Object numberM2018/008:015
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.
This letter is from Leo’s brother Paul to Leo's refugee shelter in Switzerland, saying that the latter is waiting for his passport to arrive and that he was rejected by the Swiss and Swedish consulates for temporary stays (in order to await an Australian permit himself). Nonetheless, Paul remains hopeful in the letter, which includes a short note written by Hermine, advising Leo to take care of himself on board the ship to Australia and to keep warm. Paul notes that she was "crying like a baby" while she wrote the note.
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.
This letter is from Leo’s brother Paul to Leo's refugee shelter in Switzerland, saying that the latter is waiting for his passport to arrive and that he was rejected by the Swiss and Swedish consulates for temporary stays (in order to await an Australian permit himself). Nonetheless, Paul remains hopeful in the letter, which includes a short note written by Hermine, advising Leo to take care of himself on board the ship to Australia and to keep warm. Paul notes that she was "crying like a baby" while she wrote the note.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1938-12-10 - 1938-12-10
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), refugees, refugees, visa application, Visa Refusal, family life, refugee experiences in Australia, farewells, refugee camps
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 268.00 mm
letter width: 217.00 mm
envelope length: 145.00 mm
envelope width: 116.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Leo,
We just got your letter and are pleased that you can travel soon. We are all healthy, thank God, and hope to hear the same from you. I have written to the Swiss and Swedish consulates. We received a refusal from the Swiss consulate and from the Swedish consulate as well, but when visas are handed out by the Swedish consulate the first ones will be reserved for us.
Yesterday, December 9, I handed in the documents required for our passports. I hope we’ll receive them by the end of December. I contacted the Jewish Cultural Committee in London but they are only taking people under 18 years of age. The first Kindertransport left for England on December 9. The two little Kohn brothers have been signed up everywhere; I hope they are able to travel soon. According to Poldi, Walter has gone to England and Poldi to Palestine.
When we have our passports and clearance certificates, we are going to try to go via Lustenau like Hansi did. We will hopefully not be refused because we are exiles. When you are aboard the ship write to us with the address to which we can forward the post. When we receive our passports and clearance certificates we are going to take our things to the forwarding agent – about 2 or 3 boxes – and leave them there for a month, and if you have arrived by the end of January they will be forwarded to you so that you’ll receive them by the end of February. Everything is fine. The transport up to where you are will be paid for by us. When the boxes are brought to you though, you’ll have to pay a tip.
Good luck,
Paul
My dearest Leo,
Today Pauli is writing to you instead of me, just make sure you look after yourself and your things, write straight away once you are on the ship and we will reply to you immediately. The good Lord will always be with you. Travel happily, and make sure to dress appropriately; it is now very cold. In the next letter I will write to you more thoroughly.
A thousand kisses,
Your mama
[Note from Paul underneath:] Whilst writing these 5 lines Mama is crying like a baby.
Many kisses, your Tato, Adolf.
My greetings to Hansi, the Blau brothes and everyone else, Paul.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit