Object numberM2018/008:012
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 letter was sent to Leo during his stay in a work shelter in Zurich by a school-aged family friend or relative named Ruth from Urdorf in the Swiss countryside. Ruth writes that she is happy but misses Zurich, implying that her family recently left. The tone of the letter is light-hearted and discusses, amongst other things, how a mutual acquaintance named Walter Stengel used to “play Frankenstein.” Another curious line of the letter reads, “Klara put the teeth on her bedside table in a water glass.” Enclosed is a picture of a car cut out of a newspaper, with the accompanying commentary, “if I was born an artist, I would have drawn you a more beautiful card than you drew me!”
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 letter was sent to Leo during his stay in a work shelter in Zurich by a school-aged family friend or relative named Ruth from Urdorf in the Swiss countryside. Ruth writes that she is happy but misses Zurich, implying that her family recently left. The tone of the letter is light-hearted and discusses, amongst other things, how a mutual acquaintance named Walter Stengel used to “play Frankenstein.” Another curious line of the letter reads, “Klara put the teeth on her bedside table in a water glass.” Enclosed is a picture of a car cut out of a newspaper, with the accompanying commentary, “if I was born an artist, I would have drawn you a more beautiful card than you drew me!”
Production placeUrdorf, Switzerland
Production date 1938-11-19 - 1938-11-19
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), family life, refugee camps, refugees, refugees, refugee experiences in Australia
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 275.00 mm
letter width: 214.00 mm
cut-out image length: 135.00 mm
cut-out image width: 66.00 mm
envelope length: 157.00 mm
envelope width: 93.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Leo!
Unfortunately I couldn’t write to you earlier as I hardly have any time. I always have to go to school and complete tasks. I can’t finish knitting your pullover as I have no wool left. It is very nice here. But I do not enjoy school as much as in Zürich. Our teacher is very strict. I am always very bored. I am not at all used to a boring life. I hope that you will all visit us sometime. I am very well. I’ve already gotten red cheeks. Does Walter Stengel play Frankenstein there as well? If he comes to us, he should not forget the teeth and the eyes. Klara and I are playing Frankenstein in bed because Walter is no longer with us. We have eyes and Klara put the teeth on her bedside table in a water glass. Tell Kurt that the pullover has been finished since a while back. I think of you from time to time and I hope that you haven’t forgotten me completely. I’ll finish the letter now because Mum wants me to go to bed.
Greetings to Kurt, Walter Stengel, Walter Schulz, Milo, Hans, Fred and to my uncle.
Many regards from everyone especially from Mum and Klara.
With best regards,
Ruth
[Note on the left hand side]: If I was born an artist, I would have drawn you a more beautiful car than you drew me!
[Note on the right hand side]: Our Mary still is that stupid.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit