The post was the communications method during most of Ellen’s lifetime. International and even local phone calls were expensive and used – if at all – for life changing emergencies alone. Telegrams and much later Fax are now quaint forgotten technologies – neither of which played a part in her life. Only a minority of people learned to type. Ellen hand wrote all her communications is carbon copy books – and she kept most of the letters she received from others.
In the main, it will contain letters which are peripheral to many of the life scenarios outlined in Ellen’s Early Memories and over time other communications might find their way here too.
Most of the letters included at the onset on this site are related to relocation and loss in and after WW2. These are the only letters which are accessible at the moment. The most poignant are those related to Ellen’s mother Bella and aunt Flora who ,did not survive the war..
This part of the website will gradually be populated with new content as it is extracted from paper – and in most cases, translated from German. – as are the initial selection. Most letters are now simply ‘standalone’ – as opposed to placed in a thread..
For now letters are sorted into simple categories with a brief introductory summary. They are disconnected snippets and serve to give context and atmosphere.
Letters from Bella
At the onset of WW2, Bella (Ellen’s mother) and Flora (her sister) are stuck in Germany, aware of the seriousness of their situation. Eventually the refusal for a transit visa by Portugal seals their fate and they are arrested and sent to the Lodz Ghetto.
Bella or maybe Flora – maybe to Ellen 1939
Bella to Edith and Ellen August 14 1939
Bella to Ellen Mixed :Letters 1939
Bella talks about the transit visa and Mentions Ackermann’s. Richard is already in Rhodesia
Bella to family in Africa Sept 1939
Bella to Edith who by then is in London -1939
Bella to Edith – pre rest of family exit from Germany 1939
Letter scrap – 1939 or 1940 – trivia
Bella to Ellen in England still – April 6, 1940
Bella to ‘uncle Bemo’ and family – April 1940
Bella to Ellen – hoping for Portuguese transit visa – April 13 1940
Bella to Ellen and Richard – the heard reality of the visa refusal – 1940
Letters from Flora
At the onset of WW2, Bella (Ellen’s mother) and Flora (her sister) are stuck in Germany, aware of the seriousness of their situation. Eventually the refusal for a transit visa by Portugal seals their fate and they are arrested and sent to the Lodz Ghetto.
Flora to Helmut – hopes for transit visa via Poland – April 1950
Letters from Ament/Eugenia
Eugenia (Eugeni) was Ellen’s nanny for much of her childhood. She was not Jewish and survived the war. She and her family had a special bond with Ellen. Anni Ament (then Dinges) is related to Eugeni)
Post war letter from Anni Ament to Ellen 1948
A wretched case =:1951: Eugenie pursues a claim for Rothschild property bequeathed her in 1940
Letters from Edmund Ackermann
Edmund Ackermann parents were neighbors and friends of the Rothschild’s and he was childhood friend. He fled as a youth to Palestine while his parents did not survive. His soul searching letters relate to Ellen and his childhood friendship = before and after he joined the Jewish Brigade and returned to Bad Homburg, their hometown just after the war..
Edmund to Ellen = Life on the Kibbutz – Tel Aviv 1943
Edmund to Ellen – ‘4 years from home’ – Haifa 1943
Edmund to Ellen = Philosophy and life on the Kibbutz – 1943
Edmund to Ellen – Personal updates – December 27, 1944
Edmund to Ellen – Army perspective – war end in Belgium -Tournai August 13, 1945
Edmund to Ellen – Post Germany impressions – Holland – Oct. 1, 1945
Edmund to Ellen – Damaged Germany/Bad Homburg visit – Antwerp – Dec 28, 1945
Edmund to Ellen – Army musings – Antwerp Dec 2 1946
Letters from Helmut
Helmut was Ellen’s double cousin. His mother Flora was trapped in Germany with her sister Bella
Hellmut to Bella and Flora – small talk from Africa- 1939 or 19409
Letters from Ellen
Ellen was 18 years old in 1940 when she arrived in Northern Rhodesia and most of these letters were written around that time.
Ellen to Fritz – still in Germany – 1938-9
Clearly the idea of moving to Africa is an open topic at this stage.
Ellen to Edith in USA after and month in Africa -1940
Ellen to Edith in USA- snippets – 1940
Ellen to Mrs Köröse – mentions David – 1940
Ellen to Flora – Hope we will meet again soon – Nov, 1940
Ellen to David – mentioning Edmund
Ellen to Mrs Köröse – misc short letters – 1940-1941
Ellen to Mrs Köröse in Keswick – Adapting to Africa – Feb 11, 1941
Letters r egarding Portugal
The war was on, other European counties had been invaded and there was no other viable way for Bella and Flora to leave Germany to go to Northern Rhodesia where Fritz Ellen and Helmut had secured them residence visas. But Portugal refused to issue a transit visa because of a petty bureaucratic hurdle which was impossible to effect because of the war in Europe. Bella and Flora wanted to board ship in Portugal to go to Mozambique -which has indicated to the Portuguese government it would accept then. The minister refused the visa in the end because he was irritated and that spelled the sister’s doom..
Edith Letter to Consul of Portugal to get transit visa for Bella – April 12 1940
San Francisco Consul letter to Portugal – April 1940
Richard letter from Africa to Ministry in Portugal
Richard forward SF recommendation letter to Portugal but Minister or Colonies deems it ‘inconvenient to grant the request’.