Object numberM2018/008:074
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.
Paul Steiner was stranded in Kladovo in 1940, a remote port in Yugoslavia, with his youth movement on the way to Palestine before being relocated to Sabac. This letter was written by Paul in early 1941 to Leo via connections in Palestine, mentioning that some members of the Kladovo Transport got passes to go to Palestine. If his Aunt Pepi in Novi Sad is not able to procure entry certificates for him and his mother (still in Vienna, her husband Adolf Steiner having passed away the year before) to go to Palestine, he claims that they will be in trouble. 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.
Paul Steiner was stranded in Kladovo in 1940, a remote port in Yugoslavia, with his youth movement on the way to Palestine before being relocated to Sabac. This letter was written by Paul in early 1941 to Leo via connections in Palestine, mentioning that some members of the Kladovo Transport got passes to go to Palestine. If his Aunt Pepi in Novi Sad is not able to procure entry certificates for him and his mother (still in Vienna, her husband Adolf Steiner having passed away the year before) to go to Palestine, he claims that they will be in trouble. 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 placeSabac, Serbia
Production date 1941-03-22 - 1941-03-22
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, Kladovo Transport, youth movements, aliyah, Zionism, Hechalutz
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 340.00 mm
letter width: 209.00 mm
envelope length: 184.00 mm
envelope width: 117.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Leo,
I received your lovely letter from 3.1 on 9.2 with great pleasure and your birthday card dated 5.2 on 10.3. I’m happy that you are in good health and can report the same from my end. As about 200 young men and girls are travelling to Erez from here I’ll give this letter to a friend to take to Aunty who will forward it to you.
Aside from that, I’ll write Aunty a letter at the same time. Perhaps she’ll be able to get us an entry certificate - if not, we’ll have a problem. I signed myself up at the hairdresser’s for the mornings and the cobbler’s for the afternoons so that that way I can learn something. I have also had mail from Olga; they are healthy and well, and she writes that she receives mail from you often. I get post from our beloved mother twice a week. Thank G-d she is in good health, and in her last card she wrote that she’ll visit me - that would be my best day. If only it were reality and she were already here. Bebi got married on 20.3 in Novi Sad, to whom I don’t know but she’ll write to me. I often have mail from Aunt Pepi as well as from Herng and Hugo.
Ilus also got married to a Fleischhauer. Fleischhauer married Fleischhauer, funny, don’t you think? Dear Leo, I hope that you are healthy and the same for your young lady, and that you are working and that things are going well for you. Olga has transferred me $5; I’ve had this from her before - she is very kind. Keep healthy, dear Leo, and your girl too.
Many kisses,
Your brother Pauli
P.S. I’m scribbling this because the people are leaving now and I’m in a hurry.
[different handwriting] Best regards from Edith.
Write to me soon and often.
Hans Kohn is going to San Domingo soon.
1000 kisses, your brother Paul.
The post takes 35 days which is not too long.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit