Object numberM2018/008:057
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. Although hopeful in his last letter, Paul’s journey has been delayed again. He is unsure of the future but unable to visit his Aunt Pepi in Novisad due to Kladovo’s isolation. Despite telling his brother not to send him any more money in his last letter, Paul asks here for a few more pounds to buy a new pair of boots.
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. Although hopeful in his last letter, Paul’s journey has been delayed again. He is unsure of the future but unable to visit his Aunt Pepi in Novisad due to Kladovo’s isolation. Despite telling his brother not to send him any more money in his last letter, Paul asks here for a few more pounds to buy a new pair of boots.
Production placeKladovo, Yugoslavia
Production date 1940-06-06 - 1940-06-06
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, Kladovo Transport, youth movements, aliyah, Zionism, Hechalutz
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 296.00 mm
letter width: 233.00 mm
envelope length: 156.00 mm
envelope width: 124.00 mm
Language
- German “My dear brother Leo” [in English in original]:
I received your letter from 19.5 yesterday with great joy and am glad that you are healthy, which I can also report of myself.
Our onward journey has been delayed again. We were supposed to travel last week. My address is still the same, though you can write to me at the current one. Your letter took a fortnight to get here. I can’t go to Aunt Pepi and don’t want to either, because that way I’d have no possibility of reaching Erez [Palestine]. Pepi also tried to intervene on my behalf in Belgrade but did not succeed.
This she told me in a letter. Dear Leo, if you are as good as to send me another few pounds, I will first buy myself a new pair of boots, since the boots I brought with me from Vienna and went on Hachsharah training camp with are completely ruined. One can always make good use of boots. I have already responded to your first letter. Send me the money by express or by telegram, since I don’t know how much longer I’ll stay here.
I’m going to send this letter to Mr Taussig who’ll be so good as to send it to you by airmail. It has been raining here for a week so I am at home with my friend playing cards or the mouth organ. We have enough to eat.
Tato and mama are healthy, thank G-d. I am constantly receiving letters from them. Today I am expected post from them and will write to them that you wrote. They will be very pleased. Stay healthy for me and a thousand kisses,
Your brother Pauli
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit