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Letters from Germany - 1931 - Things Are Getting Worse

1/25/2013

8 Comments

 
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This is a postcard and not a letter. As the Nazis take hold, the writings from Germany tend to be postcards and they speak of nothing regarding politics. And Alexander implicitly calls this out in the postcard.

Father Alexander Braunhart writes that things are getting worse. He hears nothing from son Julius, son Theo is barely surviving, and daughter Selma has taken a reduction in pay but is working. Son Karl is not doing well and son Moritz has not been working for years.

There are a couple of mysteries in this postcard, which hopefully can be solved in further letters. He speaks of "Johs" which cannot be translated and "Heintz" which is easily translated.  Alexander writes of them as if they are family - but we know nothing of these names!

This is a short writing but at least informs us of the state of most of the Braunhart family in Berlin at this time.

Below is the postcard, followed by the English translation.

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Again, much thanks to our fantastic translator, Matthias Steinke for the following English translation:


Berlin 16 February 1931

Dear children and grandchildren! 


Confirm your last letter and also the one from Heintz(?), which I will answer soon.

And the local guys are as ...lazy as Martha. Greet Martha, Benny and children.

Here its getting day after day more worse but I am happy that Selma kept her job with lowered money.


Theo earns only his meals.

And also with Karl its not good.

I hear nothing from Julius. But he is self responsible for his well-being. 


With Johs.(?) its a pitty and we help as far as its possible. (He) lives now near us, because he couldn't afford the
rent anymore. Jakob sent $10 recently which I gave Johs? for his moving.


I am sorry that I cant write more rants.


You also have to fight hard for existence.


I believe it will be better soon. Moritz earns nothing since years. Clara, who has a real good job, supports him. They live happy and content.


All are visiting us often.


Greet also the Brunns and child.


Also you be greeted by you you loving father and grandfather.
8 Comments
Celia Lewis link
1/25/2013 07:14:01 am

What mysteries to see those names and know nothing about them! He was able to write a great deal on that postcard, wasn't he? Amazing and awful times.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:42:30 am

Thanks Celia. Hopefully some day we will know the names.

Kenneth

Reply
Jana Last link
1/25/2013 09:04:09 am

Very sad indeed! I wonder why the writings tended to be postcards instead of letters at this time. It would seem almost more dangerous to write postcards back then where anyone could read them. Of course, maybe letters were opened and read anyway.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:43:43 am

Thanks Jana. I think everything was read. maybe postcards were cheaper to send? I don't know.

Kenneth

Reply
Mariann Regan link
1/27/2013 06:58:37 am

I notice he says "I am sorry that I can't write more rants." Is this the implicit calling-out that you are talking about? A very sad time indeed, when all are struggling to keep afloat. And worse to come.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:44:51 am

Thanks, Mariann. Yes I think that phrase is exactly what you mention. Thanks for reading and commenting - as always.

Kenneth

Reply
Julie link
2/1/2013 01:27:32 am

I think that the postcards were more transparent and they could be easily read and therefore almost promoted the fact that the sender was not anti-establishment, even if they were.

Of course at this period of time, the political system in Germany was more focused on the economy and it was this that actually gave the "nod" to Hitler that he would be received well.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:16:53 am

Julie,

Thanks for your comments. And yes - the comments had to be "vanilla" although some of the writing was obviously coded in a way I think.

Reply



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