Object numberM2018/008:023
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 Leo in this letter, stating that she and Adolf still don’t have their passports and that their stay in Vienna shall be extended by the Gestapo. Paul’s clearance certificate is due to expire soon soon according to her letter, which also describes the furniture that Hermine is planning on bringing to 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 Leo in this letter, stating that she and Adolf still don’t have their passports and that their stay in Vienna shall be extended by the Gestapo. Paul’s clearance certificate is due to expire soon soon according to her letter, which also describes the furniture that Hermine is planning on bringing to Australia.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1939-02-22 - 1939-02-22
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), Gestapo, Jews in Vienna, refugee experiences in Australia, family life, refugees, refugees, visa application, landing permit
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 311.00 mm
letter width: 238.00 mm
envelope length: 151.00 mm
envelope width: 95.00 mm
Language
- German My dearest Leo,
Today we received your letter from 8.2 with pleasure; and Pauli his birthday card too, which made him so happy.
Today we are thinking of you a lot since it is your birthday. May the dear G-d grant you much health and happiness throughout your life, and see to it that all your wishes be fulfilled, and that we four will be together again. We are happy to hear that you have already applied for us, and G-d help us that we shall be approved. We are all in good health, thank G-d. Write whether you received the letter with the medical certificates.
I write you a letter each week so that you will have one every day. Never write on heavy stationary as it costs more and airmail is out of the question; only light paper.
We will have our stay prolonged, although we would like to have left earlier, and I still don’t know what is going to happen with Pauli; whether he is able to stay on for so long or not. Uncle Bernhard and Aunt Ada want to go to Shanghai, but it is very expensive to go, so I still don’t know where they are headed.
Uncle Alfred also wrote today that he was happy to receive your letter: so you wrote to him already; don’t write too much because it costs you a lot of money and you must save it for when we come, if G-d will help us to get so far. You must buy yourself furniture first of all since we can’t send any from here. I am bringing clothing, bedding, mattresses, the two fans, shoes and crockery – only the essentials, which will cost a lot of money in customs and freight. The additional expenses are also steep. We already have 3 boxes at home from Pauli’s shop and 3 shipping crates, which we got cheaply but can’t send until we have our clearance certificates. In the meantime it is cold sleeping without the covers, so we are waiting until we get the permit and then will send everything at once. They will take a long time to arrive and according to my estimation weight around 2-3 hundred kilos, because the crates are very heavy.
I am happy that you are with Mr Mondschein’s family. [Unclear phrase], we are glad that you are earning so well. May G-d always bless you with happiness and health wherever you may be. I pray only for you and for Pauli, and would be so happy if Pauli could travel with us. We are also glad that the firm is happy with you.
Leonku, did you already eat up all the liver? It will go off soon so don’t leave it any longer and eat it with Mr Mondschein. Now one is not allowed to [unclear] such things, otherwise I would have taken the fat, and we’re not allowed to [unclear] anything closed.
Write whether the food there is good, what kind of meat there is and whether people use gas or coal ovens. When we get our passports I will send you our certificates of good conduct immediately.
Send my regards to the entire Mondschein family. Write soon.
A thousand kisses,
Your Mama
My dear Jonas,
I wish you all the best on your birthday. Now all there is to do is wait. Look after yourself so that you stay well. You didn’t have to sell the ring.
Many kisses,
Your Tater Steiner
Best wishes on your birthday and “Good luke”[sic] from your brother Pauli.
Separate greetings from the Dicker family. Until we see each other again.
[Mother’s handwriting:] Aunt Anna and Uncle send their regards. When we are there [Australia] we will apply for them.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit