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Número del objetoM2003/010:012
DescripciónApplication for Employment, in French, by Walter Geiringer, to the Director of Commerce and Industry, Paris, 17 May 1939.
Part of a collection of 22 items donated by David Ellison pertaining to his friend Walter Geiringer. Walter Geiringer (aka Valter) was born on 26 October 1909, in Vienna. In the family photograph (M2003/010:002), most likely taken in early 1910, as he is pictured as a four to six months old baby, sitting on his mother’s— Rosa Geiringer— lap, together with his father and two older half-sisters—Hedi Gerstel and Hedwig Gerstel.
Walter attended secondary school in Vienna and completed four terms at the Austrian National Institute of Chemistry (M2003/010:010). In the years between 1909 – 1939 he had become a Czechoslovak citizen (M2003/101:010), lived in Yugoslavia (M2003/010:101), was single (M200/010:010) and multi-lingual—apart from speaking his native German he was proficient in English, French, Slovakian and spoke some Italian and Spanish (M2003/010:010). In 1939, he had worked as a manufacturing chemist and colour specialist for leading textile companies (M2003/010:010) in Czechoslovakia, France, Austria and Yugoslavia. He now had to leave his job in Yugoslavia, due to his inability to renew his work permit (M2003/010:014b). As a Jew, he was unable to return to the country of his birth, due to Hitler’s triumphant return to Austria as Führer of the German Reich (M2003/010: 041b). Walter would have viewed with alarm the success of Hitler’s aggressive territorial expansion as well as the radicalisation of German antisemitism. He had no option but to look for employment further afield (M2003/010:011-015) but his job applications were repeatedly rejected (M2003/101:016 -020). In part, the reason for the rejections was explained by F Crompton’s (owner of Crompton Ltd. Manchester) letter of 30 May 1939, that, “Until Herr Hitler buys less armaments and more cocoa, we shall remain quiet, as the price of cocoa regulates the state of trade” (M2003/010:019). Walter cast his net to Australia, a decision was easier since Hedwig organised a Landing Permit for him. Walter arrived on one of Lloyd Triestino’s boats—the Romoloa (M2003/010:004), disembarking in Sydney on 26 April 1940. Six months after his arrival Hedi died on 10 November 1940 (M2002/010:009). She had entered Australia on or before 15 July 1939 (M2003/010:003).
After the war ended Walter tried to find his mother—Rosa Geiringer. He continued to search for her whereabouts through the British Red Cross (M2003/010:005). The Red Cross’ reply of 12 May 1946 informed Walter that a previous search had already been initiated in 1945 and had found that Rosa had been deported from Vienna to Terezin. They assured him that they would undertake further enquiries (M2003/010:005). Their letter of 28 August 1946 (M2003/010:006) informed him that they had located a Mme Rosa Geiringer—a refugee—however her details were not identical to his mother’s. According to Walter’s letter of 12 September 1946, “Unfortunately, the Mme Rosa Geiringer you are mentioning is not identical with my mother, nor is she a relative of ours” (M2003/010:008). Their final letter of the 26 August 1947 (M2003/010:007) informed him that the Austrian Red Cross in Vienna had determined that Rosa Geiringer had been deported to Terezin and then to Auschwitz on 6 September 1943, where she was murdered.
Walter became an Australian citizen on 7 August 1946, aged 37.
Part of a collection of 22 items donated by David Ellison pertaining to his friend Walter Geiringer. Walter Geiringer (aka Valter) was born on 26 October 1909, in Vienna. In the family photograph (M2003/010:002), most likely taken in early 1910, as he is pictured as a four to six months old baby, sitting on his mother’s— Rosa Geiringer— lap, together with his father and two older half-sisters—Hedi Gerstel and Hedwig Gerstel.
Walter attended secondary school in Vienna and completed four terms at the Austrian National Institute of Chemistry (M2003/010:010). In the years between 1909 – 1939 he had become a Czechoslovak citizen (M2003/101:010), lived in Yugoslavia (M2003/010:101), was single (M200/010:010) and multi-lingual—apart from speaking his native German he was proficient in English, French, Slovakian and spoke some Italian and Spanish (M2003/010:010). In 1939, he had worked as a manufacturing chemist and colour specialist for leading textile companies (M2003/010:010) in Czechoslovakia, France, Austria and Yugoslavia. He now had to leave his job in Yugoslavia, due to his inability to renew his work permit (M2003/010:014b). As a Jew, he was unable to return to the country of his birth, due to Hitler’s triumphant return to Austria as Führer of the German Reich (M2003/010: 041b). Walter would have viewed with alarm the success of Hitler’s aggressive territorial expansion as well as the radicalisation of German antisemitism. He had no option but to look for employment further afield (M2003/010:011-015) but his job applications were repeatedly rejected (M2003/101:016 -020). In part, the reason for the rejections was explained by F Crompton’s (owner of Crompton Ltd. Manchester) letter of 30 May 1939, that, “Until Herr Hitler buys less armaments and more cocoa, we shall remain quiet, as the price of cocoa regulates the state of trade” (M2003/010:019). Walter cast his net to Australia, a decision was easier since Hedwig organised a Landing Permit for him. Walter arrived on one of Lloyd Triestino’s boats—the Romoloa (M2003/010:004), disembarking in Sydney on 26 April 1940. Six months after his arrival Hedi died on 10 November 1940 (M2002/010:009). She had entered Australia on or before 15 July 1939 (M2003/010:003).
After the war ended Walter tried to find his mother—Rosa Geiringer. He continued to search for her whereabouts through the British Red Cross (M2003/010:005). The Red Cross’ reply of 12 May 1946 informed Walter that a previous search had already been initiated in 1945 and had found that Rosa had been deported from Vienna to Terezin. They assured him that they would undertake further enquiries (M2003/010:005). Their letter of 28 August 1946 (M2003/010:006) informed him that they had located a Mme Rosa Geiringer—a refugee—however her details were not identical to his mother’s. According to Walter’s letter of 12 September 1946, “Unfortunately, the Mme Rosa Geiringer you are mentioning is not identical with my mother, nor is she a relative of ours” (M2003/010:008). Their final letter of the 26 August 1947 (M2003/010:007) informed him that the Austrian Red Cross in Vienna had determined that Rosa Geiringer had been deported to Terezin and then to Auschwitz on 6 September 1943, where she was murdered.
Walter became an Australian citizen on 7 August 1946, aged 37.
Fecha 1939-05-17
Nombre del objetoletters
Materialpaper
Dimensiones
- whole width: 230.00 mm
height: 295.00 mm
Lenguaje
- French
Línea de créditoSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr David Ellison