Object numberM2018/008:056
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.
Determined to reach Palestine, Paul Steiner follows the directives of a local Zionist youth group, Hechalutz, who has planned an exodus of Jews to Palestine by illegal means. He thus joins the "Kladovo Transport". In early 1940 Paul finds himself marooned in Yugoslavia with the other passengers over the ’39-’40 winter in the eponymous Kladovo harbour by the Romanian border. The Romanian Iron Guard does not allow the ship to continue along the Danube via Romania, the country having officially joined the Axis powers in November 1939. In addition, the winter is beleaguered by harsh conditions that see the Danube freeze over and render an onward journey temporarily impossible. Paul would eventually perish at the hands of fascist insurgents in Yugoslavia in the year of 1941.
This letter is addressed to Leo from Kladovo, where Paul is stranded, forwarded via their Aunt Pepi in Novi Sad. He is hopeful that his ship will leave to travel onwards at the end of the week and that he will still manage to travel to Palestine. Attempting to sound cheery despite his hardship, he asks Leo not to send any more money.
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.
Determined to reach Palestine, Paul Steiner follows the directives of a local Zionist youth group, Hechalutz, who has planned an exodus of Jews to Palestine by illegal means. He thus joins the "Kladovo Transport". In early 1940 Paul finds himself marooned in Yugoslavia with the other passengers over the ’39-’40 winter in the eponymous Kladovo harbour by the Romanian border. The Romanian Iron Guard does not allow the ship to continue along the Danube via Romania, the country having officially joined the Axis powers in November 1939. In addition, the winter is beleaguered by harsh conditions that see the Danube freeze over and render an onward journey temporarily impossible. Paul would eventually perish at the hands of fascist insurgents in Yugoslavia in the year of 1941.
This letter is addressed to Leo from Kladovo, where Paul is stranded, forwarded via their Aunt Pepi in Novi Sad. He is hopeful that his ship will leave to travel onwards at the end of the week and that he will still manage to travel to Palestine. Attempting to sound cheery despite his hardship, he asks Leo not to send any more money.
Production placeKladovo, Yugoslavia
Production date 1940-05-21 - 1940-05-21
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, Kladovo Transport, youth movements, aliyah, Zionism, Hechalutz
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 294.00 mm
letter width: 230.00 mm
envelope length: 155.00 mm
envelope width: 118.00 mm
Language
- German Today I received your first letter with great pleasure and am happy to hear that you are in good health; I can also report the same of myself.
I left Vienna on 25.11.39 on a legal transport to Bratislava, where we changed to a Danube steamer upon which we spent 14 days aboard on the way to Hungary. In Hungary, we were sent back to Bratislava as we apparently had no oil on board. 14 days later again and, thank G-d, we arrived in Kladovo, Yugoslavia at around the end of December. Naturally we slept on the floor every night, but that doesn’t make any difference to a scout like me. We arrived at a wintering harbour in Kladovo on 1.1.40, and were completely frozen in there for over 2 months due to the harsh winter, so had to wait for it to get warmer before travelling onwards. Two weeks ago, half of us moved to the village in Kladovo, the other half staying on board the ship. So that’s my trip in a nutshell.
Right now I am in the village of Kladovo. I found a nice room with a friend of mine, and although empty we crafted all the fittings and fixtures we needed ourselves: a large bed, with hay inside and a thick blanket on top (we sleep like logs), a table, two chairs, two crockery stands and nails to hang up our coats. We get enough to eat, for example, some very good black coffee in the morning with bread; for lunch, always some meat and noodle soup with beans or lentils, plus some rice. For our evening meal we get tea with two hard-boiled eggs with cheese and butter. The food is plenty and satisfying. We go walking the whole day, play football and while the time away in this way.
I also brought my gold ring and gold watch chain. That was Tato’s doing.
Your [cut out section]… two days after my birthday on 12.2.40 with great pleasure. I bought myself some treats – crumbed schnitzel with potatoes and other things to eat, as well as some Opanci [traditional Serbian peasant shoes]. I literally ate the money that you gave me during the winter! I’m actually a greedy pig; nothing more. I have put on 5 kilos since leaving home; I weigh 78kg and have gotten burned in the sun. On April 22 we went swimming in the Danube.
Dear Leo, you don’t need to send me any more money; firstly, I don’t need it because I have everything I need, and if I don’t have something I can get it in the kitchen; and, secondly, it wouldn’t be worth it as we might be continuing our journey at the end of the week. Last week a little French tugboat with the French flag came, and brought us a big boat that had been renovated with sleeping and living quarters. We’ll be leaving on this for Sulina and will continue on from there.
Incidentally in the past week I have been a confectioner, a daubster and a sheep herder, although no longer. I was also a sailor, a boilerman, etcetera, all but for a short time. It was good that I was a coal worker on Hachsharah [Zionist training program]. I was at St Andre Woerdern with Mizrachi [Zionist organisation] on the Danube for 1 month.
I receive post from home on a regular basis; Jaeck and Spacek are in good health and get some things from Hungary now and again, like sausage; I get sardines, tea, etcetera from Aunt Anna. Alas, sadly they can’t leave yet as there are no transports leaving. I think there will be one after we have already left. Aunt Pepi is still sending things over to support them. One would have to search had for such a good aunt and kids.
Dear Leo, I am not sending this letter directly as it costs too much, but I’m sending it to Aunt Pepi who will forward it to you via airmail. Nonetheless, I send my letters for the parents directly to home as it keeps them happy. With G-d’s help we’ll hopefully be together again soon, and it’s always best to continue to hope. Hopefully I’ll be able to write to you soon from Ha’aretz [Palestine].
Sending my regards to your girlfriend and your friends,
Keep well and a thousand kisses,
Paul
[On second page at top]: Every day we receive cigarettes and I sell them as I [cut out section] a soaper, just like you.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit