For many years, my cousin Martha has had a large pile and binder of letters written mostly to her Grandmother Anna Braunhart Tulman from her parents and siblings in Germany, starting as early as 1914 up to the 1950s, with the bulk of them in the 1910s and 1920s.  And they were all in German in a variety of old scripts. Up until recently, it was catch as catch can getting them translated, but we have been very fortunate to find Matthias Steinke, who lives in Germany and has kindly been translating them for us.


I have been posting these letters and their translations together with a bit of back story throughout 2012.  As a continuing tribute to the Braunhart ancestors, hopefully the remainder of the approximately 50 letters and postcards will be completed in 2013.  Even more desirable would be that the other cousins who have some German letters in boxes in their attics and garages will contribute so that we can complete the collection.

In any case, as a collective tribute to the Braunhart ancestors, below are their voices as written in these revealing and sometimes shocking letters.  Presented are the dates and authors of each letter, with a link to the post for each letter for those that have been translated during 2012.  A short summary accompanies each link:


Letters from Germany - 1915 - Helene Congratulates Anna on Wedding in America

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 - 1919 - Before Forced Emigration

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?

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

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

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"

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

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 - 1924 - Hyperinflation - Mother Gets One Dollar

This letter to Anna from father Alexander and mother Helene discusses the status of Ann's siblings and also Helene's excitement over receiving one US dollar!  Because of hyperinflation in the 1920s in Germany it had quite a bit of value.



Letters from Germany - 1934 - The Calm Before the Nazi Storm

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

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.

Cecelia Braunhart, daughter of Alexander and Helene Braunhart, was the only daughter of 13 siblings that did not immigrate to America.  She lived her entire life in Germany. Born in Schubin (now Szubin, Poland), it appears that she was married before 1920 to Horst Eilenberg. He served in the German Army in World War I and was captured and was a POW.  It appears that they lived in Dresden after his release and later in Cottbus, where they both died; Cilly (as she was known) in 1966.

It is unknown as to how she and her husband survived the Nazis in World War II. Horst was a Christian as evidenced in his letter below. Both she and her husband are buried in the New Jewish Cemetery in Cottbus.

Cilly and Horst did not have any children it seems. But it appears as of these two letters that they were struggling quite a bit to survive. We have no letters for 35 years after 1920, so this is just a guess. And although this is just a projection - it appears that she may have been an unhappy person throughout her life.

I am presenting two letters - the first from Cilly to her sister Anna was written in January, 1920 and the second, also to Anna, was written by Horst in December, 1920. This letter from Horst was intended to be a secret plea for a substantial loan in order to provide for his wife. We do not know what happened for three decades after this letter.

Both letters discuss the difficult living situation that they endured and also mentions the loss of brother Carl's business in Schubin, as well as the problems his gambling addiction may have played in his family's life. It is in Horst's letter that he decries their situation and his inability to provide for his wife. AND - the interesting quote used in the title of this article: "Without money it is like a person being dead."

Below are the letters - again the first from Cilly, and the second from Horst:

The translation of the letter from Cilly was recently performed by Matthias Steinke with our gratitude.  The letter from Horst was translated several years ago - translator unknown.

Dresden, the 10th January 1920

Dear Anna!

Finally I got the answer to my letter today. About which I was very happy, because I could see, that you three are 
well. Thank God since November 3rd is my husband safely back from British war captivity and is working in the 
same job, which he had before the war. 

You can´t start your own business, because you need much money. We live fully-furnished, because its impossible to pay for the furniture. For the ones, who became rich by the war is it in Germany still good. We will also emigrate to anywhere, because from the prideful Germany is only a miserable heap of ruins left. The one, who didn't inherit from his fathers or got something by war-profiteering got nowhere ("come never on a green twig").

The main things, the people need for living, like light and heating are missing, we always sit in the cold. Theo wrote also recently and has concerning the box the same meaning like you. Too bad. If you and Marta are able to support the parents, so do it, I would, if I could do it too. If the parents have in Schubin their subsistence, they are there better in good hands than in Germany.

First, it gives here no apartments, than you can`t live from this, what you get for the food ration coupons and its 
impossible to pay what you can get on the hidden path (black market). In Schubin it still gives everything, butter for 6 Marks gavaged geese the pound 5 Mark, this is in opposite to here dirt-cheap.

There isn't any danger anymore and not only riffraffs, also honest people still stayed there. The main thing, one 
needn't to starve and to freeze. So, don't worry about it, because its redundant. The parents have gotten the money from you and I think, Theo also.

What you wrote about Strelno and Mogilno is superfluous. I will give you an example: Some days after our  wedding, Aunt wrote me, that she wanted to give me as present a Kra.. and I should write, whether I want it for  gas or electric. I sent her my wish, but I am still waiting for the Kra.. This are people, who have been millionaire already before the war. In the populace, for example the red cross and so on they spend thousands.

Selma was in Mogilno recently and was very cordially received. From Poland to Germany wasn't delivered food so 
far. Thank God, that you are doing well, but dear Anna, if you send money home monthly, so you are doing enough, I don't want that you will get harm because of me.

A picture comes with the next letter, because I have my entire stuff, among them also photographs not here yet. 
Send you also a picture from you three, while I am sending you the heartiest greetings and kisses I remain your you loving sister Cilli.

Heartiest greeting for your husband and the small one. Karl is no rake. He has up to now nourished his family very 
 good and he will go far again. Every person can make mistakes, the store was totally plundered by the Polish
and even he gambled something away. Who knows to earn, is also allowed to do an escapade. Do you agree?

[from husband Horst]

Although we haven't met before is sending the heartiest greetings

Horst Eilenberg
Dresden-A.(Altstadt)
Fürstenstr. 41 p (Fuerstenstr.)


And here is Horst's letter, where he pleas for help in order to provide for his wife:

7/11/1920

My dear Sister in Law Anna,

After several days of thinking it over, as a result of most urgent necessity, I decided to write this letter to you. You know that I have been unemployed for quite some time. For someone who is without any funds because of the very costly circumstances, it is very difficult to picture this. My efforts to find a job have unfortunately been without results.

They are always looking for young inexperienced workers, because they are willing to work for less money. Even though I would be willing to do the work for trainee’s salary, nobody is willing to hire me. As you can see from the enclosed newspaper ad, even my dear wife has tried to find work but up to now without success. There simply is too much poverty around here.

Cilli suffers particularly under the pressure of the circumstances. Since she is already disturbed because of the problems of Philipp and Karl, she simply is too easy going; she tells me her problems every day.

I beg of you if it is at all possible, with dear Marta to help me establish a new means of existence. It would have been better if Cilli would have asked for this but she could not be convinced because you have done so much already for the family in Germany.

I only want this help if you are able to do this financially but only if your parents will not suffer because of this as I would otherwise blame myself for this.

I married Cilli because I truly loved her. She did not bring any dowry and I do not need it either, but unfortunately we did not foresee the sad circumstances.  As you already know, without money a person is like being dead.  In addition to this, my body suffered greatly because of the war and my having been taken a Prisoner of War.

The German Mark presently is worthless and the Dollar very high.  If you would send me $250 to $300 dollars, this would be a major amount of money for us, and from this we would be able to purchase a small business in a small town.

I will return the money to you as soon as possible, with many thanks. I repeat again - only if you are in a position to do this. If it is not possible, then please do not tell Cilli that I wrote you about this matter.

If the sense for business would be as pronounced with us Christians as it is with the Jewish people, something that I must always praise, then I would not have to write this letter and that God knows was very difficult for me but I cannot tolerate to see the sad eyes of my beloved wife anymore.

Since I have to have myself photographed for a possible job offer I will send you a picture of your new brother in law.

Stay well and healthy and write soon again to your loving brother in law Horst.

Best regards to your husbands.

We purchased with the money that you sent us food, clothing and kitchen utensils.  Cilli was very sick.

This letter from father Alexander Braunhart and his daughter Selma was written at the beginning of 1934 from Berlin - actually February 10, 1934.  It was sent to Alexander's daughter Anna, who was living with her family in Brooklyn, New York. I have written previously about The Memorable Seventeen who were the grandchildren of Alexander's parents. Let us summarize the whereabouts of all 17 in 1934 and then we shall discuss what happened to them in the 10 years between 1934 (the date of this letter) and 1943.

As of the spring of 1934:

Two of Alexander's nieces and nephews had died in California, and the other four were safely raising their families in America (two in New York City and two in California).

Alexander (who had lost his wife Helene in 1925) was in Berlin and seven of his children and their families were in or near Berlin as well. Jacob, Anna, Martha, and Frieda had immigrated to America, so four were safe. So let us see what happened to Alexander and the seven children in the decade starting in 1934:

• Alexander was hidden from the Nazis but did not survive the decade, passing in 1941.
• Karl immigrated to America in 1939; his wife Hedwig joined him in 1940. Unfortunately daughter Hanna was murdered at Auschwitz in 1943; son Heinz escaped to Palestine.
• Selma fled to England in 1939.
• Moritz' status is unknown. He was living in Leipzig and married to Clara. We know that Clara was in Leipzig in 1949 and we know (via family lore) that Moritz committed suicide, but we do not know when.
• Theo escaped to China and lived in the Shanghai ghetto.
• Julius and his wife Dorka were divorced some time during this decade. Dorka and children Lilly and Lothar fled to the Shanghai ghetto. Julius was murdered by the Nazis in 1943 at Theresienstadt.
• Cilly was married to a Christian, Horst Eilenberg, who was a POW while serving in the German Army in World War 1.  They both survived the war in Germany.
• Philipp was forced to divorce his wife Else because of the Nuremburg Laws in order to save his children. He was murdered by the Nazis in 1942 at Sachsenhausen.

The letters below do not discuss or portend any of the horrors that were soon to befall this family. However there is a reference to the fact that they do not go out much, which may be because of the increasing restrictions on Jews. These two pages - the first written by Alexander, and the second by Selma, discuss happier times.  The English translation follows.

Again thanks to our master German translator Matthias Steinke; we are fortunate to have the English translation:

Letter written by Alexander:

Berlin, 10. 11. 34

Dear children and grandchildren!

After long waiting we got your letter, card and 10 Dollars. Best thank to you Anna. Send to the last (named) greetings and I will write to her, if I got news from her. Also from Jakob nothing heard. The main thing is that you, Tulmans and Martha are healthy.

Here is it like it was. I for myself feel the age. 

Julius came back recently and lives with Philipp, who has huge financial problems. 

Theo, Selma and Karl support the family over their relationships. I myself go to nobody for
weeks, because you wont hear anything pleasing. Theo and wife visit us every Saturday. They have a very beautiful flat and furnishings.

From Plauen come often news. Recently I was at Brünns and found the people in good health.

Say Anna, that she shall write again finally. Jonny? died. Selma will write concerning the umbrella.

Henry must be a big gentleman. [He is likeley referring to his grandson Henry Brunn]

Now, farewell and be greeted by your you thankful father and grandfather.


Letter writen by Selma:

Dear Frieda. So the umbrella reached you. After the description it is the correct one. How comes the umbrella under the bed and so on?

In the next days I will send again some children-booklets. Do you know, dear Frieda, that Herta Elias has a boy? His mother already written, that Missus Mannheimer and daughter emigrated to America. At N. Israel is still everything unchanged. What else happens in the world you see in the newspapers.

I am often together with Theo and Lucie.

We now go out very little.

Hopefully you are all well and happy, from us I can report the same.

Hearty greetings for you and all Beloved,

from your Selma

The remainder of the Braunhart family left Schubin in 1920 and is now totally settled in Berlin. In this letter, it appears that the family is pretty stable.  All the men who served in the German Army have recovered and have settled down.

Alexander Braunhart, writing to daughter Anna Tulman in Brooklyn, discusses most of the family members and also some issues with money. Most interesting in the letter is the happiness that the family expressed over mother Helene receiving one dollar.  Although the fervor related to the hyperinflation crisis in the Weimar Republic had subsided some when this letter was written in the fall of 1924, there was still stabilization happening. Further there is a bit of despair over the loss of a package containing 25 dollars that was sent by daughter Martha and her husband Benny Sternbach.

Due to the poor quality of Alexander's handwriting, there are gaps in the translation presented below.  Most confusing is a passage relating to "Aunt Molly."  There was a "Molly" in America, Amalie Bernstein Brock, who was Alexander's niece, so there is some confusion as to the meaning of this section of the letter. The last paragraph of the letter is a paragraph written by Alexander's wife, Helene.

Below are the four original pages, followed by the English translation:

With great thanks to Matthias Steinke for doing the transcription and translation of the above difficult to decipher letter, below is the English translation:

Berlin, 2nd September 24

Dear good children and grandchildren!

Got your letter with the 1 Dollar for mum and we are lucky, that you are quite healthy. Here is it like it was. Mother is healthy and getting corpulent now. If possible you shall get the photos.

Joh? settled in another area, and in the store works an honest young Jewish man for his own business. He intends to marry Frieda, but he isn't so good. Due to her appearance and her behavior she would rather make her luck in America. Write you…her...

The man with the 25 Dollar from Benny wasn't here yet and won´t come anymore. Maybe you can find out his 
residence or where he has relatives. 

Aunt Molly comes to us daily. She.....circles? like her Gustav?. She still has 6.000 Dollar over there. At the moment she is under medical treatment.

Jacob hasn't written for a long time. Aunt (Sara?) writes often and many. Markheims are on a visit in Cal. Aunt wrote that Martha makes it very well and that she became very corpulent. Also from you she wrote only good.

I hear nothing from Cylli. Lives well as we found out. As you know, Cylli has a “little bird” (is a little bit crazy).

Theo eats with us and will start a job again. 

At Karl and Julius the same conditions. The children come often to us also (the children of) Dorka and Hedwig.

Philipp who was very nervous is now pretty relaxed. He comes often and brings always something if he has.

In Poland shall be crazy conditions, nevertheless I long for the graves.

Martha, Benny and children, to get a sign of life from them isn't possible. So write you to me often.

Greeting your father and grandfather


Many hearty greetings and kisses for all is sending - Your loving mother.
Many hearty thanks for the Dollar. May God reward you.

Frieda Braunhart was the youngest child of Alexander and Helene Braunhart. She was born in 1902, married her husband Salo Brunn in 1926, and immigrated to America with her husband later in 1926.

In this letter, written to her older sister Anna who was living with her family in Brooklyn, New York, she repeats the refrain written by several of her siblings and parents. That is that life in Schubin had become so difficult that it was time to move.  She apparently was dismissed from her job because of her inability to speak Polish.  She was 19 years old at the time of this letter.

Several of her brothers had already moved to Berlin as well as Leipzig, and life promised to be a bit better, if not perfect for this Jewish family.

Below is the original letter, followed by the English translation.

With thanks to Matthias Steinke, below is the English translation:

Schubin, 12 December 1919

My very dear ones!

I also want to write a few lines to you beloved. You can imagine the joy as your photos arrived early this morning.
The little girl is cute and also you, beloved Anna, look very good. In near future I'll send you and the dear Marta also a picture from me.

As I saw  the image of the little (girl), it reminded me of a photo with Heinz, because he was photographed in exactly the same position. Heinz and Hanna are the children of Karl. I long for them very much, but I hope to be in Berlin in summer, and look forward for it very much.

January we will all be in Labischin with Julius, there will be then Jewish pleasure. Theo and Philip will come home soon for recovery, then hopefully it won't be as boring as now.

I had a job in an office until recently, but I was dismissed because I do not understand Polish. To be honest, I wasn't really concerned about it, because then I can leave Schubin much earlier. 

You wrote, that we shall tell you what we need. We don't need anything so far except the shoes and thank you very much.

You have a very very good heart, and I hope that we can thank you and the beloved Marta for all the good personally.

Now I will close, because it's already time to go to sleep.

Now be all greeted and kissed a thousand times by you of your loving,

Frieda

In this simple letter from Selma Braunhart to her sister Anna, Selma touches on and confirms the worsening conditions in Schubin and also the challenges of her brothers Philipp and Theo, not to mention the reuniting of sister Cilly and her husband Horst Eilenberg, upon his return from the war after being held as a POW.

The number of Jews in Schubin was diminishing rapidly - in 1921 their numbers were reduced to approximately 100, down significantly from the population in the town when Selma's grandfather, Lewin Jacob Braunhart was the head of the Jewish school from 1835 to 1885.

A condensed history of the Jews in Schubin can be found in Virtual Shtetl

It is not known as yet when all the Braunhart family left Schubin, but from other letters at this time, it appears that some had already done so, including brothers Carl and Moritz. Jacob had immigrated to America as well as sisters Anna (the recipient of this letter) and Martha.

Below are the original three pages of the letter, followed by the English translation.

Thanks to Matthias Steinke, we now have a translation of this letter. It is below:

9 November 1919

My dear sister Anna,

Finally, I too want write a letter to you. From the other letters to us I have seen that you all are well. Well that's the 
main thing. We are also all healthy. 

In recent days we got also a letter from Martha and Aunt Sara. I can't explain, why Jacob doesn't write. 
Theo and Philip are also home for a while for recovery. It is necessary for them.

Here is everything like some months before, always the same "old song."

Thanks God, Cilly's husband is already back from war-captivity, and both are for a few weeks at her parents-in-law for recovery.

I would be quite happy if we could leave Schubin. It is no future for us. Its a mess, that nothing is possible with the bank. Especially now, that the Dollar is rising. I believe, it doesn't become better. If we can't change, we can't do anything.

Send us a picture of you. I also attached one of me. I am not well taken. Julius also has a cute little girl, 4 years old.

Is it expensive there?

The weather began very cold but now the weather is somewhat  ....

What is Martha and family doing? Metha Wa ...(Walsch?) is also married. I don't know know further details. Rosa 
Mayersohn is engaged.

Now I will close because father already wrote everything to you. Commending you all very much greetings and kisses, also to Martha and family I remain as your loving


Selma