Object numberM2018/008:037
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, friends and relatives of Leo's are desperate to enjoin his help in the hopes of migrating to Australia themselves, including even those in Palestine who are growing tired of the Middle Eastern conflict. In this instance, we have a letter from the refugee centre in Merksplas, Belgium, asking for Leo to pay the ship deposit required for one of their inmates, Richard Neumann, to travel to Australia. It is accompanied by a handwritten letter from Richard himself asking the same, but more emotively. Enclosed is also a slip with the handwritten address of the Sydney branch of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, presumably for Leo to appeal to if he were not able to cover the ship deposit himself.
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, friends and relatives of Leo's are desperate to enjoin his help in the hopes of migrating to Australia themselves, including even those in Palestine who are growing tired of the Middle Eastern conflict. In this instance, we have a letter from the refugee centre in Merksplas, Belgium, asking for Leo to pay the ship deposit required for one of their inmates, Richard Neumann, to travel to Australia. It is accompanied by a handwritten letter from Richard himself asking the same, but more emotively. Enclosed is also a slip with the handwritten address of the Sydney branch of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, presumably for Leo to appeal to if he were not able to cover the ship deposit himself.
Production placeMerksplas, Belgium, Merksplas, Belgium
Production date 1939-05-09 - 1939-05-09 1939-05-12 - 1939-05-12
SubjectHolocaust, Nazi political activities (1933-1939), refugees, refugees, family life, ship deposit, refugee camps, Australian Jewish Welfare Society, refugee experiences in Australia
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter (typed) length: 275.00 mm
letter (typed) width: 215.00 mm
letter (handwritten) length: 271.00 mm
letter (handwritten) width: 209.00 mm
chit length: 200.00 mm
chit width: 127.00 mm
envelope length: 155.00 mm
envelope width: 125.00 mm
Language
- German Centre des Refugiés
Merksplas.
Merksplas, 9.5.1939.
Dear sir!
In the lines below we allow ourselves to update you on the following matter:
Mr Richard NEUMANN, who has been in our camp for some time, has accumulated significant earnings through his devotion to his work. He has worked as an instructor for lock smithing and welding in our retraining courses and his knowledge has helped young Jews to lay the foundation for a new life. Mr Neumann has always worked towards the interests of the camp and has allowed new courses to be set up with his collaboration.
Mr Neumann is in possession of a permit to Australia, can however make no use of it in his current situation, since he does not have the necessary ship deposit of 50 pounds. Our request to you is to help Mr Neumann, so that he receives the ship deposit sum and is able to undertake his journey.
Whilst we hope that you are able to respond to our letter favourably, for which we convey our warmest thanks in advance, we sign,
Yours respectfully,
Centre des Refugiés
German Richard Neumann Centre des Refugiés Belgium Dear Leo! You will probably be very surprised to receive a letter from me, of all people. But so it is in this world, that when one needs something, one will look for it until he finds it; it is like this for me as well. I have been in Belgium as an illegal immigrant from 14.2.1939 and since then have been in the camp Centre des Refugiés, Merksplas. In the camp, I have been working as an instructor in lock smithing, blacksmithing and welding. As you can see in the attached letter of recommendation, I have established a good position for myself through my expertise. I received an Australian permit (no. 29801) for Sydney from my guarantor Sir Samuel S. Cohen, Sydney, 11-13 Bond Street. So far everything has been well and good. The Jewish Committee here in Antwerp covered the cost of the ship ticket but not the deposit of £50. On this matter, I would like to ask you if you could help me. Perhaps you could find someone to lend me the £50, which I would pay back immediately after arrival. If this is not possible – which I would not like to accept – please go to my guarantor and ask him on my behalf to lend me the £50, so that I can leave as soon as possible. Perhaps it would also be possible to find out from my guarantor (Sir Samuel S. Cohen, Sydney, 11-13 Bond Street) which firm I will be working for, as unfortunately I still have not been notified of this. Please do not be annoyed that I am burdening you with all this, but since I do not know anyone in Australia aside from yourself I am investing all of my hopes in your efforts, and so hopefully will not be disappointed. It would be tragic for me if, now that I have my permit, I were not able to travel to Australia just because I cannot produce the ship deposit. So, please do all that is in your power and do not keep me waiting too long. Franz is also in Brussels and has a job as a locksmith. Heini and Kille Stubeitzer are also here, as well as Wadel, and Walach from Treustrassse 3. My sister and her children are in Brussels and my parents are going to come over here. Sending regards, and do not forget that I am laying all of my hopes on you, as I have no prospect otherwise of getting the ship deposit – Warm regards, Richard Neumann
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit