Object numberM2018/008:055
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 Sydney, Leo remains in contact with an extensive network of friends and family, many of whom wish to enlist his help in finding a way to travel to Australia themselves. He even receives requests from contacts in British-mandated Palestine, who are tiring of the conflict in the Middle East. Interestingly, this letter, from a Swiss friend named Karl Langer, is not a petition to Leo for help but rather a justification of its writer's choice to stay in Switzerland. While Langer lauds Switzerland's political neutrality and ideal skiing seasons, a certain anxiety also taints the letter, as he admits to his fear of having to join the army and of potential poverty: "...how long I can remain a lucky devil, who doesn’t know anything of all the suffering, no-one knows."
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 Sydney, Leo remains in contact with an extensive network of friends and family, many of whom wish to enlist his help in finding a way to travel to Australia themselves. He even receives requests from contacts in British-mandated Palestine, who are tiring of the conflict in the Middle East. Interestingly, this letter, from a Swiss friend named Karl Langer, is not a petition to Leo for help but rather a justification of its writer's choice to stay in Switzerland. While Langer lauds Switzerland's political neutrality and ideal skiing seasons, a certain anxiety also taints the letter, as he admits to his fear of having to join the army and of potential poverty: "...how long I can remain a lucky devil, who doesn’t know anything of all the suffering, no-one knows."
Production placeZürich, Switzerland
Production date 1940-05-06 - 1940-05-06
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, refugee experiences in Australia, postal restrictions
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 297.00 mm
letter width: 210.00 mm
envelope length: 161.00 mm
envelope width: 115.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Leo,
I received your letter from March 12 a few days ago and noted that at your time of writing, you still hadn’t received my letter. I hope that my lines did reach you so that you know that I’m fine. As long as I’m here, things will continue to go well for me as a matter of course. In a country like Switzerland, anything else would be unthinkable.
Before I write more about the content of you letter, I must tell you there’s an export ban here and therefore I can’t send you the saws anymore. I’ll still try to find a way, but I recommend you contact R. Rirsch, 41 Lynford Gardens, Edgware, London, or O.F. [possibly Oscar Fastlich, former employer of Leo Steiner at Vienna Art Designs], or Halpern in New York who would easily be able to help you. In any case, try the saws in London; they’re certainly very good and eventually you’ll also have mine, so there won’t be anything lost. Unfortunately there is nothing else I can do.
From your letter, I can see that you’ve settled in well and are doing nice things. Things are quite dull here but I make a fine [unclear word]. For me, it’s essential that I am still here, as nearly all of my friends are in the army. Frisch, who is now working in Berlin, needs to enlist in the next few days. Anyway, how long I can remain a lucky devil, who doesn’t know anything of all the suffering, no-one knows.
In any case, I make sure I keep going as well as possible. We’ve had a great winter this year: I’ve had 22 full days of skiing, four of which I spent in the east in Arosa. You can imagine that these were four wonderful days – we rented a whole chalet for ourselves, as per the photo. We’re going to see off the ski season on Pentecost with two days in Engelberg-Titlis. As far as I’m concerned, I’d be happy for winter to start again. Australia wouldn’t be for me, as it is too warm there. As for my health, I’m fine and am eating a lot and well, because who knows for how much longer.
I am in touch with all my friends and relatives, except for O.F., but I know Rirsch is well, as well as all my other Viennese acquaintances in Vienna.
My dear friend, you will of course be writing to me again, and if I’m no longer here, I’ll have the mail forwarded and you’ll be informed of where I am, and whether further correspondence is possible. So let’s hope for the best, and don’t fret.
Warmest regards,
Langer
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit