Object numberM2018/008:077
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.
Whilst in Australia, Leo remained in contact with a wide network of family and friends. This letter is from a family friend, Max Soffer, from the US, who has been sick and unable to work for some time. He writes that his mother and sister went to Poland during the war, the exact circumstances of which are unclear. 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 letter a particularly fragile object.
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.
Whilst in Australia, Leo remained in contact with a wide network of family and friends. This letter is from a family friend, Max Soffer, from the US, who has been sick and unable to work for some time. He writes that his mother and sister went to Poland during the war, the exact circumstances of which are unclear. 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 letter a particularly fragile object.
Production placePhiladelphia, Pennyslvania, United States
Production date 1941-04-09 - 1941-04-09
SubjectHolocaust, refugees, refugees, concentration camps, deportation, censorship, censored letter, family life, postal restrictions
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- letter length: 277.00 mm
letter width: 215.00 mm
envelope length: 165.00 mm
envelope width: 94.00 mm
chit length: 206.00 mm
chit width: 42.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Leo!
First and foremost, how are you? Are you married yet? Don’t be angry with me for not writing to you for so long and for leaving you in the dark. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my fault. I’ve been through a lot and it’s a miracle that I’m writing to you again, dear Leo. My dear mother as well as her sister with her two sons went to Poland. The news has shaken me thoroughly. When I received your first letter …
[Censored section]
… hospital where thanks to the good doctors, I recovered. I lay in hospital for six weeks and wasn’t allowed to sit for five weeks. My dear wife was kept very busy. So, my dear wife wrote to Olga in New York asking her to write to you, and enclosed one of your letters for your mother.
Did Olga write to you about my illness? I wasn’t discharged from the hospital in good health as it will last years for me to recover with G-d’s help. After leaving hospital I spent seven weeks in rehab. It’s now been 17 weeks that I’ve been unable to work and who knows how much longer it will last.
I shouldn’t be writing to you now, dear Leo, as it’s not good for me. I have holes in my stomach and have lost all my blood and strength. I am truly sorry that I did not write to you sooner, but I hope that my dear friend Olga kept you in the loop. Have you heard anything from your dear mother? Have you heard anything from your dear brother Pauli? Please write to me as soon as you receive my letter about what’s new with you.
[Censored section]
Currently I am in a very tricky situation as I can’t work and have absolutely no means, but we have a good G-d who has looked after me so far and won’t let me flail. Please write to me more about your future wife and I’d be thrilled if you could send me a photo. In the hopes of hearing from you soon, my wife and I send our warmest regards to you and your future wife, whom I don’t know,
Your friend,
Max
Please write soon.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Pauline Shavit