Object numberM2018/008:030
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.
Later, whilst in Australia, Leo remains in contact with a wide network of family and friends. This letter is from Leo’s friend Egon Belf in Palestine. Egon expresses how happy he is for Leo’s situation in the letter and describes his life in Palestine in extensive detail, including having to work as a gigolo and day-to-day security issues. (Regarding the ethnic tensions in Mandatory Palestine, today some of Egon's flippant comments are likely to read as flagrant or even offensive.) After tiring of life in Tel Aviv, Egon states that he has moved to Rishon Lezion, where he works in a military fort. He also apparently plans to emigrate to the USA soon with his family.
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.
Later, whilst in Australia, Leo remains in contact with a wide network of family and friends. This letter is from Leo’s friend Egon Belf in Palestine. Egon expresses how happy he is for Leo’s situation in the letter and describes his life in Palestine in extensive detail, including having to work as a gigolo and day-to-day security issues. (Regarding the ethnic tensions in Mandatory Palestine, today some of Egon's flippant comments are likely to read as flagrant or even offensive.) After tiring of life in Tel Aviv, Egon states that he has moved to Rishon Lezion, where he works in a military fort. He also apparently plans to emigrate to the USA soon with his family.
Production placeRishon LeZion, Israel
Production date 1939-03-29 - 1939-03-29
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), Mandatory Palestine, Arab-Israeli conflict, refugees, refugees, military service, British Mandate for Palestine, Zionism
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 208.00 mm
letter width: 251.00 mm
envelope length: 155.00 mm
envelope width: 124.00 mm
Language
- German My dear friend Leo!
Today I received your letter, which had been forwarded from Tel Aviv. The feelings I had while I read it cannot be put into words. Such a joy! I really can’t get over it. I am crying tears of happiness by your side. It made me as happy as if I were with my loved ones once again. Thank G-d that you are healthy, that you are doing so well. What a delight your letter was to me – once more, thank you and bless you G-d. Your parents will definitely follow soon in your footsteps.
I had written so often to Pfister Notter in Switzerland without receiving a response, either from yourself or from Haifisch. I was a bit hurt, though also worried. They are doing away quickly with Jews in Europe. One is shoved from border to border, until one is finally sent back to the hordes of Germanic criminals. What is our Haifisch up to? Where is he? What have you heard from him?
Now for something about me. To start with, something very lovely. With G-d’s help and if all goes well, I will be going to America in July on a steamer. My dear parents are in Switzerland, where they are living at the moment, and will with G-d’s help travel with me. My father and Max were in Dachau and have to recover a little in order to endure the journey to my dear brother Fritz’s residence.
Now a bit more about me. I have just travelled around Palestine. I went from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv (that part of the journey you know about already, from the letter you received in Switzerland). In Tel Aviv I was a waiter – and don’t laugh because it was very hard for me at the time – also a gigolo. A dancer. So I could already dance, and on top of that I learnt a lot, but none of that is very important. I had to detach myself a little. The first few times were great, but even though I was earning good money eventually I couldn’t stand it any longer and moved to Rishon Lezion. One of the oldest cities in Palestine. To call it a city is an exaggeration however. It is a bit like Roeslau, though more like Baden. I say Baden, since the tallest building only has two storeys.
Here, my dear Leo, one needs a military, which in the countryside also acts as the police. Rishon Lezion is surrounded by desert and Arab settlements. Since there are attacks here daily (as you have surely read in the papers), it is not the easiest profession. I’m working in Rishon for 6 pounds in Palestinian money, one pound being 28-30 Austrian shillings. Food and board are included (which are wonderful), as well as free visits to the cinema, etcetera. My schedule is as follows: 8 hours every other day in the nearby “Shmirot”, meaning a kind of fort. These are set up around the city and need to be guarded against German-incited Arabs. They always come in groups of 60-80 men and are very well equipped. But we have machine guns plus competent English officials, colonels who have experience with guerrilla warfare and know how to handle situations.
You know that I don’t kill for pleasure, but one has to fulfil one’s duty all the same. The Arabs are moreover a very mean tribe. I have Shabbat off and an extra day off twice every three weeks. Otherwise, if I am not at the fort during the day, I am there at night, which is not very pleasant but feels somewhat more secure. In Palestine, one gets used to sleeping with a machine gun or a weapon. Even the field labourers are armed. The battles here aren’t as bad as they are in the Judean Mountains, the Galil or on the lands bordering Syria. The Germans are sending weapons to the Arabs – we are aware of this but can’t do anything about it, apart from shooting down the Arabs. Though you’ll surely have seen all that in the papers.
The buses from one village to the next are all accompanied by armoured cars, which are also driven by our people. All inter-urban busses are equipped with steel-plated tanks. Like in the Wild West! What this all amounts to, however, is that we have already been at war for many years. And my parents aren’t to know anything about my “work”, since they already forbade me from doing anything like it in writing. I wanted to make them come around to the idea, and wrote to them that I may do it, but instead they forbad me. No-one else knows about it apart from Hugo. I also avoid any acquaintances I encounter here from Vienna. If they were to see me, my mother or father may find out what I do through the grapevine.
Lutz Horn is stationed in the next “Urschavah”, meaning the next garrison. He often comes to visit me. There’s also Bursch Epstein. He once went out with Ella Israelowitsch from the countryside. I happen to have some photos of us together and will attach one to this letter. I haven’t heard anything from Ilus or your relatives, though am happy not to have news from anyone. Unfortunately Jetti Apfel found out my address and looked for me in my barracks. Imagine how my colleagues reacted! They all had a laugh about it. It was unpleasant enough for me. There are plenty of cats here - I am not lacking in uninvited guests.
With us in the “Quitta”, meaning the occupying forces, there are 45 Jewish men, including Yemenites, black Jews, and 8 English officials always on guard. Though it changes all the time. New recruits are always coming to be trained and are sent off after 14 days to some place around the country. There are a lot of Austrians coming at the moment. An English official plus one of us does the training. Sometimes I do it too, but I don’t like it because here you can die from the heat. Nonetheless, order are orders and I can’t do anything about them.
I can already make myself understood very well in Hebrew, the local tongue. I can also understand the English officials very well and can casually converse with them in English. I could write a lot more about my language skills but will do so another time, as today I’m writing to you about more important matters.
I wouldn’t like for you to get the idea that I am disappointed with my lot – not in the slightest. I wouldn’t like to run around armed and in a uniform forever, but for now until July it is completely fine. The freedoms which one has despite everything are great. Sometimes I practice sports. And – you’ll be astonished, my dear Leo – I go for a lot of walks. Mostly as the escort of some official, though this is really great. I take every opportunity to act as an escort to our officials or their wives. Though the latter, with one exception, are all pretty unimpressive. I never try to start anything with them because I don’t want to fall out of favour with the officials, plus I could be punished for it. It’s not worth the trouble for these women.
My dear Leo I am going to wrap up now; I’m going to attach a few photos to this letter. Write to me again and address your letter to Egon Belf, Rischon Lezion, Shivah Zion by Zadok, Palestine. That’s our barracks. I would be very glad to hear from you again. It takes about a month to post a letter all the way out to you.
Dear Leo! All the best again. Write to me lots. Stay healthy and trust in the dear Lord G-d. He will certainly help you and ensure that your parents are soon by your side in paradise down under.
Stay healthy and warmest regards,
Your best friend,
Egon
PS. Zadok is the official that our “Quitta” (or regiment) is named after. Write the address headed by Adon Zadok, the correct title.
PPS. Answer me as soon as you get this letter. Don’t spare any time!!
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit