Object numberM2018/008:076
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 typed letter is from Olga Lilien, a relation of the Steiner family residing in the United States, a passage of which has been cut out by the censor. Although it mostly comprises of chitchat about various people they know, of note is the line about Leo’s mother, Hermine, not knowing the current location of her other son Paul and being inconsolable. The language of the letter is broken and appears rushed.
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 typed letter is from Olga Lilien, a relation of the Steiner family residing in the United States, a passage of which has been cut out by the censor. Although it mostly comprises of chitchat about various people they know, of note is the line about Leo’s mother, Hermine, not knowing the current location of her other son Paul and being inconsolable. The language of the letter is broken and appears rushed.
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 placeNew York, New York, United States
Production date 1941-05-11 - 1941-05-11
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, family life, Kladovo Transport, youth movements, aliyah, Zionism, Hechalutz, censorship, censored letter, postal restrictions
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- length: 276.00 mm
width: 212.00 mm
Language
- German My darling Jonasl!
We haven’t received a letter from you for many months. What’s up with you? Have you become lazy in your old days? I have another letter for you here from your mother…[censored section]
…because of Pauli, since she knows nothing; he has left the place where he was and she doesn’t know where he’s gone. I have written to her to comfort her a bit, but you know very well that it’s difficult to comfort her when she’s been separated for so long from her children.
I got post from Palestine, thank G-d, as I hadn’t received anything for nine months. Micki is stationed with the R.A.F. in Egypt; I am very worried about him, so G-d help him. Have you heard that Ilush is married? My brother-in-law is a butcher and has opened a butcher shop together with another man. Hopefully business is flourishing and they are happy.
Nothing has changed on our end. Willy is working very hard as the Americans say and, thank G-d, with success too. I got a nice Persian fur coat and two very beautiful silver fox fur coats for Easter from him. Heinzi is very cute, very naughty and always getting into trouble. He’s a good boy at school but is not learning much as he is always playing. He speaks superb English and his teacher is very proud of his pronunciation.
Are you married yet? What are you doing Jonasl? It would be wonderful if we could all be together again; it would be marvellous. We would take a picture together and so that you and your Betty would have a picture of us. My new cousin must at least learn to recognise me from a picture and she should be jealous because you know, Jonasl, how much I’ve always loved you. My only wish was always that you would come to us. It doesn’t matter though; the main thing is that you are happy, which I wish you with all my heart.
I love being in the US – it’s a wonderful country and I love it more than I’ve ever loved my home country. Do you have mail from Palestine? Jonasl, I’ve done all the post today and already written a lot, so please excuse me for today for not writing a lot. I will write next time in more detail. Write to me immediately about what you’re doing and send pictures of yourself. Take care.
Love from,
Your loving Olga.
Best wishes to your dear Betty.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit