Philipp Braunhart's history has been difficult to piece together. We know that his life ended at the hands of the Nazis. We know that he divorced his wife to save his children because of the Nuremberg laws. We know that he was a tailor who had his shop destroyed as a result of Kristallnacht. And we know that he barely missed an opportunity to flee Germany in 1939.
There is a story of how he and brother Karl were imprisoned as a result of selling fractured silver. We believe his birth given name was "Bernhard" which also was the name he gave his third child.
But so far it has been difficult to fill in the blanks of his life. In this fairly benign letter from Berlin to his parents and siblings in Schubin - he writes one line that stuck out to me as revealing - "I am very stressed and nervous."
Obviously I never knew the man and his story is only revealed through these letters that we have accumulated. He appears to be a thinking and feeling man with a great love for his family. But for some reason - that line seems to sum up a large part of his life - stressed and nervous.
Below is the letter followed by the English translation.
There is a story of how he and brother Karl were imprisoned as a result of selling fractured silver. We believe his birth given name was "Bernhard" which also was the name he gave his third child.
But so far it has been difficult to fill in the blanks of his life. In this fairly benign letter from Berlin to his parents and siblings in Schubin - he writes one line that stuck out to me as revealing - "I am very stressed and nervous."
Obviously I never knew the man and his story is only revealed through these letters that we have accumulated. He appears to be a thinking and feeling man with a great love for his family. But for some reason - that line seems to sum up a large part of his life - stressed and nervous.
Below is the letter followed by the English translation.
Thanks to our friend and translator Matthias Steinke, below is the English translation:
Berlin the 16th September 1919
My very beloved parent and siblings!
Got the beloved fathers, Martha's, the beloved Cilly and mothers letters and read, that at you, my beloved, is everything OK. From us I can report the same.
That Moritz is already since 3 weeks at me you will probably know from his letter, which I assume is in your possession.
I look happily forward for the dear Cilly's visit and hope that she will have a good unhindered journey.
The dear Theo is thank God healthy again. But he still has to spare himself and needs a good care. I had to do a lot with him. It was very severe and everything was possible. The doctors and professors couldn't believe it. But he recovered very good and was than 14 days away for recreation.
Has now a very good job which he got from Moritz. I didn't like it. But the times and businesses are bitter and the life prohibitive.
About that I had very huge business losses.
Moritz is not bad, but has also to struggle.
What are you doing and how are you? What is Selma doing and Frieda. Frieda's dress is hanging and I will hope, that it will be sold soon. As I heard are all Jews moving away from there.
What are your plans? What is in my power I will you my beloved help with advices and deeds.
I am very stressed and nervous. But will become OK I think.
Otherwise are heart, lung and brain at the right place. Otherwise, I don't know to write more of interest.
While I my very beloved hearty greet and kiss I remain for a soon meet again your you loving son and brother
Philipp.
[p.s.] Moritz ask you to send him a birth certificate as soon as possible.
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