Object numberM2018/008:067
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 letter is from Leo’s mother, Hermine, sent via Aunt Josefina “Pepi” Steiner in Yugoslavia (with a note from Pepi) due to postal restrictions. Hermine is lonely and anxious about Leo as she hardly hears from him. She asks Leo if he is already engaged to Betty Woolf, her other son Paul already being married in Sabac to a woman named Edith. She expresses her sorrow at the fact that she will not have attended either one of her sons’ weddings. The letter contains a heartfelt mention of Hermine’s late husband, Adolf: “Our good Tato was looking so forward to joining you [in Sydney, Australia], as were Pauli and I, but the dear G-d delivered him all too soon, as He didn’t want to let Tato suffer.”
Paul Steiner was previously stranded in Kladovo, a remote port in Yugoslavia, with his youth movement on the way to Palestine before being relocated to Sabac. Later in 1941, Paul would be shot along with most of the other men of the Kladovo Transport by fascist insurgents near Zasavica, Macva.
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 letter is from Leo’s mother, Hermine, sent via Aunt Josefina “Pepi” Steiner in Yugoslavia (with a note from Pepi) due to postal restrictions. Hermine is lonely and anxious about Leo as she hardly hears from him. She asks Leo if he is already engaged to Betty Woolf, her other son Paul already being married in Sabac to a woman named Edith. She expresses her sorrow at the fact that she will not have attended either one of her sons’ weddings. The letter contains a heartfelt mention of Hermine’s late husband, Adolf: “Our good Tato was looking so forward to joining you [in Sydney, Australia], as were Pauli and I, but the dear G-d delivered him all too soon, as He didn’t want to let Tato suffer.”
Paul Steiner was previously stranded in Kladovo, a remote port in Yugoslavia, with his youth movement on the way to Palestine before being relocated to Sabac. Later in 1941, Paul would be shot along with most of the other men of the Kladovo Transport by fascist insurgents near Zasavica, Macva.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1941-01-05 - 1941-01-05
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, Kladovo Transport, youth movements, aliyah, Zionism, Hechalutz, refugee experiences in Australia, postal restrictions
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- length: 295.00 mm
width: 208.00 mm
Language
- German My dearest Leo,
Letting you know and that I am healthy, and hoping to hear good things from you. I haven’t received anything from you for a few months now, and am very upset about it, since I used to hear from you more often. I get post from Pauli twice a week; he still can’t travel on. I am so alone and my only thoughts are about you two, and whether I’ll ever see you again. Your good Tato prays for you, that you stay healthy for me, just as I pray day and night.
This month marks two years since you started at your current job, and we hoped at the time that we three would be able to join you, but alas it turned out otherwise. Our good Tato was looking so forward to joining you, as were Pauli and I, but the dear G-d delivered him all too soon, as He didn’t want to let Tato suffer. Today I am alone all day, and couldn’t go to the graveyard because the snow is too thick and I can’t stand the cold, so I am writing to everyone instead.
What did you say to Pauli about his marriage? - I was very upset at first but know I think to myself that he has someone who looks after him and surrounds him with love. What are you up to my dearest, have you also married already, or are you about to? - Such is my luck, that I cannot attend the wedding of either of my two children. That dear G-d shall give you much health and happiness is all that I can ask. Have you heard from Olga or Soffer? I don’t hear anything from anyone, and am very worried about you. Did Mr Bili visit you? I asked his father that they be gentle with you due to the passing of our dear Tato. I haven’t seen them since it happened; am going today to see if there is any post for them.
Write soon to Aunt Pepi. I would feel a lot more at ease if I only had a letter from you. I got 3 parcels for Christmas, from Aunt Anna in Italy and Uncle Jozi in Prague, and a 2kg parcel from the Hasenberg children, even though I have everything that I need here. It is only you two that I wish for - I would gladly abstain from all else. Pauli received 50 dollars from Olga; I would like to help him but can’t because I don’t have the means. Aunt Pepi supports him as much as she can, as well as Aunt Ora, but I worry so much about him nonetheless. These days he writes to me that he has no more warm shoes as all the old ones are too small, so I wrote to him that he should ask Aunt Ora’s husband who is also in Novi Sad. He should either send money or buy Pauli shoes. Uncle Alfred also doesn’t have any means at the moment, so one cannot ask anything of him.
Leonku write when you can so that I don’t have such worries any longer, since whenever I get a couple of lines from you I feel contented and reassured. All the friends send their regards and ask after you. I haven’t heard from Hansi recently and don’t know whether he is still in Switzerland. His grandmother is elsewhere now so I can’t go over to be with her anymore. What I would like the most is to travel to you with this letter. Please write again soon and keep healthy for me.
A thousand kisses,
Your Mama - Pauli waits every day to hear from you.
I immediately forwarded your letter from 17.11.40. Your Mama was very concerned as you hadn’t written to her for so long. I’m happy that she will be reassured now. I am going to petition for her even though I know it won’t be successful, having tried the same for Pauli. Nonetheless lots of people are coming, though your mother won’t want to so long as it stays so cold. I would love to have her here, and I feel awful whenever I think of how alone she is.
Many kisses,
Your Aunt Pepi
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit