Object numberM2018/008:058
Description
In 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.
This item consists of three letters conveyed in the same envelope. Hermine Steiner, Leo’s mother, and Leo’s cousin-in-law and friend Hans Kohn write to Leo via Shanghai, the place of residence of Hans’ uncle Jacques Kohn.
Jacques adds a short note, a significant portion of which has been cut out by the censor, leaving relatively few words. A passage of this letter has been cut out by the censor, only leaving a very thin sliver of paper connecting the uncensored parts above and below, rendering this item a particularly fragile object.
Hans, who is stuck in a work camp completing civil service for the Swiss government, expresses the uncertainty he feels about the future, as no more ships are leaving to Shanghai, which is where he had planned to travel.
Hermine’s letter discusses the circumstances of her other son, Paul, who is stranded in Kladovo, a remote port in Yugoslavia, with his youth movement (Hechalutz) on the way to Palestine.
In 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.
This item consists of three letters conveyed in the same envelope. Hermine Steiner, Leo’s mother, and Leo’s cousin-in-law and friend Hans Kohn write to Leo via Shanghai, the place of residence of Hans’ uncle Jacques Kohn.
Jacques adds a short note, a significant portion of which has been cut out by the censor, leaving relatively few words. A passage of this letter has been cut out by the censor, only leaving a very thin sliver of paper connecting the uncensored parts above and below, rendering this item a particularly fragile object.
Hans, who is stuck in a work camp completing civil service for the Swiss government, expresses the uncertainty he feels about the future, as no more ships are leaving to Shanghai, which is where he had planned to travel.
Hermine’s letter discusses the circumstances of her other son, Paul, who is stranded in Kladovo, a remote port in Yugoslavia, with his youth movement (Hechalutz) on the way to Palestine.
Production placeVienna, Austria, Kemptthal, Switzerland, Shanghai, China
Production date 1940-06-12 - 1940-06-12 1940-06-19 - 1940-06-12 1940-07-31 - 1940-07-31
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, Kladovo Transport, youth movements, aliyah, Zionism, Hechalutz, Shanghai, China, forced labour camps, censorship, censored letter, postal restrictions
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter (i) length: 211.00 mm
letter (i) width: 148.00 mm
letter (ii) length: 216.00 mm
letter (ii) width: 134.00 mm
letter (iii) length: 227.00 mm
letter (iii) width: 120.00 mm
envelope length: 156.00 mm
envelope width: 124.00 mm
Language
- German 12.6
My dearest child,
I read your last letter from 10.5 with great pleasure; Aunt Anna just gave it to me to read. I am happy that you are in good health. We are also healthy, thank G-d. Tato was very sick for five weeks, but thankfully he is better again. He is even going for walks – we now live high up so he can only go out once in the morning and once in the afternoon, since climbing the stairs tires us out. We have a little room, which is very light and airy.
You write, my child, that we shouldn’t put off leaving, but there are no more transports leaving for Pauli’s location, and no transports leaving in general at all. I am worried about Pauli; he can’t travel on either to Olga or Juli. I wrote to Aunt Pepi that she should help him out with 50 Dinar since he doesn’t have any money, so I believe that she sent him the money. I often write to your friend Hansi. He organises everything for us. I am still supported by Uncle Alfred. Earlier I was with the Bily family, and his father-in-law said that they never see you over there. I don’t want anything from them though. They want to travel to America to Frau Bily’s parents [meaning of sentence not entirely clear].
Write to Pauli again – it makes him so happy to hear from you. If you need new shoes, wear the ones in the box [of belongings that were shipped to Australia by Leo’s family] that fit you – everything in there belongs to you and I don’t think we’ll ever have a use for it again. Write whether you have received any post from Aunt Pepi and Pauli. You won’t get anything from Aunt Anna at the moment as she is sick.
Write back to me soon, and look after yourself so that you don’t catch cold. Stay healthy for me,
A thousand kisses,
Your Mama
My dear Jonas!
I don’t have much to write to you; we are in good health and I can only tell you that you must look after yourself so that you keep healthy.
Sending you kisses, a thousand times over and often,
Your Tatineck Adolf Steiner
Hans Kohn
Keuleton at Kemptthal
Ottikon Post, Zurich Canton
Work Camp, Switzerland
19.6.40
My dear, good Leo!
I received your last letter with great pleasure and thank you for writing to me. I waited for your parents’ answer before writing back, which I received and have attached to this letter.
I got great pleasure from the photos you sent me. Many greetings to your dear girlfriend, and I hope that one day we may see each other again in our lives. You know all too well how things are in Europe. Hopefully we can stay in touch with each other in writing. There is no way out of Europe for me as no more ships are leaving. Fred has been in another work camp for 3 months now.
I will send photos when I come around to writing to you again. Dear Leo, keep healthy and pray for your parents and brother and for me, since we have no idea what will come next.
Otherwise I am going well at the moment, though the question is how long this will last.
A thousand kisses and greetings to your girlfriend Betty,
Your loyal friend,
Hans
Please write immediately.
Dear Leo!
This letter bounced back to me, as here in Switzerland we cannot correspond directly with you any more. From now on I will always write to you via my parents. You should also write to my father in future and he’ll forward me your letters.
Yours,
Hans
My father’s address:
Jacques Kohn
Shanghai
599 Tongshan Road
Block 21
China
Shanghai 31.7.1940
Dear Leo!
Attaching correspondence from your dear parents and Hansi, and must ask to only send post via Shanghai in future as this is the only possible way.
[censored section]
How are you and what are you up to? In any case I am sure the answer is positive. Keep well and warmest regards from my wife and myself,
Jacques Kohn
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit