Номер объектаM1995/024:010
ОписаниеLetter from Nathan and Elsbeth Graetz, Berlin, to their daughter and son-in-law Rosy and Martin Levy, in England, undated. They write that they are very pleased by her last letter and had to stop to laugh. There is a bit of chitchat but her mother writes that they have no intentions of making any decisions at the moment. Elsbeth writes about renting out some of the rooms in the apartment and trying to find tenants. She asks Martin if the tailor has any leftovers from a coat he had made and is quite keen to have them.
Part of a collection of 31 letters, postcards and Red Cross messages donated by Norbert and Sonja Schweizer.
Norbert’s mother, Rosy Schweizer, born Berlin 1908, died Sydney 1993. Her parents were Nathan and Elsbeth Graetz. Rosy had two brothers - Hans and Alfred. Hans died before the war. Alfred married Bella; their daughter Gitta was born October 1939. Bella died a few days after from birth complications.
Rosy married Martin Levy c. 1938, aged 30. The marriage may have been arranged so that they could get out of Germany as a couple. In 1938 they left Berlin for England, staying with Marion and C. Hoyle, who had helped arrange their visas. They were hoping to arrange visas for Rosy's parents, but, after Kristallnacht, realised it would be almost impossible. Around late 1941, Rosy and Martin seperated. Rosy’s parents were deported to Theresienstadt; she corresponded with them via the Red Cross messaging service until letters started being ‘returned to sender’. Nathan died of a heart attack in Theresienstadt and Elsbeth died of dysentry.
Norbert’s father, Zigmund Schweizer, born Berlin 1912, died Sydney 1987. His parents were Richard and Else. Zigmund had two sisters Bertha and Gisela. Zigmund, politically active, was jailed in 1932-33 at age 21. Shortly after he left Germany and went to Rome, where he worked as a waiter. In 1938 he left for Tangiers where he ran nightclubs. He then went to Gibraltar, and from there to England, but was interned on the Isle of Man from March 1942 until August 1944. From there he went to London where he met Rosy (around 1944-45). Norbert was born in November 1948. In 1949 Martin (Rosy’s first husband) left for Canada but died on the boat, leaving Norbert's parents free to marry (circa 1949).
Zigmund’s health was poor and he was advised to go to a more sunny climate. They arrived in Australia January 1952. Zigmund established a restaurant called Sid’s. Zigmund's mother had committed suicide in 1939 (the S.S. came to her building looking for someone she didn't want to betray so she jumped off the building). Zigmund kept searching for information about his father and sisters up until 1970, when he finally gave up. He never found out what happened to them.
Part of a collection of 31 letters, postcards and Red Cross messages donated by Norbert and Sonja Schweizer.
Norbert’s mother, Rosy Schweizer, born Berlin 1908, died Sydney 1993. Her parents were Nathan and Elsbeth Graetz. Rosy had two brothers - Hans and Alfred. Hans died before the war. Alfred married Bella; their daughter Gitta was born October 1939. Bella died a few days after from birth complications.
Rosy married Martin Levy c. 1938, aged 30. The marriage may have been arranged so that they could get out of Germany as a couple. In 1938 they left Berlin for England, staying with Marion and C. Hoyle, who had helped arrange their visas. They were hoping to arrange visas for Rosy's parents, but, after Kristallnacht, realised it would be almost impossible. Around late 1941, Rosy and Martin seperated. Rosy’s parents were deported to Theresienstadt; she corresponded with them via the Red Cross messaging service until letters started being ‘returned to sender’. Nathan died of a heart attack in Theresienstadt and Elsbeth died of dysentry.
Norbert’s father, Zigmund Schweizer, born Berlin 1912, died Sydney 1987. His parents were Richard and Else. Zigmund had two sisters Bertha and Gisela. Zigmund, politically active, was jailed in 1932-33 at age 21. Shortly after he left Germany and went to Rome, where he worked as a waiter. In 1938 he left for Tangiers where he ran nightclubs. He then went to Gibraltar, and from there to England, but was interned on the Isle of Man from March 1942 until August 1944. From there he went to London where he met Rosy (around 1944-45). Norbert was born in November 1948. In 1949 Martin (Rosy’s first husband) left for Canada but died on the boat, leaving Norbert's parents free to marry (circa 1949).
Zigmund’s health was poor and he was advised to go to a more sunny climate. They arrived in Australia January 1952. Zigmund established a restaurant called Sid’s. Zigmund's mother had committed suicide in 1939 (the S.S. came to her building looking for someone she didn't want to betray so she jumped off the building). Zigmund kept searching for information about his father and sisters up until 1970, when he finally gave up. He never found out what happened to them.
Место изготовленияBerlin, Germany
ТемаJew houses, families
Наименованиеletters
Материалpaper
Размерность
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 298.00
Язык
- German PAGE 1
My dear children,
Heartiest thanks for your long and informative letter. We were really very pleased, and whilst reading it I often stopped and had to laugh, that is a healthy thing to do! We wish that the good God should let things happen in a most positive way, we all could do with a bit of pleasure and better days to come. Rosy my dear, I want you to know the picture of you is in front of me - the one with your long fingers, with your wonderful smile and your beautiful large eyes. It is not a good one, but I find it charming and I notice the likeness with Hans that cannot be ignored!
Now that a few months of waiting here have passed you shouldn't hurry things up. You will have a good rest
later whilst spending time with the Hoyles (?). Do not worry, at the moment I have no intention of making any decisions at all - something might come up for us in the future. For the time being we are quite snug and are being looked after. I have rented out your room to an elderly lady. She travels 3/4 of September, pays 60 M. For rent, mornings just coffee with milk, 2 plain bread rolls - 40 c/o for daily lunch 1.50 - I will make different arrangements for October. She will get my bed and bedside table and the small desk from Martin. She would have liked the dining room table and chairs, as well as the red chair, which she really wanted very much together with the chaise longue. The door was nailed up today - Papa kept wooden planks in the cellar - then he covered and wallpapered the timber wall. The front is not rented yet. Two rooms without the use of the kitchen is quite difficult to rent out. Friday I will have another tenant again. Rosy my dear you left 6 pairs of silk stockings behind which you probably forgot. I shall try with Gerda, maybe she will be willing to take them with her, or is there no hurry? Mrs. Politzer returned the inserts she was to take along, should I perhaps ask Mrs. Schreck to finish them? Tell me Martin, has the tailor returned some leftovers (fabrics) from the coats which he made? He never gave anything to Papa, maybe you received some woollen material leftovers ? Shall I perhaps call and ask him? The young man did not invite me to call on him on Friday. How shall we act when
we receive mail from you in the future? Please Martin, you should advise us !
PAGE 2
Papa had the brown wardrobe rebuilt, had the top removed, it looks quite respectable now. It is a pity that you had the ticket stamped, nothing can be changed about it, it would be useless now. Frau Haues came last Sunday morning and brought the most beautiful flour from Austria, and all other ingredients which go with it to make pancakes. This all just to please me. We then divided the cakes and then I felt I had to reward her for that. We phoned Dr. S. A while ago, he was really pleased. He will probably come by tomorrow. He cannot understand why M. Has not contacted him, he needs to talk to him on important matters. He is also keen to get a letter from you, Rosy! Other than that I am well. I sleep quite alright, without any pills, with Whisky my only companion. He sleeps throughout the night without a problem. Saturday night we might go and see Bella. Papa will play "Skat" with Karitsky.I was able to get hold of one dozen good old pre-war nappies, I will take them along, she still needs them. I received a letter from Theke. They landed safely and were received warmly, just like they belonged there. They should first recover from the stress they endured, they were on the water for about 4 lf2 weeks. The "Skat" game on Sundays is always a good past - time, just a bit quieter - I wish it would be. Ulrich wants to visit me next Friday night again, he will play cards again. So, dear children, all the best for the future. Greetings to the Blumenfelds and to you my affectionate, fondest regards. From
your Mama.
PAGE 2 (cont' d)
Dear Martin and dear Rosy, Today we have a very satisfying workday behind us. Mama has
already informed you about some things, however she forgot to tell you that I was at Stangls and
bought an underlay for your Kilim. At the same time, just by coincidence I bought a "striking"
cheap runner, which was made into a beautiful carpet later on. Your letter caused me lots of
pleasure especially about the quality of the contents and also the pleasing information about all
the points which interests us all, especially about your own new situation. If you dear Rosy are
too tired or unable to write, a greeting card would be sufficient. I finish my writing with regards,
Papa.
(Written down the margin) Regards from us to Miss Blumenfeld
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Norbert and Sonja Schweizer