Letters from Germany
From as early as 1915, many letters were written from the Braunhart ancestors who remained in Germany to those who had immigrated to America. Below is a list of the articles about these letters and their links. Check them out - they are fascinating!
Letters from Germany - 1915 - A 4th Braunhart Brother in the German Army!
14 February, 1915 - Julius writes to Anna in this simple postcard. This provides information that he is indeed in the Infantry. And is stationed in Danzig - Heubude (now Gdansk, Poland).
Letters from Germany - 1915 - Moritz's Bootblack Society in the Army
15 September, 1915 - This postcard from Moritz to his parents shows a bit of Moritz' sarcastic side. He is stationed in the Infantry in Grima , which is near Leipzig. he asks if Karl and Phillip have been inducted yet.
Letters from Germany - 1915 - Helene Congratulates Anna on Wedding in America
27 November, 1915 - Helene Braunhart congratulates her daughter Anna on her recent wedding in Brooklyn. Also, there are lines of congratulations from Anna's youngest sister Frieda, as well as from Anna's brother Carl's wife Hedwig.
Letters from Germany - 1917 - Two Sons Good, One Son and Daughter - Not So Good
1 January, 1917 - Alexander, Helene, Selma and Frieda write to Anna. Alexander as usual is quite direct and is none too happy with Karl who he calls a "bounder" and with Cylli for wanting to marry a Christian.
Letters from Germany - 1917 - Karl Surfaces as an Airman in WWI
24 November, 1917 - Karl writes to wife Hedwig. He is stationed as an Airman private in Doberitz near Berlin, working in the mechanical workshop on aircraft.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Jakob - PLEASE Write Us!
3 September, 1919 - Alexander, Helene, and daughter Frieda write to Jakob, who they had not heard from for over a year. They speak of his first wife Pearl, not knowing that their marriage had ended. They also mention that Theo, Philipp and Karl had moved from Schubin to Berlin as conditions had worsened.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - The Times Here Are Terrible
3 September, 1919 - Alexander, Helene, and daughter Frieda write to Anna and discuss the turmoil in Schubin and the fact that her siblings have moved to many different places. It is a bad time to be in Schubin with the looting and internment camps.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Before Forced Emigration
23 September, 1919 - Father Alexander Braunhart discusses the status of all of daughter Anna's siblings in Schubin and other parts of Germany and the fact that the war had extended to Schubin and that he had been frequently arrested.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - What Happened to Moritz?
17 November, 1919 - This article is actually a tribute to Moritz, the member of the family that we know least about. Included is a letter from him in Leipzig to his parents in Schubin. He spent the majority of his adult life in Leipzig.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Selma Discusses Worsening Conditions in Schubin
9 November, 1919 - Selma briefly discusses the worsening conditions in Schubin and her desire to leave. Indeed she did, likely in 1920 with her parents to Berlin. Later, in 1939 she escaped to England.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Frieda is Ready to Leave Schubin
12 December, 1919 - In this letter, Anna's youngest sister Frieda talks about getting fired and her desire to leave Schubin as soon as possible.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - "Without Money It is Like a Person Being Dead"
10 January, 1920 - In this pair of letters from Cilly Braunhart to her sister, and a secret letter from Selma's husband, Horst Eilenberg to Anna, they both decry their worsening financial condition, and Horst pleas for a loan so that he can get a job or start a business and take care of his wife.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Ailing Theo Begs for Help
20 January, 1920 - Theo begs for a small loan and thanks sister Anna for the supplies that she had mailed him. Because of his illnesses after the war he is unable to find a job.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Devaluation But Not Hyperinflation
16 April, 1920 - In this letter from Anna to her brother Theo, she discusses sending money to Theo and his parents; the money coming from her and her sister Martha, both living in Brooklyn.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Nearing the End for the Jews in Schubin
21 October, 1920 - This letter from Alexander to daughter Anna discusses the worsening of conditions in Schubin and that only he, his wife, and daughters Selma and Frieda remain there. His frustration with son Theo is also stated.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Philipp and Karl Go To Prison for 2 1/2 Years
15 October, 1920 - This shocking letter from Hedwig (Karl's wife) discusses the imprisonment of her husband Karl and his brother Philipp and the severe hardship now placed on her and her young son and daughter.
Letters from Germany - 1921 - Moritz Is In a Sanatorium
20 May, 1921 - In this postcard from Moritz to sister Martha, he announces that he has been in a sanatorium for three months and is due to be released.
Letters from Germany - 1922 - Raging Hyperinflation Hits
13 January, 1922 - In this letter to Anna from father Alexander, he discusses the state of hyperinflation, as well as comments on the lives of all the children now in Berlin.
Letters from Germany - 1924 - Hyperinflation - Mother Gets One Dollar
2 September, 1924 -This letter to Anna from father Alexander and mother Helene discusses the status of Anna's siblings and also Helene's excitement over receiving one US dollar! Because of hyperinflation in the 1920's in Germany it had quite a bit of value.
Letters from Germany - 1927 - Alexander Lonely After Wife Dies
11 April, 1927 - Alexander bemoans his loneliness after the death of his wife Helene in this postcard to daughter Anna.
Letters from Germany - 1931 - Things Are Getting Worse
16 February, 1931 - In this postcard to Anna, Alexander discusses the fate of most of her brothers, which is not good. There are still 5 in Germany and they fare poorly.
Letters from Germany - 1934 - The Calm Before the Nazi Storm
10 November, 1934 - In this pair of letters from father Alexander Braunhart and Anna's sister Selma, there is a calm conversation about little, including an umbrella. These letters are preliminary to the set of events that will tear this family apart in the next ten years.
Letters from Germany - 1939 - Philipp Denied Escape
6 August, 1939 - In this letter from Philipp and his family to sister Selma, who had escaped to England, he discusses his planned escape from Germany via a Japanese steamship. As we know, he did not make it.
Letters from Germany - 1940 - Escape and Freedom!
10 April, 1940 - This short postcard from Theo to Anna is powerful in its simplicity. It is a day before Theo escapes Germany via Trieste for Shanghai. He also warns Karl to help Hanna as she is still in danger in Germany.
Letters from Germany - 1954 - Selma Finally Gets Married
September, 1954 - Selma's wedding to George Gandel in August, 1954 prompts sister Cilly and brother-in-law Horst to write a heartfelt congratulatory letter.
14 February, 1915 - Julius writes to Anna in this simple postcard. This provides information that he is indeed in the Infantry. And is stationed in Danzig - Heubude (now Gdansk, Poland).
Letters from Germany - 1915 - Moritz's Bootblack Society in the Army
15 September, 1915 - This postcard from Moritz to his parents shows a bit of Moritz' sarcastic side. He is stationed in the Infantry in Grima , which is near Leipzig. he asks if Karl and Phillip have been inducted yet.
Letters from Germany - 1915 - Helene Congratulates Anna on Wedding in America
27 November, 1915 - Helene Braunhart congratulates her daughter Anna on her recent wedding in Brooklyn. Also, there are lines of congratulations from Anna's youngest sister Frieda, as well as from Anna's brother Carl's wife Hedwig.
Letters from Germany - 1917 - Two Sons Good, One Son and Daughter - Not So Good
1 January, 1917 - Alexander, Helene, Selma and Frieda write to Anna. Alexander as usual is quite direct and is none too happy with Karl who he calls a "bounder" and with Cylli for wanting to marry a Christian.
Letters from Germany - 1917 - Karl Surfaces as an Airman in WWI
24 November, 1917 - Karl writes to wife Hedwig. He is stationed as an Airman private in Doberitz near Berlin, working in the mechanical workshop on aircraft.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Jakob - PLEASE Write Us!
3 September, 1919 - Alexander, Helene, and daughter Frieda write to Jakob, who they had not heard from for over a year. They speak of his first wife Pearl, not knowing that their marriage had ended. They also mention that Theo, Philipp and Karl had moved from Schubin to Berlin as conditions had worsened.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - The Times Here Are Terrible
3 September, 1919 - Alexander, Helene, and daughter Frieda write to Anna and discuss the turmoil in Schubin and the fact that her siblings have moved to many different places. It is a bad time to be in Schubin with the looting and internment camps.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Before Forced Emigration
23 September, 1919 - Father Alexander Braunhart discusses the status of all of daughter Anna's siblings in Schubin and other parts of Germany and the fact that the war had extended to Schubin and that he had been frequently arrested.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - What Happened to Moritz?
17 November, 1919 - This article is actually a tribute to Moritz, the member of the family that we know least about. Included is a letter from him in Leipzig to his parents in Schubin. He spent the majority of his adult life in Leipzig.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Selma Discusses Worsening Conditions in Schubin
9 November, 1919 - Selma briefly discusses the worsening conditions in Schubin and her desire to leave. Indeed she did, likely in 1920 with her parents to Berlin. Later, in 1939 she escaped to England.
Letters from Germany - 1919 - Frieda is Ready to Leave Schubin
12 December, 1919 - In this letter, Anna's youngest sister Frieda talks about getting fired and her desire to leave Schubin as soon as possible.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - "Without Money It is Like a Person Being Dead"
10 January, 1920 - In this pair of letters from Cilly Braunhart to her sister, and a secret letter from Selma's husband, Horst Eilenberg to Anna, they both decry their worsening financial condition, and Horst pleas for a loan so that he can get a job or start a business and take care of his wife.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Ailing Theo Begs for Help
20 January, 1920 - Theo begs for a small loan and thanks sister Anna for the supplies that she had mailed him. Because of his illnesses after the war he is unable to find a job.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Devaluation But Not Hyperinflation
16 April, 1920 - In this letter from Anna to her brother Theo, she discusses sending money to Theo and his parents; the money coming from her and her sister Martha, both living in Brooklyn.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Nearing the End for the Jews in Schubin
21 October, 1920 - This letter from Alexander to daughter Anna discusses the worsening of conditions in Schubin and that only he, his wife, and daughters Selma and Frieda remain there. His frustration with son Theo is also stated.
Letters from Germany - 1920 - Philipp and Karl Go To Prison for 2 1/2 Years
15 October, 1920 - This shocking letter from Hedwig (Karl's wife) discusses the imprisonment of her husband Karl and his brother Philipp and the severe hardship now placed on her and her young son and daughter.
Letters from Germany - 1921 - Moritz Is In a Sanatorium
20 May, 1921 - In this postcard from Moritz to sister Martha, he announces that he has been in a sanatorium for three months and is due to be released.
Letters from Germany - 1922 - Raging Hyperinflation Hits
13 January, 1922 - In this letter to Anna from father Alexander, he discusses the state of hyperinflation, as well as comments on the lives of all the children now in Berlin.
Letters from Germany - 1924 - Hyperinflation - Mother Gets One Dollar
2 September, 1924 -This letter to Anna from father Alexander and mother Helene discusses the status of Anna's siblings and also Helene's excitement over receiving one US dollar! Because of hyperinflation in the 1920's in Germany it had quite a bit of value.
Letters from Germany - 1927 - Alexander Lonely After Wife Dies
11 April, 1927 - Alexander bemoans his loneliness after the death of his wife Helene in this postcard to daughter Anna.
Letters from Germany - 1931 - Things Are Getting Worse
16 February, 1931 - In this postcard to Anna, Alexander discusses the fate of most of her brothers, which is not good. There are still 5 in Germany and they fare poorly.
Letters from Germany - 1934 - The Calm Before the Nazi Storm
10 November, 1934 - In this pair of letters from father Alexander Braunhart and Anna's sister Selma, there is a calm conversation about little, including an umbrella. These letters are preliminary to the set of events that will tear this family apart in the next ten years.
Letters from Germany - 1939 - Philipp Denied Escape
6 August, 1939 - In this letter from Philipp and his family to sister Selma, who had escaped to England, he discusses his planned escape from Germany via a Japanese steamship. As we know, he did not make it.
Letters from Germany - 1940 - Escape and Freedom!
10 April, 1940 - This short postcard from Theo to Anna is powerful in its simplicity. It is a day before Theo escapes Germany via Trieste for Shanghai. He also warns Karl to help Hanna as she is still in danger in Germany.
Letters from Germany - 1954 - Selma Finally Gets Married
September, 1954 - Selma's wedding to George Gandel in August, 1954 prompts sister Cilly and brother-in-law Horst to write a heartfelt congratulatory letter.
