Actually this is a Letter TO Germany that was sent by the author Anna Braunhart Tulman, pictured on the left with her husband Harry. The letter was addressed to her brother Theodor, who was living in Berlin, Germany at the time - April 16, 1920. This is a handwritten copy by Anna of the actual letter that was sent to Theo.

Fortunately the money sent was prior to the onset of hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic. But the Mark was already in the process of devaluation. $60 in 1920 certainly was a considerable gift, and the cost of shipment of a parcel for $17 was quite expensive.

This letter continues to show the generosity of Anna and her sister Martha, as they attempted to do as much as they could to provide for their aging parents  who were still living in Schubin.

Below is the original two page letter, interestingly written on an invoice from Anna and Harry's hardware store in Brooklyn. And it is written in German.

Below is the English translation, generously provided by Matthias Steinke:

Dear brother Theo,

Enclosed you will find a cheque for 2920 Mark - in total 60 Dollars, 25 Dollars from me and 25 Dollars from Martha for the beloved parents. 


10 Dollars or 500 Marks are for you which I am sending it especially for you. So dear brother give the money to the parents by chance.


Unfortunately I can't find a safer way to send money because in Schubin they would steal the cheque and encash it at the bank. I also sent a box with things to you yesterday.


It will take about 3 months until you will get it. Martha and I compiled the things. The women-stuff is for the girls. Alone the sending costs 17 Dollars, so its not worth. The best is to send money, if it arrives. 


How is it with your and the beloved Philipp's health and business?

Moritz Braunhart discusses his exploits in the German Army on this postcard to his parents in Schubin.

Although Moritz suffered from depression and ultimately committed suicide, he often displays a sense of humor in his writings and writes often to his parents and siblings, so he is a bit of enigma.

We do not have all of his letters and postcards translated as let - but we do know by the dates that he did serve in World War I, and thus we do not know the ultimate mental (and physical) damage that war did to him.

It is interesting though, that he served in Grimma as noted in this postcard, which is quite geographically close to Leipzig  where he lived after the war, and it seems for many years of his life.

Below is the postcard as originally written, followed by the English translation:

With thanks to Matthias Steinke for his excellent translations from German to English, the following is that translation:

Sender: soldier M. Braunhart
2nd Replacement Battalion (of the) 106th Infantry Regiment
1st reservists depot
6th corporal community - Grimma
15 September, 1915

My very beloved!

Got your card. Took note of its content. Have already written to Julius but (he is) 
still in Hohensalza. 


Please tell me whether they took Karl and Philip.

Sooner or later, no one who is only a little useful will be spared from this wonderful sport.


I feel good in the military - Overleaf are the new members of my club.


Looks like a bootblack society. ...us all ....proud .....write back soon.


 Hearty Greetings,


Your Moritz

Julius Braunhart was the third son of Alexander and Helene Braunhart. Much has been written before regarding how he deserted his wife and two children; how they escaped to Shanghai, and ultimately that Julius was murdered by the Nazis in 1943 at Thereiesenstadt.

This is the first evidence that we have gathered that demonstrates that he was in the German Army. We know that brothers Karl, Moritz, and Theo were in the German military, and we also know that Julius' older brother Jakob was in the United Sates Army.

This postcard from Julius to his sister Anna in Brooklyn, New York does not say much, but it does tell us that he indeed was in the army, and that Anna was sending him money, like she did her other relatives who remained in Germany.
​

Below is the postcard that he sent to Anna, followed by the English translation.

With thanks to Matthias Steinke for providing this translation to English, below is that translation:

14 February 1915


Dear sister Anna!

Receive many thanks for the sent money. I am now at the Baltic-coast.

Otherwise, I am fairly fine. If I have more time, I will write more. Many greetings to all. Again many thanks. 


Many greetings from your Julius

My address: Private Braunhart
1st Reserve Replacement Battalion (of the) Infantry - Regiment 9
3rd company Danzig-Heubude

Karl Braunhart was the 4th son of Alexander and Helene Braunhart. It appears from letters and photos that Karl was quite mechanically inclined and also was a merchant. He was the one who started his family business of bicycle shops in as early as 1913 and moved those shops from Schubin to Berlin and later to Brooklyn, New York after he immigrated. The shop still exists, as Carl Hart Bicycles - in Middle Island, New York.

He married his wife Hedwig in 1914 and their family of Heinz and Hanna was completed quickly, with the children's birth dates of 1915 and 1916 respectively.


In some of the family letters in the 1920's, they write of Karl having his bicycle shop destroyed, that he was a gambler and a bit of a rake. As he and his siblings attempted to move to Berlin in that time period along with many other Jews, there were significant financial issues as well as problems obtaining housing.

When Karl came to America in 1939, he changed his name immediately to Carl Hart. His wife immigrated a few months later in 1940, and as we have written before, his daughter Hanna did not join them. Son Heinz escaped to Palestine in 1935. As a result of Hanna not joining her parents, she was murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz in 1943.

This postcard does not reveal too much about Karl, nevertheless is presented here as a matter of family history - however it does confirm for the first time that he did indeed serve in the German military.

Below is the postcard, followed by the English translation.

And with thanks to our master translator, Matthias Steinke, below is the English translation.  

[From] army mail
Private Airman Braunhart
Rea 2 ... 117 Corp.
Doeberitz – Berlin

[To] company
C. Braunhart
Schubin in Posen
Breitestr. 31/32

Doeberitz the 24th. November 1917

My dear Hedwig,

Today, I got the to me sent parcel. Many thanks therefore. It all arrived in good shape.

Watches are hard to get and very expensive. Ordinary silver watches cost is purchase 30-35 Mark. Nickel watches
are also very expensive. I will write to Phillip, maybe he can obtain something. I cant manage it because after the A... the stores have already closed. 

Have you received my letter, beloved dear?

Carry out the things soon. Theo has surely brought a few things. I dont drive to Berlin this Saturday. I am a little bit ill. A small cold. The case about my apartment is still pending. I am happy that you and the children are well.

I also miss nothing, only the borrowing is based on mutuality.

Be all best greeted and kissed by your Karl

The photo is from Schneidemuehl.

Will you find me, yet?

text on Photo:
mechanische Werkstatt (mechanic workshop)
FEA 2 (Flugzeugersatzabteilung 2 = Airplane Replacement Departement 2)