Object numberM2018/008:022
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.
Once established in Australia, Leo makes various applications to the Australian government for landing permits on behalf of his parents and Paul, all of which are denied. All three family members would eventually perish during WWII. Hermine Steiner writes to her son Leo in this letter. Hermine is worried about Leo’s financial situation and encourages him to eat well. She and Adolf still have not received their passports. Hermine asks Leo if he is able to find a job on Paul’s behalf at Hardy Bros. Meanwhile, Paul's employer is not able to write him a reference as the shop has been Aryanised. The letter also includes a passage written by Adolf where he promises that he would be willing to work hard at any job in Australia.
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.
Once established in Australia, Leo makes various applications to the Australian government for landing permits on behalf of his parents and Paul, all of which are denied. All three family members would eventually perish during WWII. Hermine Steiner writes to her son Leo in this letter. Hermine is worried about Leo’s financial situation and encourages him to eat well. She and Adolf still have not received their passports. Hermine asks Leo if he is able to find a job on Paul’s behalf at Hardy Bros. Meanwhile, Paul's employer is not able to write him a reference as the shop has been Aryanised. The letter also includes a passage written by Adolf where he promises that he would be willing to work hard at any job in Australia.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1939-02-15 - 1939-02-15
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), refugees, refugees, visa application, landing permit, Aryanisation, refugee experiences in Australia, Jews in Vienna, family life
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 179.00 mm
letter width: 142.00 mm
envelope length: 150.00 mm
envelope width: 94.00 mm
Language
- German My dearest Leo,
We received your last nice letter from 3.2 with great pleasure today, as well as two letters from 26.1, though we haven’t gotten your telegram yet.
Thank G-d that you have arrived over there, and the most important thing is that you stay well. Don’t scrimp and save too much or you’ll have no energy for work. I think that you are in training at the moment – I know that you haven’t worked in a long time, but as I know you, I know that it’ll be alright. May G-d help you in everything He can whilst you have these responsibilities ahead of you.
I can’t remember whether I wrote you four or five letters, but I think you’ll get all of them. Write whether you received the large letter with the certificates. You didn’t write whether you had enough money for the ship. Don’t feel guilty; we don’t need anything from you and you needn’t send us any money. We get enough from Uncle Alfred, who has sent Aunt Anna 600 marks for ship tickets, and will help us out as well. They are going either to Shanghai or Palestine, but I don’t know when.
Eat warm meals, as cold fare does nothing for you. Write to us how it is over there, whether there are gas ovens or just coal and wood; how the food is; whether you can get everything that you can here; whether the meat is tasty and what you are getting to eat.
Now I will write a bit about Pauli. He is not a pattern-cutter, rather a textiles specialist and a fitter for ladies’ clothing. You must not tell anyone that he is a cutter, as he isn’t able to pick up something new so quickly. So, I’m asking if it would be possible for you to find a job opening for him, as I would like for him to be accommodated in England but that isn’t going so well. If there is a butcher there who is willing to help us out, you know that Tato is also willing to work. We don’t want to become a burden to you, it’s just that we must leave as soon as possible.
I’m not sure what the situation is like regarding the ship deposit, or whether you would be able to cover it for us. Uncle Alfred will help us pay for the ship tickets, as well as the Cultural Committee. From there it would be more expensive; from here it is cheaper. May the dear G-d above help you to obtain the permit. So long as it doesn’t take too long we’ll get our stay here prolonged, but we would rather leave as soon as we can to be with you, and that way if Pauli comes too we could all be together again. This would be my greatest pleasure.
We are all in good health, thank G-d. Both Tato and I have new eyeglasses.
I don’t think Pauli’s boss will give him another certificate; he already has a tradesman’s certification and is also qualified as a trading assistant according to his apprenticeship certificate. Now his boss won’t write him a new certificate, as he isn’t registered there anymore; or only as a temp. So only register him as a textiles specialist or a fitter, as he was in [unclear] shop, so never learnt pattern-cutting. He finds the learning process difficult. You could also register him as a salesman in ladies’ clothing; maybe that could be a possibility.
Did you buy a chest? Is furniture very expensive over there? Tomorrow someone is coming to pick up our bedsprings to clean them. Overseas everything must be cleaned; I would like to cover the mattresses as they are so ripped. I have 9 horsehair mattresses, which we could make good use of there [Australia], only the transport is so expensive, but G-d shall help us. I have 3 boxes at home which we’ll pack with clothes, bedding, mattresses and crockery, but where will you store it before we arrive? You two [Leo and his roommate] could get a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and closet, which wouldn’t be expensive, and I could keep house for you.
G-d shall have it that we are already thinking so far ahead, but first you must get the permit, which will be a painful process. Pauli already has his passport unlike us, but we are in no hurry, because if we get them now our clearance certificates will expire too soon, and it will be a hassle to renew them, so it’s better to wait.
Please write so that we get a letter from you each week. I’m also writing one a week. We look so forward to and wait so patiently for your letters.
Last week we got some salami from Aunt Ruza, and yesterday 4 pieces of knackwurst. Pepi also sent something but it hasn’t arrived yet. Don’t worry yourself over us, just focus on getting the permit, and then everything will sort itself out. I will do a cook-up over there so that lots of employees can come over to our place to eat, and so that I’ll also get to see some life. But first we must be there in good health and with some luck.
Write to us thoroughly about everything. Pauli is in the shop, which has been Aryanised so he can’t get a certificate.
A thousand kisses,
Your Mama
Dear Leo,
You wrote regarding Pauli, though maybe you could find a position for him somewhere. He is able to take on any job as he is very eager, hardworking and honest. I would also take on any job given to me, even if it is not in my profession.
Pauli must come with us in any case, unless he is able to go to England in the meantime in which case we can make an application for him when we arrive. He is prepared for anything but I would rather have him with us, so you will see what you can do for him.
Describe the climate over there to us as well as what your financial situation was like on board; did you still have money left over when you arrived? Don’t scrimp too much, rather make sure you eat a lot and do sport in your free time so that you stay healthy. Describe everything to us in detail.
Many kisses,
Your Tater Steiner
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit