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Letters from Germany - 1921 - Moritz Is In a Sanitorium

1/31/2013

6 Comments

 
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Moritz Braunhart as it turns out is the enigma of the Braunhart family. We know the least about him of all the children of Alexander and Helene Braunhart.  He is likely the oldest child, but possibly the second oldest, as we do not know his exact birth date and location of his birth.

From recently translated letters, it appears that his wife's name is Clara and possibly that is her in the photo with him. But that is only a guess.

We also know from family stories that he suffered from depression and committed suicide; yet again we do not have documented proof.

He did serve in the German Army in World War I, and as this letter states, he was a patient in a sanatorium in Leipzig for several months.

As usual with Moritz, his life story is incomplete, and contains more questions than answers. For we do not know why he was a patient there.

Below is a postcard from Moritz to his sister Martha in 
Brooklyn, written in 1921. Both front and back are shown. The front appears to be a group photo that contains associates of some kind. And below the postcard is the English translation.


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With much gratitude for our translator Matthias Steinke for his outstanding ability to be able to transcribe and translate what often are less than optimal handwriting specimens. Below is the English translation:

(sender): M. Braunhart, Leipzig, Roßstr. 12 I (at the moment: Bad Reiboldsgruen - in the Vogtland-area)


20 May 1921

Dear Marta! 



If I am not wrong, I already wrote to you a longer time ago, that's only by the way.

Please receive with this card to your next birthday my heartiest and honest returns. May God, that you and your family are always be well and I hope, that you all are healthy. 


Me, myself is it also going pretty well.

I am since 3 months in a sanatorium for a cure and I will stay here for another month. I recovered very well during this time.

From home I hear only good news. Only in Poland it looks bad.


To Anna and family many greetings. Farewell for today, many ....(greetings) to you, your husband, children 



from your .....

(X means my humble self)

6 Comments
Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana link
1/31/2013 07:09:18 am

Mark,

First, what an interesting and unique individual your Moritz was!!

Second, I know you state that he suffered from depression and died of suicide, but I'd like to point out that the term "sanitorium" was widely used during that time period for hospitals where patients were treated for tuberculosis, drug addiction and other dis-eases. Those facilities have a checkered past, but were instrumental in the discovery of treatment for tuberculosis. Interesting stuff.

Third, and most importantly, I cannot say enough wonderful things about Matthias Steinke. He transcribed and translated my 1851 letter for me, all eight pages of nearly indecipherable scrawls, out of the kindness of his heart. What a wonderful ambassador he is to those of us in the genealogical community.

Cheers to your family hunting...and I hope that you're able to uncover even more about your Moritz.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
1/31/2013 07:28:52 am

Thanks, Laura. Yes I am well aware that sanitoriums back then were for more than "mental disorders," in fact my Aunt was in one for a year for TB.

And yes, Matthias is awesome; he has translated all from my "Letters from Germany " series that I have been posting for the last couple of months. And one of the writers, Alexander Braunhart has indecipherable scrawl as well - so yes, Matthias is very generous.

Reply
Celia Lewis link
1/31/2013 10:52:44 am

What a dapper looking man! I'm enjoying these postcards, Ken - they're fascinating. You obviously have quite a treasure box of them. How very special! Very interesting post.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:19:11 am

Thank you, celia.

Yes - there are about 50 letters and postcards dated from 1915 to 1940. It has enabled me to fill in a lot of the "gaps" and stories of my ancestors.

Kenneth

Reply
Mariann Regan link
2/9/2013 05:49:43 am

Wow. He says he's there for "a cure," and maybe the others in the photo are there for the same reason. If it's not a cure for depression, it might be a cure for TB? My grandmother went to a sanatorium in 1910 or so for TB reasons. And I remember reading Thomas Mann's "The Magic Mountain."

Moritz certainly strikes a commanding pose in that first photo, with his cane planted firmly and his hand in his pocket. In the second photo, too, he looks like he's out-staring the camera. What a personality he must have been!

It chills me to read the sentence, "Only in Poland it looks bad." Whew.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
3/4/2013 02:30:55 am

Thanks Mariann. I had an aunt who was in one for TB as well. I wish we knew more about Moritz - especially in the 1930s and 1940s. I think World War I was pretty hard on he and all his brothers. No telling if that contributed to his illness for which he was hospitalized.

Reply



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