935302
Mournful 1944 Postcard From A Lady Living Openly As A Jew In Nuremburg
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“Yes, to be brave. What does it help now, my life has no meaning any more. I have lost my best.”
Typed Letter Signed, Lore, on a postcard, two pages (recto and verso), 4” x 5¾”, Nuremburg, Germany, June 21, 1944. In German, with translation.
The origin of this postcard makes it an extraordinary document. It was postmarked June 24, 1944, two weeks after the D-Day invasion began to liberate Europe from Nazi control. Remarkably, it was written by a Jew living openly in “Nuremberg, the City of the National Party Meeting,” a city known for particularly virulent anti-Semitism. The return address includes the middle name “Sara,” which was required in documents written by female Jews in order to identify them as such. Four different Nazi censors, whose square stamps appear at the bottom, had to approve the message before it was allowed through the mail to Graubünden, Switzerland.
Fortunately for the mourning widow who wrote this card, she had been married to an Aryan. Jewish spouses of Aryans had legal protection from anti-Jewish sanctions, but her protection probably died with her husband, of whose recent death and interment she poignantly writes. In full: “My dear ones, Now I have finally received your cards, that was like a sunbeam into my loneliness. Many thanks for them. Yes, to be brave. What does it help now, my life has no meaning any more. I have lost my best. I think always of Heinz and everybody, but it is extremely difficult. The days do not want to pass by, they are filled with sadness, tears, and worries. My dear husband died in the midst of his work, it was always a great helper to him. He was so diligent up to his last hour. It is very difficult for me to take care of everything. Much of my heart blood do I give, and I now close everything by myself. I’m not myself any more. Heinz will equally be sad, and now he has so many worries. I’m glad that Freds has good news from his family, but if one would have helped us, then I would not be by myself. At the time there were possibilities. I’ll never be able to forgive that. I’m to say hello to you from Else Grünberger, she is in the last mother’s home, I have asked about Cäcilie. She will surely write to me. I hope that Jo and Michel are in good health. I also don’t hear from Ilse, but she is not very much for writing. The interment of the urn took place last week. The brother and wives write to me quite often. Brother-in-law Franz was also there. Hearty greetings and kisses to you.”
This card is a 15-pfennig overseas rate postal card. It is virtually pristine but for a little toning that is not as noticeable as the scan below suggests. Overall it is in very fine condition.
Unframed.
This item is sold.
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