March-May 1939: Fundraising for a Refugee

These news articles from the Spectator (the McPherson College newspaper) spanning March-May of 1939- speak for themselves. I share them now that it is no longer a mystery that Opa is en route to McPherson College. It is fascinating to see the process of how a small college in Kansas can independently offer freedom to a refugee. It makes me believe in things. It makes me believe in the ability that we have to do good in the world- even for someone across the world. There are two sons, three granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren that exist because Paul Myer and his friends decided to do the work it takes to help someone else.

 Transcription:
May Bring Refugee Non-Aryan Student
Groups Cooperate in Trying to Support Student Here
Vera Heckman, co-president of the S.C.M., has revealed that the student movement is planning to make it possible for a non-Aryan christian student refugee to come to Macampus and attend college next year.

Bill Thompson, student council head, has said that every effort will be made by the student council to cooperate in making this possible. 

Officials believe that if the two organizations work together, enough money can be raised for the support of a student refugee from Germany.

The Intercollegiate Committee to Aid Student Refugees has written officials here saying that refugee students capable of paying their transportation to the school.  It will take about $400 to support a student for a year.

Through the cooperation of the student council and the S.C.M., together with the aid of the I.C.A.S.R. and the Friends Service Committee,  it is hoped that such an expression of good will to the non-Aryans may be made possible on this campus.

 Transcription:
Pictured above are committee chairmen who will be active on campus next week in their efforts to bring a non-Aryan student to the campus. Heading the central committee is Luther Harshbarger. Vera Heckman, co-chairman of the S.C.M. will be active in club solicitation. Bill Thompson heads the committee contacting off-the-campus organizations, while Phil Myers will govern student-faculty solicitation.
 

Transcription:
Newspaper  Heading:

Hitler Pitching, Macampusans Catching Refugee

(article found on far right of this picture, and is shown below in sections) 
 

 Transcription: 
Students Plan to Secure Non-Aryan to Come Here
As an active front against race hatred and as a positive action for world peace, the major student organizations of Macampus are hoping to make it possible to secure a refugee non-Aryan student from Germany to come live in the dormitory next year and attend the college.
Already assured of cooperation from the college administration, the Student Council, the International Relations Club, and the S.C.M., in cooperation with other student groups, will next Wednesday begin an extensive financial drive among the students. 

It will take $400 to assure the success of the plan. The college administration has promised to do its share, and part of the money will come from service clubs and from women's clubs off the campus. The cosmos club already has given $25 to the fund, and since some money has so soon came in from the students, already one-eighth of the necessary fund are available, without counting the promises of the college officials.

This shows that the plan is practical and can be carried out successfully, assuring students the privilege of having as their constant companion a student who is aware of the European situation and Hitler's purge.

The student will be secured through the American Friends Service Committee and the Intercollegiate Committee to Aid Student Refugees. A Christian student can be secured and the local students may choose from a large list the student they desire. Sex, age, and even looks may enter into the choice.
(I snickered at the looks comment)

 Initiating the student campaign, which is hoped to reap at least $200, will be a chapel program with Dr. Burton Metzler as chairman and speaker. He will explain the plans and the desireability of aiding a refugee.

The solicitation will begin Wednesday and, aided by "I have contributed" signs, will end Friday noon. Three days, April 26, 27, 28, will constitute the duration of the drive.

Since most Macampusans work their way through college, student leaders here think it only fair that any student who is aided here should be willing to work also.

All the major student clubs and organizations are represented on the central planning committee headed by Luther Harshburger.

"M" Club President Bob Wiegand will work with Lenore Shirk of the W.A.A., Don Newkirk, International Relations: Phil Myers, Men's Council: Rosalie Fields, Women's Council: Vera Heckman, S.C.M., and Bill Thompson, Student Council representative. Dale Stucky is publicity director of the campaign.

 Heading the subcommittee to work with the different clubs of the town is Bill Thompson, aided by Harshbarger and Heckman. Concerned with student-faculty solicitation are Wiegland, Shirk, Newkirk, and Fields, with Phil Myers as chairman. Dale Stucky's publicity committee is composed of Raymond Coppedge, Verda Grove, Forrest Groff, and Raymond Flory.

Several years ago Toshiro Tsubokawa, a Japanese student, attended McPherson College. He is now working on his thesis prior to securing a master's degree at Denver University.

Transcription:

Drive Gains Momentum As End Is Near
Committee Heads Believe Plan to Secure Non-Aryan For Campus Is Success

At the half-way mark in the drive for funds among faculty and students to secure a non-Aryan refugee for Macampus next year. It was found yesterday that more than fifty dollars had already been raised for the purpose. 

Chairman Phil Myers of the solicitation committee reports that many students have indicated their intentions to contribute to the cause, but that they did not have the money yesterday. The momentum gained by the drive will have brought increased activity by this morning.

Although the active campaign ends today at noon, the committee will continue to accept contributions for several days. The quota set for students has been $200.

Committee heads of the movement are all of the opinion that the drive will be sufficiently successful to insure the success of the plan. Off-campus organizations are already aiding, and the college administration has promised its share of the necessary $400.

Inaugurated last Wednesday morning, the campaign has yet to gain its top momentum, and solicitation since yesterday noon will probably show an increase even over previous solicitations.

The campus was yellow yesterday with "I have contributed" cards dangling from lapels, and today the signs may even rival the ever-present campus dandelions.

(We searched for a picture of these cards on lapels, to no avail. How amazing would it have been for Opa to see that?!)
 

 Transcription:
Good Will Is Cement That Holds World
Metzler, Harshbarger, Myers Lead Drive for Refugee Student Fund

Good will is the cement that holds our house of civilization together, and it is pretty badly cracked. This was suggested by Dr. Metzler in chapel Wednesday. "Some of our fellow students have gotten caught in the shortage of good will and are in an unfortunate predicament. How can we help?"

Luther Harshbarger spoke of the reason for the attempt to bring a non-Aryan student to the camps next year, beginning next fall. There are three phases of the financial drive: a faculty- student campaign, in which each are asked to contribute at least one dollar; a downtown drive; and an honor scholarship and work for the student who will be chosen.

Phil Myers outlined the plan of which the funds will be solicited.

The chapel choir sang two numbers. "The First Trio" by Mendelssohn was played by Professors Loren Crawford, Nevin Fisher, and Ralph Stutaman.  

Transcription:

Thompson Starts Down-Town Drive
To Contact Service Clubs To Aid in Securing Refugee

With the successful termination of the campus campaign for funds to help support a non-Aryan refugee on the McPherson college campus next year plans are now being perfected for the obtaining of financial aid from service groups of the city. 

Within the next two weeks the committee to contact the off-campus organizations, of which Bill Thompson is the chairman and Vera Heckman and Luther Harshbarger the other members, will present this drive to the outstanding clubs of the town. The service clubs such as the Lions, Rotary, and Elks will be contacted. Aid will also be sought from the McPherson Women's Club and active young people's groups of the city.

A fund of twenty-five dollars has already been contributed by the Cosmos Club to initiate the campaign. 

 Transcription:

Students Give $120 To Get Student Here
Myers Announces Success Of Plan To Secure Refugee Non-Aryan

Haven for a refugee non-Aryan student next year will be Macampus, according to the opinions of leaders of the drive for funds to make the plan possible.

Phil Myers, chairman of student-faculty solicitations, has reported that $120 have already been raised in cash on the campus, inspite of a dire spring slump in student finances.

It is hoped that his amount can be raised to $150 within the next few days. Several students who have not paid cash to the solicitors have indicated their intentions to contribute to the campaign. Myers urges that any student who has not supported the drive and wishes to do so act immediately.

As the student drive is being completed, the drive among service clubs in the community is gaining momentum. Luther Harshbarger, general chairman of the movement, says that he believes the success of the plan is assured.

Transcription:

Refugee Plan Is Success
Harshbarger Announces Plans for Selection

Luther Harshbarger, general chairman in charge of securing a non-Aryan student refugee for Macampus next year, has announced that the financial drive in connection with the project has definitely been a success and that a student will be secured.

Just who the student will be has not been determined, but dossiers showing qualifications and including pictures and descriptions of the refugees are expected any day here from the International Student Services.

The student will be secured through the American Friends committee and the International Committee to Aid Student Refugees.

Only fifty dollars is lacking to complete the four hundred dollars that is necessary for the success of the project. The students, faculty, administration, and various service groups have made possible this effort to relieve racial tension.

November 3, 6 & 8: Leaving Europe!

RCA Radiogram
PH 57 VIA RCA AMSTELVEENRANDWYK 26 2 1628

NLT AFSERCO
     PHILADELPHIAPENN=

SALMON LEAVING TODAY ON PENNLAND SCHEDULED NEWYORK FORTEENTH APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING MACPHERSON DELAY DUE WAR APPRECIATE MET ABOARD MONEY THANKS DROP IN =

      DOEPPNER 

November 6, 1939

Mrs. Alice Palmer
The New York Protestant 
Episcopal City Mission Society
38 Bleeker Street
New York City

Re: Thomas Doeppner

Dear Mrs. Palmer:

     The enclosed radiogram sounds as if Thomas Doeppner would arrive very soon now. Individual Friends in Holland helped him with his passage money and I believe that explains the rather cryptical wording of the cable. I hope he won't have any difficulty in landing. I think he should not have but if there is anything we can do, please let us know. 

Sincerely yours,

Charlotte Salmon,
Placement worker.

November 8, 1939

From: Charlotte S. Salmon      To: Louise Clancy

Re: Thomas Doeppner

      The latest news is that Thomas Doeppner who has a scholarship at McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas, will arrive on the "Pennland" November 14. I have written to the boat and have arranged with Mrs. Alice Palmer to meet him and help him through Ellis Island. I only want to let you know about his coming in case there should be any difficulty and Mrs. Palmer calls upon you.

C.S.S. 

At last he is on his way! These telegrams and letters just tell us the hurried message that Opa is finally on his way, on the Pennland. I have one more resource: Opa’s autobiography. He gives us the background scoop on how he was able to hop on the Pennland. In case you think it’s like changing from one flight to another- his words remind me how precious that ticket on a boat out of Europe was at that time:

my ship...was diverted… and all other ships scheduled to leave from Holland were sold out. The next ship to leave for the States was the SS Pennland, departure date late in October. It was also sold out. In desperation, I asked the shipping line if I could have a copy of the passenger list on that ship. They gave it to me, along with local telephone numbers. I spent a long time calling American passengers on that list offering to trade tickets with them. My English was very poor in those days (two years in high school), and I don’t know how many calls I made, but finally I found one American - I think he was a businessman - who wanted to stay in Europe a little longer, and agreed to trade with me. We exchanged tickets, and I finally left for America… (From Nazi Germany to a Career in Freedom, p.9)

<mouth open>

Thank you American businessman. God bless you Opa for having such determinism. Thank you shipping line person who was crazy enough to give out the passenger list and phone numbers to a nineteen year old German half-Jew. And thank you Charlotte for paving the way for Opa in America.

He's on the ship. To the land of the free. What did Opa think about when he watched the European continent and everything and everyone that he knew... disappear? I can only imagine. I am thinking about his mother, Ella, stuck in Berlin and without recent word from him. I am thinking about his father and step-mother: August and Emma- in Holland without a clue what the future would hold for them, and a stillness in the home now that Opa was gone. I am thinking about his sister, Patti, studying in France, who doesn't know when she'll see her brother again. It has already been over a year since they'd seen each other. I am thinking about Gisela, and Anni, and all of Opa's friends in the Quaker group. None of them knew if they would ever see each other again. I think they all assumed they wouldn't. 

Opa left home in search of a future in freedom. He titled his autobiography: "From Nazi Germany to a Career in Freedom" - freedom was very important to him. I imagine he had mixed emotions as he sailed toward freedom, but left home behind. 

November 3-5, 1939: Opa Makes the Papers

 Article in the Spectator (McPherson Newspaper) November 3, 1939

Transcription:

British Delay Doeppner By Blockade

Student Refugee Has Difficulty Getting Passage to U.S.A.

    According to a letter received by Phil Myers, chairman of the committee to aid McPherson's student refugee, Thomas Doeppner has been delayed by the British blockade on ships. The letter was received from the Refugee Section of the American Friends Service Committee, through which the local committee has been working. 
    The New York office reports that it knows nothing about the whereabout of Doeppner, and stated that a letter from him required a whole month to cross the Atlantic.
     The Vollendam of the Holland-American Line, on which Doeppner booked voyage left Antwerp for a previous voyage  on September 9, and arrived in New York on October 23, and is expected in Rotterdam on November 7 or 8. The British will probably stop the ship and hold it in custody for some time. Apparently much time is lost on each trip because the Dutch boats are delayed by the British blockade." states the letter.
     It goes on to say, "It seems to us that we surely will have some word directly from Thomas Doeppner soon. It must be the difficulty of transportation that is holding him up."

Article in the Hutchinson News Herald (Local Area Newspaper) November 3, 1939

Zoom in on the article from above newspaper

Student Missing
McPherson - There's a campus mystery at McPherson college. What has become of Thomas Doeppner? He is the non-Aryan refugee student from Berlin who was supposed to have sailed from Holland on the Valendam Oct. 7. He was scheduled to enroll at the college here in the middle of October. But he has not appeared.
     Moreover, the Volendam, due to arrive in New York Oct. 14, hasn't reported, either. 

Let me say one more time how much I love the Spectator. This college newspaper is excellent. They report the news accurately and with primary sources. They even quoted Charlotte Salmon’s words and cited her.  Excellent work.

The Hutchinson News-Herald on the other hand, not the most accurate presentation of the information. Their short little blurb makes it sound like Opa’s delay is the most peculiar and unfathomable thing. They play up the mystery, and the fact that Opa is a refugee student seems like an afterthought. It’s all fluff and no actual news. What on earth were people supposed to do after they read that article? And as the Spectator article reports, it isn’t a mystery what happened to the Volendam.

Ay de mi. On the bright side, Kansas is invested in Opa and they really do care about where he is and if he’s OK and if he’ll make it across the Atlantic.

So now we sit and wait and wonder, what is he up to? Where is Opa and how is he going to get to the USA with the ship delayed?

October 26-27: Superhuman Efforts

Transcription:

Office Memorandum          Date: 10/26/39

American Friends Service Committee

To: C.S.                   From: N.A.

Subject: Volendam

 The Volendam left New York Oct. 23. It is expected in Rotterdam Nov. 7 or 8. Since the British will be holding it in custody, it is not scheduled to sail from Rotterdam until November 24.

 

News is finally coming in, the memorandum within the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) tells the news most succinctly: the Volendam is delayed, and won’t leave Rotterdam until November 24. Now what? Is Opa just going to wait for it?

Transcription:

October 27, 1939.

Phil Myers,

1722 E. Gordon Street,

McPherson,

Kansas.

Dear Phil Myers:

Apparently our letters crossed and you know not more of Thomas Doeppner's whereabouts than I do. I enclose a copy of the letter we received from him just a few days ago. It took a whole month to get here. 

We have also had word from the Friends Center in Amsterdam saying that they gave him money for his ticket. I had a letter from Mrs. Alice Palmers of the Presbyteran-Episcopal City Mission on Ellis Island saying that she would Thomas Doeppner and help him in any possible way.

We called the Holland American Line and found out the the 'Volendam' left Antwerp on September 9, arrived in New York September 21. It will leave New York on October 23, and is expected in Rotterdam on November 7 or 8. I suppose that it did not make the trip across in the meantime. Since the British will probably stop the ship and hold it in custody for some time it is not schedule to sail from Rotterdam until November 4. Apparently much time is lost on each trip because the Dutch boats are delayed by the British blockade.

It seems to me that we surely will have some word directly from Thomas Doeppner soon. I think it must be the difficulty of transportation that is holding him up. I don't see anything else we can do now but I will let you know as soon as we hear anything from him.

Sincerely yours,

Charlotte S. Salmon,

Placement Worker.

Charlotte wrote Phil Myers once she learns of the update- acknowledging that their questioning letters must have passed each other. She mentions that a letter from Opa had just arrived after a month in transit.

Charlotte does have an update on Opa- that everything is prepared and ready to go except for his ship. I love that the AFSC followed through and called the Holland American Line to find out where the ship was. It’s a small thing, but sometimes these details of follow through are lacking- so it’s nice to see just how diligent they are in gathering information.

I’m still not exactly sure what it is that the British blockade does with Dutch ships, but it is slowing down travel, and Opa needs to get to the USA. His scholarship is technically only for this year and if he can’t get on a boat before the semester ends, he may have to give up his scholarship.

Transcription:

October 27, 1939.

Mary Champney,

Quaker Bureau,

Galerij 13,

Amsterdam.

Dear Friend:              Re: Thomas Doeppner

We have heard from Thomas Doeppner of the help you gave him in getting his passage to the United States and also in getting his student visa. Apparently you did a fine job there. It is the first case I have heard of recently that a German student has got a student visa and it must have taken superhuman efforts.

According to the Holland-America Line the "Volendam" has not been able to follow its regular schedule. I suppose that it is the cause of Thomas Doeppner's delay. We have heard nothing from him. I hope he will be able to get passage eventually. We will be glad to know when he expects to come.

Sincerely

Mary M. Rogers

Co-Director

The folks in Amsterdam also wrote to Charlotte letting her know of the delay of the Volendam. No one has heard anything from Opa yet, so they don’t know what his course of action is yet.

However, everyone is willing to wait and are still hopeful. There is an interesting part in the letter from Amsterdam when Mary Rogers writes: “It is the first case I have heard of recently that a German student has got a student visa and it must have taken superhuman efforts.” Opa was genuinely a rare case- he was one of the very very lucky ones.

In April of 2013, Ron Coleman at the Holocaust Museum did a presentation on some of the case files from the American Friends Service Committee - many which did not end well. Opa really was a rare, lucky case. A German (half) Jew that left Europe after Kristallnacht- rare.

October 23-27, 1939: Where Is Tom??!!!

October 23, 1939

Phil Myers

1722 E. Gordon Street

McPherson, Kansas

Dear Phil Myers:

     I have never heard whether Thomas Doeppner arrived or not. The enclosed note which came to us indicates that he sailed on the seventh of October, as he expected. I would just like to hear definitely when he does arrive and will, of course, be interested in how he gets along. 

Sincerely yours,

Charlotte S. Salmon

Placement Worker

10-24-39

Charlotte Salmon

Friends Service Comm.

Philadelphia, Penns. 

Dear Miss Salmon:

        Once again I come to you with troubles. President Schwalm received a letter for Thomas Doeppner expressing his appreciation and saying that he was sailing this 7th of October on the Volendam of the Holland American Line.

       According to my calculations the crossing should have taken about 9 days and it has been 17 and we have no word. I presume that you have more or you would have informed us but I thought it would do no harm to write and also you might have some method of obtaining information as to the delay. I will appreciate any information.

Sincerely yours

Phil Myers

No Word Here From Refugee

Whereabouts of German Student Cannot Be Determined Here

No word has come to Macampus of the arrival in America of Thomas Doeppner, non-Aryan refugee student from Berlin. A letter from the Refugee Section of the American Friends Service Committee the last week in September assured Phil Myers that Doeppner had secured his visa in Holland and would leave for America the seventh of October on the steamer Volendam.

He was to be met at the boat and sent immediately to Kansas. Word of his arrival was to be telegraphed at once. As yet there has been no word. If the Valendam sailed October the seventh, it should have been in New York by the fourteenth, allowing seven days for passage.

What has happened to Thomas Doeppner? Where is the Volendam? 

If you've ever seen the movie "That Thing You Do" about a one-hit-wonder band with Tom Hanks, you may remember the scene when one of the band members is shown galavanting around California and riding roller coasters at Disneyland with his new friends from the Army. Tom Hanks' character yells into a telephone at the television studio (where everyone is supposed to meet), unknowing of the man's adventures: "WHERE THE HELL IS HE?!"

This is what I imagined when I read the letters. I don't imagine Phil was a swearing man, but I kinda feel like Charlotte let "hell" slip every now and then. Where is Tom?! She and Phil write to each other with the same question, wondering why they haven't heard from him.

We know of his delay because we get to read his letters to Gisela. If Opa wrote to the folks in the US of his delay, he may still make it before the letter does, mail overseas is so slow. The delay is obvious, it's now at least a week or two after his estimated arrival, and there's been no word. 

The McPherson College paper, the Spectator, is once again fabulous in reporting the news. The only error is their spelling of the Volendam. However, they let everyone know that as of right now, there's no word on the refugee student, and no news of the Volendam.  

I wonder what the students thought. I feel like I would be thinking worse case scenarios, afraid that the Volendam was lost at sea. 

Now everyone is on the outlook, waiting and watching.  

October 23, 1939: A Little Note from Amsterdam

     The Amsterdam Bureau is very glad that it has been able to aid a boy like Thomas Doppner reach Amerika, an ardent member of the Young Friends Group in Holland. He has contributed much to the Quaker Bureau. In actual hard work, he has given a great deal, but it has been his enthusiasm which has ment most to us. That has helped to bring the Young Friends' support solidly behind the Bureau and arouse their sense of responsibility towards the refugee problem. 
     Thomas will certainly gain much from his year's study in United States because he knows how to make the most of his advantages.
     We believe his intelligence and enthusiasm will benefit Americans as much as they have the Dutch.

Sylvia Perry

I feel like I’m reading the comments box on my child’s report card. I’m so proud of Opa. I’m proud to be his granddaughter, I’m proud to have his life as model for my own. He planted himself in Amsterdam, and instead of twiddling his thumbs and waiting for fate- he knocked on every door. He engaged himself in the Quaker group in Amsterdam, becoming a full and enthusiastic participant. As a child of a military parent, I was taught to “bloom where I’m planted” in such a way that also allowed for repotting several times. It took me a long time to learn how to plant myself the way Opa has- engaging in my community as wholly as I can no matter how long I’m promised to be there. I think I likely missed some opportunities and friendships by holding myself back and waiting to be repotted somewhere else.

The most important thing I have learned in this research project is this: we have the ability to effect change by the decisions we make and the actions we take. Our lives are all interconnected in ways even we cannot fathom. A life well-lived is one that stretches out to touch that web wherever we are, and endeavors to strengthen it. Opa has strengthened the web in Berlin, in Holland, and now he is on his way to America.

I wish his mother could have seen these letters. It’s too bad the American schools and the American Friends Service Committee were the only ones on the receiving end of all these accolades. I imagine Ella would have beamed with pride seeing these letters, and the difficulty of her separation from her son lessened a bit. It’s been months since she has been able to see him or communicate directly with him, for fear of what the Nazi censors would do to her when they found out her son had dodged the draft and left the country illegally.

October 16, 1939: Delayed!!

 Original Letter from Opa to Gisela

Translation:

Dear Gis,      Amstelveen Oct. 16th, 1939

Now my departure date has been postponed again. The steamboat has been stopped by the English military authorities on its way back from America. It was brought into an English harbor, where its built will be examined. Nobody knows how long it will have to stay there. I count every day that it will be released, but even then will it be a few days before it can leave from Antwerp.

Opa is delayed. He is so close, and yet he is still at risk to miss the boat completely. His frustration is showing. He knows that time is everything right now. Kristallnacht was almost a year ago as of this writing, war was declared by Britain in 1939, and now everyone is either getting out of dodge or standing by the cannon with a lit match. Opa is not the only one itching to leave.  He knows that time is not on his side.

Here is an excerpt from his autobiography that details this moment from his memory:

I finally got passage on a ship that was supposed to leave early October (that is October 1939; I had left Germany in July 1938; World War II had started in September 1939, while I was in Holland). But because of a storm in the British Channel, my ship, returning from New York, was diverted to Italy, and all other ships scheduled to leave from Holland were sold out.

I’m not sure if Opa’s memory is absolutely correct, but I suppose it could be combined with what this letter says. Perhaps the ship was diverted by the British officials who needed to assess any damage? Either way, the ship did not come.

I cannot get used to the thought of 'war', everything still goes along as usual here, regardless of all the mobilization and everything else that connects with it. War psychosis doesn't happen here, probably because of fear of it. Even though we would have to feel 'as friends' with all those wrongly fighting. But we also keep a certain distance in a convulsive sort of way. We build a wall between ourselves and reality, which we don't dare to look over, because we know that it would have to crash down. Surely this is a wrong attitude, but it is only human, and maybe even necessary in order to work at all.

I love Opa’s open-eyed account of how we are able to ignore war even when it is at our doorstep. It’s a method of self-preservation to keep war at bay so that we can continue doing the work of everyday life. How strange it must have been to be where Opa was, waiting for his exit strategy to arrive and watching people function as if nothing had changed. I just watched some film footage of Berlin in July 1945, with people milling around, biking and walking up and down the streets that used to be pristine and cloaked in the shadows of large buildings. Instead, these folks were promenading down dusty streets, flanked by brick and concrete shells, buildings that if not gutted were pitted by machine gun-fire. There were no idle eyes or gawking neighbors. Every person was moving, acting, participating in the work to make daily routine normal again. It was astonishing to watch this. I imagine Opa sitting outside his father’s two-story bungalow in Amstelveen, October 1939, looking at the leaves falling, watching kids play, business conducted, and newspapers deliver cataclysmic news to smiling recipients.

Yes you are right: The circle which we have to reach round is very, very big. But it is big enough to reach beyond time, so that we are able to speak of overcoming the time. We live and speak all too much in the time as that we could overcome it. Maybe our strengths last to fulfill the time, the task that lies within the time. Even that is very difficult for us. I at least don't see the path today, not even the task. And this is the time given, we don't want to imagine that it will be more difficult, is more difficult than any other. We are to find the way, and not to go around it, and it seems to me that we stand at a very decisive juncture, with lots of possibilities and good opportunities, which we have to perceive. We have to fulfill within the time and not overcome past the time. Of course that is truly seen too politically, the basis and requirements are still personal and there we have to wait for the fulfillment of the fairy tale. We have to reserve within ourselves the longing, and if it becomes weak, kindle it anew. Because even if all exterior fails, a human being who has the longing can never be unhappy, can never drown and always stays strong! And why shouldn't fairy tales come to pass? I believe everything will come to pass, when we have earned it, and have fulfilled a task efficiently. Through our work it is already available. Yes, and now it goes to America. I don't know how suddenly everything worked out in the end. I don't have to bid farewell, one is not further apart when one lives in America or Berlin, or lives in different houses in the same city when one doesn't see the other anyways. Personal distances are not caused by spaces. And we are not apart, should the whole earth separate us!

With hearty greetings. Tom

P.S: I am sending you another report of the congress that comes from a friend. I am sure you will receive it alright. It is by far not as good as the one I sent the last time. What shall happen with the book that I still have from you? Should I send it to you?

This last part has me wishing I could read German. I feel like there are nuances I’m missing. I don’t want to read too much into this, but isn’t this kind of like a “love will find a way” type note? He’s leaving for America, they will soon be separated even further, and for an indefinite amount of time. It’s almost as if it has hit the both of them that this really is a goodbye, that there is no telling what will happen, or even if they will be in touch at all. Opa speaks of accomplishing a task in the time given. I think he’s sort of naming the fact that they each have their own separate paths. Each have their own destiny of sorts, and that there is an undetermined time frame in which they have to do it (the war). I think there was this pact being made here that no matter what- they would remember each other. They would remember this friendship, this time, and that memory would be sustaining.