Object numberM2018/008:008
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. This postcard is from Leo’s Aunt Ruza in Prague. She is both excited for Leo to leave and markedly anxious about the situation for Jews in Europe.
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. This postcard is from Leo’s Aunt Ruza in Prague. She is both excited for Leo to leave and markedly anxious about the situation for Jews in Europe.
Production placePrague, Czech Republic
Production date 1938-10-20 - 1938-10-20
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), family life, refugees, refugees, refugee experiences in Australia
Object namepostcards
Dimensions
- length: 104.00 mm
width: 143.00 mm
Language
- German Dearest Leonku,
We have received your lovely congratulations and letter. Your letter cheered me up a little amidst all my concerns, since you are going well, thank G-d. Unfortunately good people are ever the fewer.
What progress are you making at the moment regarding your onward journey? May G-d see to it that everything goes well for you, so that your parents at least have one thing less to worry about. Such terrible things have befallen us; surely you read the newspapers. Dear Aunt Anna wrote yesterday, despairing terribly, and it all affects my tired nerves very much.
Dear Leo, your second letter just arrived, and I’m sorry that I made you wait so long for a reply but I have been writing this card for a few days already. I am so scattered that I can barely finish writing this.
Don’t be afraid, dear Leonku – hopefully everything will go well.
It is so lovely of you that you would like to treat me to such a nice place as you have other there. In my current state I could really use it. You know that we don’t have the authority [to leave(?)], which worries us a lot, since we left it so late. Who knows if the same problems await us that you have had [in Vienna].
I will send you a note soon … [unclear] about whether it is already allowed. Keep well and remain steadfast. [unclear sentence].
Greetings and kisses,
Warmest regards,
Your Aunt Ruza & Josi.
(Note on the side): Karl Hasenberg is already home, the others not yet.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit