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Letters from Germany - 1940 - Escape and Freedom!

1/28/2013

7 Comments

 
Picture
This postcard from Trieste from Theo Braunhart to his sister Anna in Brooklyn is celebratory for his next day escape from Germany via Trieste, Italy to Shanghai. He leaves behind his wife Lucie, who as a Christian is safe from the Nazis.

There is much more to relate regarding Theo, but that will be written in future articles.

There is one line that is remarkable in its simplicity of warning. Because we know what happened to Theo's niece (and Karl's daughter) Hanna at Auschwitz just a couple of years later - it is quite disturbing. This postcard was written in April, 1940. Karl had escaped to America in January, 1939, and his wife Hedwig in February, 1940. Hanna stayed behind for some unknown reason.

Theo warns Anna to inform Karl that Hanna needs help. We do know that Karl wired money to Hanna in 1941 (by virtue of the Jewish Transmigration Records).  That is all we know of Hanna's situation. Tragically, we know the later outcome of her staying in Germany.

But this writing is primarily about Theo's liberation and his appreciation to sister Anna for her help.  It is simply written, but powerful in its meaning.


Below is the postcard, followed later by the English translation.

Theodore Braunhart

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


Trieste, the 10th April 1940

Dear Anna and all beloved,


So, tomorrow I am going on the ship. 


Its not to describe, how I feel in freedom. One has to get used to it.

I will write more details from the ship.


So far, I thank you that you helped me.


Karl shall get something for Hanna, it's urgent.


In the meantime many hearty greetings to you all, 



Your Theo.
7 Comments
Cheri link
1/28/2013 09:52:49 am

I can't imagine what it must have felt like to be a day away from leaving for freedom! Incredible to have the postcard. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:25:11 am

Thanks Cheri. Yes - one can't imagine the feeling - especially with what was happening in that country at that time.

Reply
miriam brunn matranga
1/28/2013 03:56:16 pm

Dear Ken: what i am about to tell you is shocking, but this is the story i heard in my childhood. It seems that Hanna had a visa to come to this country, but in the interim, her mother, Hedwig broke her arm and needed to be helped. So Hanna stayed to help her mother, and her visa thus expired, therefore she was unable to come to America in time to save her life. Hedwig left Hannah in Germany and came to America with the understanding that Hannah would soon follow. What pain and guilt Hedwig and Karl must have suffered all their lives. Maybe that is why Uncle Carl was always in the neighborhood bar and grill. When my family went to the bicycle store in Brooklyn to visit, Uncle Karl would always give me a half dollar. best regards, miriam

Reply
Mariann Regan link
1/29/2013 05:27:17 am

"Karl shall get something for Hannah, it's urgent." Karl did the best he could, wiring money. Either she did not receive it, or the money made no difference. Tragic. Like all horrible dictatorships, they made people disappear swiftly and relentlessly. So terrible.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks link
2/2/2013 05:23:23 am

Mariann, thanks for your comments as always. Yes, there is nothing positive about this story regarding Hanna. We may never know what happened between the time her mother left for America in 1940 and Hanna's murder in 1943 at Auschwitz.

Reply
Rachel Hart Malloy
7/1/2019 05:56:47 pm

Hi Ken-

I am drawn to this site every so often to better understand my family, and want to say thank you for this amazing tribute to the entire braunhart family.

With kindness-
Rachel (grand daughter of Henry Hart)

Reply
Shirley M link
3/4/2021 10:19:33 am

Great reading your blog poost

Reply



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