Номер объектаM2018/018:035
ОписаниеLetter from Emil Reisz to his parents, Ignacz and Margit Reisz. Date and location unknown.
Likely written as Emil was serving as a pre-war conscript in the regular Hungarian army, c. 1930s.
He writes about daily life at an officer school. Mentions wearing an armband (Hungarian: “karpaszomany”), possibly a marker to distinguish Jewish conscripts. Emil enquires about life at home, gives advice on farming the land. Emil indicates that he is with his brother Feri.
Emil was born in 1915 to Ignacz and Margit Reisz (nee Herceg). The Reisz family were successful businesspeople and owned farmland in the village of Kunszentmiklos, south of Budapest. They were a prominent and integrated local family. Emil had one brother, Feri (b. 1911) and a sister, Ilona (b. 1916).
Emil was a gifted athlete - accomplished primarily in discus and javelin, as well as long jump and hurdling. By the time of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he was allegedly considered a likely candidate for an Olympic medal in discus. However, as a Jew he was excluded from selection for the Hungarian team. It was around this time that the family began to use a Hungarianised form of their name: Rabay.
Emil was also a talented artist, and had a keen interest in agriculture. He and his brother were barred from entering university due to the Horthy government’s restrictive anti-Jewish quotas outlined in the ‘Numerous Clausus’ law of 1920.
In the years leading up to the war, Emil and Feri were conscripted into the army, like many other young Hungarian men. While home in Kunszentmiklos in the early years of the war, they became the focus of police harassment and were interned.
They were subsequently segregated from other non-Jewish conscripts, drafted into the Jewish Labour Service, and transported to forced labour camps. They may have both spent time in forced labour at Nagykanizsa - a camp which was home to some famous Jewish actors and intellectuals. They are believed to have died in separate camps near the river Don (present-day Russia) at some time in 1943. The family later heard that a lack of sufficient footwear may have contributed to Emil’s death.
Likely written as Emil was serving as a pre-war conscript in the regular Hungarian army, c. 1930s.
He writes about daily life at an officer school. Mentions wearing an armband (Hungarian: “karpaszomany”), possibly a marker to distinguish Jewish conscripts. Emil enquires about life at home, gives advice on farming the land. Emil indicates that he is with his brother Feri.
Emil was born in 1915 to Ignacz and Margit Reisz (nee Herceg). The Reisz family were successful businesspeople and owned farmland in the village of Kunszentmiklos, south of Budapest. They were a prominent and integrated local family. Emil had one brother, Feri (b. 1911) and a sister, Ilona (b. 1916).
Emil was a gifted athlete - accomplished primarily in discus and javelin, as well as long jump and hurdling. By the time of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he was allegedly considered a likely candidate for an Olympic medal in discus. However, as a Jew he was excluded from selection for the Hungarian team. It was around this time that the family began to use a Hungarianised form of their name: Rabay.
Emil was also a talented artist, and had a keen interest in agriculture. He and his brother were barred from entering university due to the Horthy government’s restrictive anti-Jewish quotas outlined in the ‘Numerous Clausus’ law of 1920.
In the years leading up to the war, Emil and Feri were conscripted into the army, like many other young Hungarian men. While home in Kunszentmiklos in the early years of the war, they became the focus of police harassment and were interned.
They were subsequently segregated from other non-Jewish conscripts, drafted into the Jewish Labour Service, and transported to forced labour camps. They may have both spent time in forced labour at Nagykanizsa - a camp which was home to some famous Jewish actors and intellectuals. They are believed to have died in separate camps near the river Don (present-day Russia) at some time in 1943. The family later heard that a lack of sufficient footwear may have contributed to Emil’s death.
Место изготовленияHungary
Дата 1930 - 1939
Темаarmbands, conscription, labourers, forced labour, armed forces, food and eating, separation, family life
Наименованиеletters
Материалpaper
Техникаhandwritten
Размерность
- length: 291.00 mm
height: 185.00 mm
Язык
- Hungarian My Dear parents,
I’m fulfilling my promise in my card dated yesterday and tonight I’m going to write a long letter because tonight I’m the duty officer at the officer school and I have to be awake from one at night until six in the morning.
I’m quite pleasantly surprised by the school as I’ve already indicated that on my card. We only march in the mornings and in the afternoons five of us with armbands according to orders from above are going to HQ to deal with office tasks and stay there until 5. Then we come together to listen up to orders and then we are free as there is no repetition this year. On this first week I have it particularly good as I am the company commander and I give the orders to the others. The way I see it, the one thing that is important is giving orders is to shout really loudly and that’s something I can do but I can’t hold back my laughter. Whenever I laugh I am told off and then of course I become deadly serious. I’ve even tried to abuse my company, but all my seriousness allowed was some swearing. I don’t know what to write though I have all the time for thinking.
I want to write about an issue that Anyika will read about with interest – the food that does not seem to want to improve. My luck is that I improve on it because I still have stuff from home that I consume with great joy.
[Some unreadable phrases about having met a travelling salesman when he, as the duty officer, was sent to the lieutenant]…the driver recognised me and we had a good chat, he even showed me the order that contained some 270 pairs of shoes, it seems Feri made an effort and bought lots of pairs of shoes.
I received the parcel, and nothing was missing. I still have two loaves of meat and a large piece of honey cake.
The rumour is that we will get our corporal star on April 16, but only the ones with arm bands, and on the 16th we will be allowed home on leave for Easter. We would get 12 days – it would be great to be there already because then there would be only another four months left of soldiering but as it is there are not four but eight months to endure.
What is new at home? On the farm? Is there water on one of the fields? What’s happening with the wool case- has he admitted to the theft or is he still denying it? Are you feeding the sheep and the horses with the right amount, you have to be careful not to leave them without their feed because that can damage the animals, especially the pregnant sheep.
I’m attaching the receipt of the 200 pengos I lent to our dear sergeant major, please put it away carefully so it won’t get lost. I agreed with him that it would not matter how much he repays every month as long as the full amount is paid by September 18. He said he may pay it back even sooner.
[Some talk about finding out business related information in Budapest]
What’s happening with Sanyi’s impending marriage? I say he should marry the woman because he won’t find a better one, that’s for sure. And they should hold the wedding while I’m still a soldier because that means not just a wedding but also leave for me, one of the more pleasant things.
What is little Joska up to? How is Anyika’s broken foot (or leg) healing. How long will this latest [?] take?
What’s happening with Uncle Jeno Klein’s dragon, or his much-loved wife, Panka the dairy woman? Uncle Jeno can enjoy pleasant thoughts about his much-loved wife returning to his manly side to embitter the few joys of life.
A warning to Feri about sowing because it can cost a lot of money. [questions and advice about growth of plants in the fields]
I believe that if I stay here it is unlikely that I can go home before Easter but if they station me in Budapest I could go home at least once a week on Sunday. How is Anika’s foot, what did the doctors in Budapest say, make sure you answer this without fail because if you don’t I won’t write to you.
Have you overcome the maid misery? Have you found a decent shiksa? I hope to God a good one will be found and then Anyika may have a few peaceful days to rest.
I request a long reply to my letter, it should contain all sorts of gossip. Looking forward to a long reply, with love
[Signature of Emil Reisz]
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke