ObjektnummerM1992/031:030
BeskrivningLetter to Greta Albera (née Pollak) from her parents Isidor and Erna Pollak in Vienna, dated 3 March 1939. Gretas mother Erna writes that their life is monotonous, the only light is the postman delivering letters. Erna continues with various questions for Greta relating to the food she is eating, the names of the children she is working with and whether she is looking after her teeth.
Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak), was born in Linz, Austria on 9 September 1920. She was the only child of Erna Pollak, born on 15 March 1895, and Isidor Pollak, born on 18 December 1879. Greta successfully emigrated to the United Kingdom in January 1939 where she worked as a governess, a home helper, and later as a nurse until the war ended. During her time in England, she was able to communicate with her parents who remained in Vienna. This contact was made possible through family friends living in Switzerland, who would pass on the messages and later through the Red Cross letter system. Gretas parents Isidor and Erna were transported to the Theresienstadt Ghetto in Terezin, Czechoslovakia on 9 October 1942. Both were murdered there, Erna on 9 May 1944 and Isidor on 16 May 1944. While living in England, Greta married Bedrich Albera, before emigrating to Israel, and later settling in Australian in 1954. She was the only member of her family to survive.
This letter is part of a collection of personal correspondence donated by Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak). The correspondence was sent during 1939 - 1942, between Greta and various members of her family.
Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak), was born in Linz, Austria on 9 September 1920. She was the only child of Erna Pollak, born on 15 March 1895, and Isidor Pollak, born on 18 December 1879. Greta successfully emigrated to the United Kingdom in January 1939 where she worked as a governess, a home helper, and later as a nurse until the war ended. During her time in England, she was able to communicate with her parents who remained in Vienna. This contact was made possible through family friends living in Switzerland, who would pass on the messages and later through the Red Cross letter system. Gretas parents Isidor and Erna were transported to the Theresienstadt Ghetto in Terezin, Czechoslovakia on 9 October 1942. Both were murdered there, Erna on 9 May 1944 and Isidor on 16 May 1944. While living in England, Greta married Bedrich Albera, before emigrating to Israel, and later settling in Australian in 1954. She was the only member of her family to survive.
This letter is part of a collection of personal correspondence donated by Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak). The correspondence was sent during 1939 - 1942, between Greta and various members of her family.
Datum 1939-03-03
Objektnamnletters
Materialpaper
Dimensioner
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 295.00 mm
Språk
- German
From: Mother.
Date: 03/03/1939, Vienna, Friday evening.
page 1
My Dearest Child
You brought us a mighty lot of joy with your letter and we await with longing the next one. May God grant that you will be forever happy and satisfied. My dear child, always write to us in great detail about everything. The best way to feel in communicating is when one is fully informed about everything. Please answer our questions too and describe your situation, your room, garden, house, location, people. What’s the name of the children? The cat? and how are you going with the English language? We are making good progress. Next time will be already writing you an English letter. The question remains whether you will be ready to understand it. You will have already heard from Papa what we are doing. Our life is monotonous, the only light glimpses are the postman delivering letters from Gretl. And so one lives from one letter to the next. Nowadays I am involved a lot with the dentist as I was badly neglecting things. I am also worried about your teeth, you’ve got to go, I’ll ask uncle Joseph to give you the money. Please also describe the Koritsch…..? and the environment around them. If possible send snaps, anyone taking photographs? How much I wish for a nice pretty photo of you. I am cross that in the last few days of chaos before the departure there was no time to go to the photographer. There is something you should write me about that is of great interest to me, that you never mentioned, how is the English………?
page 2
Continuation from previous page:
English Cooking? Is it much different from ours? How is your daily routine? Do you eat properly and are you used to the diet? Please write about it. Do you get enough fruit and sweet things? Do you have to ………?
How much I would like to send you things you like, if only I could. This afternoon I was with Grandma who told me that she wrote to you. Grandma told us that Fritzi Reiner is hitting it off in London, that is, the boss of her
employer has fallen in love with her, he a rich manufacturer. Apparently she lives in a palace and her parents are to follow. It seems Dolfi is there too and his parents will follow. So she is helping the whole family. I’ll get you the address of Dolfi.
Fritzi Honig is longing for an opening. Perhaps you will see something suitable for her in the newspaper, she is asking you for that. Perhaps Ronata (?) knows something. These days I phoned Mr. Friedman about her but without success. (She’ll have to wait and find something privately). I thanked Mr. Friedman for you and told her that you are well looked after. She was very happy and sends may regards, wishing you well. She has…. fool. Send her a card. It’s Friday evening. As usual all of us are sitting together. Franzi too is here and we are playing Bridge. Fritz is still sitting in ….?. So as for today enough and….. Hugs to you, your Mother
Dearest Greterl,……? very happy with your parents. Unfortunately nothing new from us. We are still waiting for our 4 alphabetical letters (This may be a coded reference to migration documents). Keep quite fit and think a lot about Biemer (?) Street, Fond regards your Amy (?) and Peterl.
My Dear Greterl!
We are sitting…. dear parents……happy….. with us.. We are talking a lot about you…. wherever you go……good wishes…………lots of kisses…from your Ursula (?) Paula.
Lot’s of deep regards from Franci (?) Me…?. Many regards from uncle Hans (?)
KreditSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Greta Albera