration with having to wait so long for his Australian landing permit and his growing doubts over whether he will ever receive it.
Production placeHelsinki, Finland
Production date 1938-09-01 - 1938-09-01
SubjectNazi political activities (1933-1939), Holocaust, refugee experiences in Australia, refugees, refugees, visa application, landing permit
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 212.00 mm
letter width: 132.00 mm
envelope length: 152.00 mm
envelope width: 120.00 mm
Language
- German My dear Leo,
It was a great joy for me to receive your card and it is a particular coincidence, that just a couple of hours before receiving your card, I inquired with my people in Vienna about your address in Switzerland. Since you wrote that Indi Lazarus is also there, I’m assuming that you haven’t spoken to him about my possible trip to Australia. It would be very awkward for me if you were to do so. It would also be advisable for you - not that I am trying to impose on you with my advice – if you were to only speak about your situation with people who will be discreet about it.
As for my situation, I received a letter in reply to my enquiry on July 7 that states that people are waiting for permits every day and that I will be immediately notified when a formal outcome is available. I have been waiting, but in the meantime I am worried about my Finnish visa. I didn’t even know if it had been approved when I first came here!
Sept 29: After spending a few days in Helsinki, I wrote again without receiving a response. In a second letter, in which I expressly asked that they respond to me immediately, I received the response: “they are still trying to get a permit,” etcetera. So I don’t know, but I think that the opportunity has somehow slipped away from me. I could also be wrong and I hope that I am. Whether I am going to get a ticket to board a ship, whether I will be able to go, all is still unclear. I was told that I will be notified as soon as the permit arrives. That is all for now.
Maybe, dear Leo, you could write to Fastlich and describe your situation, of course in a very grim and pessimistic manner, and ask him to put in a word for you.
I am not doing that poorly at the moment. For us emigrants it is uncertain whether we will be allowed to stay here for three months [the time it takes to finalise the Australian visa]. It is alright for now but it is questionable if we will be able to prolong our stay.
Please send my greetings to the young Lazarus – I am here with Altmann – but please don’t tell anybody that I am planning on travelling to Australia. It would be a great pleasure for me to receive a response from you – but sealed please, not an open card. I miss you a lot and wish you all the best.
Yours,
Mondschein
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit