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Letters from Germany - 1920 - Devaluation But Not Hyperinflation

2/20/2013

5 Comments

 
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Harry and Anna Braunhart Tulman
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.

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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?
5 Comments
Claudia link
2/20/2013 05:51:35 am

The hyperinflation was unbelievable. My grandparents and mother emigrated in 1926. My grandmother said that they men got paid twioce a day and would give the money to their wives at lunchtime because by the next day the prices would increase.
My grandmother also said you would need a basket to take the millions of marks to the grocery store in a basket and if you set it down someone would steal the basket and leave the money.

I have a one million mark note that was my grandmothers.

Reply
kenneth R Marks link
2/20/2013 06:00:27 am

Thank you, Claudia for sharing that story. That is an amazing way to live, for sure.

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Martha Lesnitzer Zucker
2/20/2013 06:30:46 am

Great story, Claudia. Today they would definitely take the money & leave the basket!

Reply
Mariann Regan link
2/20/2013 11:40:30 am

First, what a handsome couple. Zow.

Anna is worried about someone stealing the cheque in Schubin. Or maybe she is making a joke. She seems very kind.

I'm trying to make out the German word for "women-stuff." Frau . . . can't read the letters.

Three months seems slow even for then, but all I have for comparison is the time it took my dad in WWII to be shipped across the Atlantic to England, which I think was less than half that time. But those were troops. Express boat! : ))

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
3/4/2013 02:53:32 am

Thanks Mariann. I think packages took quite a longtime. Even today when I send a package to my brother outside Madrid it takes a while.

Reply



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