Номер объектаM2020/040:004
ОписаниеLetters from Karolina Sonnenfeld in Vienna to her daughter Elsa Strauss and granddaughter Hetty in England in April 1939. Elsa and Hetty had immigrated to London in March of that year. Karolina wrote often to her family; usually every second day. She wrote about her knitting, sending Else and Hetty parcels of self-knitted cloths and other clothes. They discussed news of Richard, and her pleasure about her family's well-being outside of Europe.
Part of a collection of 71 letters and postcards, a diary and driver's license relating to Henrietta (Hetty) Hardy (nee Strauss), her mother Elsa Strauss (nee Sonnenfeld) and her grandmother Karolina Sonnenfeld (nee Löwy).
Hetty was born 21 April 1920 in Vienna. They family lived in an apartment in the city but owned a large farm about 25km away. When her father Jacob died of heart failure in 1929, they moved into her maternal grandmother's apartment, so Karolina could look after Hetty while Elsa worked at the farm. They lived there for six years; the three women were incredibly close.
After the Anschluss in March 1938, Elsa was stripped of her ownership of the farm. Hetty eventually received a domestic permit to live in England and immigrated at the beginning of March 1939. She worked as an au pair in Sussex. Hetty was considered a 'friendly alien' – her father was born in Czechoslovakia and as a result she had attained a Czech passport. Elsa was torn between following her daughter and staying to support her mother, but at the urging of family she soon followed Hetty at the end of March 1939.
Almost immediately after arriving, Elsa met Edward Bingham, a retired farmer who travelled frequently between England and New Zealand. Elsa and Edward married in April 1939, which was a marriage of convenience and compassion. Edward allowed Elsa to receive British citizenship and save her farm in Vienna, which became foreign owned. He also enabled Elsa and Hetty to attain a permit for New Zealand, and they left in August 1940. Edward soon moved back to England and their marriage was dissolved.
Hetty and Else remained in frequent contact with Karolina throughout 1939-1940, however their letters mostly ceased at the onset of war. Both Elsa and her brother Richard, who was living in Venezuela, tried to get a visa for Karolina but were unsuccessful. On 23 October 1941 she was deported to Lodz ghetto. In 1942 she was deported to a concentration camp where she was murdered. The family never learned the details of her fate, and always felt a lack of closure.
While on vacation in Australia in December 1947, Hetty met Nathan Hardy, soon became engaged, and married in April 1948 in Sydney.
Part of a collection of 71 letters and postcards, a diary and driver's license relating to Henrietta (Hetty) Hardy (nee Strauss), her mother Elsa Strauss (nee Sonnenfeld) and her grandmother Karolina Sonnenfeld (nee Löwy).
Hetty was born 21 April 1920 in Vienna. They family lived in an apartment in the city but owned a large farm about 25km away. When her father Jacob died of heart failure in 1929, they moved into her maternal grandmother's apartment, so Karolina could look after Hetty while Elsa worked at the farm. They lived there for six years; the three women were incredibly close.
After the Anschluss in March 1938, Elsa was stripped of her ownership of the farm. Hetty eventually received a domestic permit to live in England and immigrated at the beginning of March 1939. She worked as an au pair in Sussex. Hetty was considered a 'friendly alien' – her father was born in Czechoslovakia and as a result she had attained a Czech passport. Elsa was torn between following her daughter and staying to support her mother, but at the urging of family she soon followed Hetty at the end of March 1939.
Almost immediately after arriving, Elsa met Edward Bingham, a retired farmer who travelled frequently between England and New Zealand. Elsa and Edward married in April 1939, which was a marriage of convenience and compassion. Edward allowed Elsa to receive British citizenship and save her farm in Vienna, which became foreign owned. He also enabled Elsa and Hetty to attain a permit for New Zealand, and they left in August 1940. Edward soon moved back to England and their marriage was dissolved.
Hetty and Else remained in frequent contact with Karolina throughout 1939-1940, however their letters mostly ceased at the onset of war. Both Elsa and her brother Richard, who was living in Venezuela, tried to get a visa for Karolina but were unsuccessful. On 23 October 1941 she was deported to Lodz ghetto. In 1942 she was deported to a concentration camp where she was murdered. The family never learned the details of her fate, and always felt a lack of closure.
While on vacation in Australia in December 1947, Hetty met Nathan Hardy, soon became engaged, and married in April 1948 in Sydney.
Наименованиеletters
Материалpaper
Язык
- German M2020/040:004a
A letter from Karolina, Vienna, to her granddaughter Hetty, England, 18 April 1939
Congratulations to Hetty’s birthday and happy birthday wishes for her future. Wrote about her attempt to send her a birthday parcel. On the back of the letter, there is a second handwriting from Blaudi[?], who congratulated her.
M2020/040:004b
A letter from Karolina, Vienna, to her daughter Else, 23 April 1937
The letter includes Karolina’s pleased expressions about the receipt of Else’s letter and her well-being. Karolina wrote, she is hopeful and optimistic that there will be a better future for them.
Marie wants to send two parcels.
Karolina got a letter from Richard, which she wanted to attach to this letter. She also contacted the consulate for some things which Mr. Richter recommended and again ask Else to contact Else Friedmann, the daughter from Ms. Opphenheim and Karlina’s mother.
Karolina lamented the bad buying conditions for food, Vegetables spoil quickly and meat is not available.
M2020/040:004c
A Letter from Karolina, Vienna to her daughter Else, 25 April 1939
[Confirmation of letter receipt]. Together with Mr. Br.[Burian?] she was at the English consulate, where she didn’t say anything about Else’s wedding. Karolina wanted to send a costume to Else in two separate parcels.
Karolina was not sure if she should give up her apartment, because she just had problems with it: “I was summoned at the currency office again. It has to be done a tax[declaration].” She was also told by Tasnky, she shouldn’t do anything. So she decided: “I asked the referent there, and when they summoned me ten times, I couldn’t tell them anything. Our administrator did all the billings. I don’t have anything.”
She mentioned a letter from Richard.
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by David Hardy
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.