July 17, 21, 1940: Can I get a Student Visa Now?

Letter to Opa from Kathleen Hanstein at AFSC

Transcription:

July 17, 1940

Mr. Thomas Doeppner

McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas

My dear Mr. Doeppner:

I am sorry not to have answered your letter more promptly but I have been waiting to get advice from our worker who specializes in immigration problems. Her advice is that you write again to Mr. Salisbury in the Department of Justice, stating that you apparently did not express yourself clearly i your first letter, as the main purpose of that letter was to request that your visitor's visa be changed to a student visa, pointing out again that you have a scholarship and maintenance provided at McPherson College for the coming year, and that you wish an extension of time in order to take advantage of that opportunity.

In regard to the last paragraph of Mr. Salisbury's letter, I think you should say that he is apparently referring in this paragraph to an application for regular immigration, which you cannot consider at the present time.

If you will send us a copy of your letter as soon as you write to Mr. Salisbury, we shall also write to him endorsing your application.

I do to think that there would be any question raised about your doing that type of work that you describe and I am very glad to hear that you are enjoying it.

Sincerely yours, 

(Mrs.) Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Associate Counsellor

When AFSC does their job and the INS doesn't- it makes for a frustrating exchange of letters. Here Kathleen has to help Opa write another letter to Mr. Salisbury, spelling out what he needs in order to maintain his legal status as a student in the United States.

Letter from Opa to Mr. Salisbury of the INS

Transcription:

Thomas Doeppner           McPherson, 7-21-40.

McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas

Mr. Salisbury

Department of Justice

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Salibury,

I thank you very much for your letter from July 5. I probably did not express myself clearly enough, since the main purpose of my letter from June 5 was to request that my visitor's visa be changed into a student visa. You will recall that a scholarship and maintenance is provided for me at McPherson College, as you see in the letter of Dr. Schwalm, president, which I enclosed in my last letter. To take advantage of this opportunity, I asked for an extension of time and sent the application blanks you sent to me to the Immigrant officer in New York, but I think I have to ask you for changing my visa into a student visa. In the last paragraph of your letter you apparently are referring to an application for regular immigration, which I cannot consider at the present time. The consul who gave me the visa I am having is Mr. Bonnett, American Consul in Amsterdam. Since there are no mail communications with Amsterdam, I am not able to make any application there anyway.

I thank you for the trouble you have with this case. Please write me what other information you need to change my visa to a student visa.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Doeppner.

My summary: "I need a student visa. Help me change to a student visa. If you think I am talking about anything else, I'm not. I just want you to give me the information about getting a.... Student Visa. Student. Visa. I. Need." 

It's like going to a drive through with bad audio connections. You have to keep repeating yourself and hearing the wrong thing come back and repeating yourself again until you find yourself talking in cave-language. Except- this is Opa's life at stake, and he really really really doesn't want to go back to Europe right now.

Letter from Opa to Mrs. Hanstein

Transcription:

Thomas Doeppner         McPherson, 7-21-40.

McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas

Mrs. Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Associate Counsellor

American Friends Service Committee

Philadelphia

Dear Mrs. Hanstein,

Thanks for your letter from July 17. I enclose the letter I wrote to Mr. Salisbury. You will remember that I sent an application blank to the immigrant officer, New York, which is, of course, an application for a visitor's visa. Will that interfere with this application for a visitor's visa, or would I have to apply for that extension anyway? I shall let you know as soon as I get answer from any of these two.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Doeppner.

My translation again: "Mrs. Hanstein- I did ALL of the things. When does this end in me having a student visa??"

Poor Opa is navigating the red tape that is immigration applications and renewals. Luckily, he has help and he has patience. Even more luckily- he has already crossed the toughest border- the one into the United States. I just hope that staying in the United States is easier than getting there. Opa is dong everything he can to make sure he stays in the land of the free.

July 16, 1940: Questions While Waiting

Grenoble, 16 July 1940

My very dear Tom,

On Saturday the 13 I received two letters, that of 7 June and that of 2 July. The first was certainly stopped, like all other mail in France, for a certain time, but the second arrived very quickly, as you see. Let us hope that it will continue to work quickly! Have you written more to Paris before these two letters, that is to say at the end of April or in May? That would be possible since nothing has been forwarded to me from Paris.

You can imagine, my little brother [fréfrère], that I was very, very happy to receive your news after such a long silence (for which you were not to blame, however, this time). I congratulate you heartily on the beautiful exam results, you must have worked like a horse, bravo little grownup! And  now, has all the hard work worn you out too much? I wonder how a human being can bear all that, all the more after such a hard academic year! Don’t overestimate your strength  ̶  when you realize it, it will be too late. But I admire your energy and good humor and I would like you to be able to pursue your studies until you get to a good place, and that you will on the whole be spared all the terrible trials that Europe is undergoing in wartime. And we are still among the privileged here in Grenoble, we haven’t gone through true war like a large part of the population, and Maurice has not yet been mobilized, But we are without news of most of our friends, among whom are Maurice’s brother Mesy(?) and other good friends. Since Chalon[s] is occupied, we can no longer go see the parents but we hope that this can be arranged soon. We have also been without news of them for a long time and we never know where Jeanette, Maurice’s sister, is staying. But postal communications have already been reestablished throughout the whole country, and news will no longer be late in getting to us. As for those who are in prison, we apparently must have patience. This uncertainty is terrible, for who knows whether they are in prison or dead in battle.

How does it happen that you speak so little of Putschi and Aust(?)? You must know that I have no way of getting news of them and that worries me a lot. You received some letters from Putschi – what does she write, how is she doing, do you always tell her about my letters? I’d really like to see her again. What you told me about Aust made me feel enormously better. Do you know anything more? Is he always at his post? I have the impression that all these questions won’t trouble you greatly, but I may be wrong. In any event, I’d like you to write me anything you know about on these subjects.

I haven’t gotten a letter from Lillie. One may yet arrive. Nothing from Hanna either. Has she answered your letter?

As for me personally, there’s nothing much to say. If I had more of your abundant energy, I would be really ashamed of my lazy life to which I am for the moment condemned. Do you know that I had to leave Paris before passing my exam. Besides, events were so precipitous that I don’t even know if the exam could be given. I have had no news from my friends in Paris, nor from the Ecole. Will I be able to continue next year? Until last month, Papa had sent to me money for Paris, but this month I haven’t received anything and I don’t know how things will go in the future. Maurice has his study grant that cannot suffice for two. For the moment, we still have a bit of a reserve and Maurice’s parents are very generous, but that will never be a solution for me. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to find work at this moment, already in general and all the more for me. I hope to be able to find teaching work. I have confidence in the future from a personal point of view.

We moved a month ago, when we were about to go to Chalons. But it was already too late to get a permit. Now we have a large, light room with nice furniture, on the sixth store of a new building outside the city. I have a fine new bicycle and thus the situation of the house has nothing but advantages. 

To pass the time, we read, make trips to the mountain, a bit of housework (we do up the room ourselves) and in the evening we eat at home, but sometimes when we are rested up we go back to our studies. Maurice is preparing his final licensing certificate and after that the agrégation [advanced exam]. He needs almost two more years before he’ll be done. 

I always look for news of you and I hope that it will come more frequently now. Here are 11 recent photos. Yours gave me much pleasure. You have definitely changed, my dear little boy, but you are always recognizable. If you write me, make it in French or in English, as you like. Do you still see your vacation friends? I always write you at the college, not knowing where you’re hanging out right now.  

Huge kisses,

Patti

My dear Tom,

Your last letter gave me great pleasure and, like Brigitte, I admire your energy. You are going to become a all-round man! Brigitte has told you very well about what we’re doing and becoming so that I [?need to?] find some new words to tell you. 

Moreover, we are both of us still undecided – we’re waiting for the situation to clarify itself.

Till we meet again, dear Tom, keep up your courage, I send you my fraternal affection.

Maurice

Patti has nothing but questions for Opa, and while she has tried to keep her letter positive and upbeat, she knows that her many questions might reveal her anxiety about her family, her friends, her own life. She does such a good job of pointing out the positive, keeping the letter light and airy. She does all this- and yet the reality is that she is living in a country largely occupied by the Nazis- the very people she and her family have endeavored to escape. The irony is that though every member of her primary family lives in a different country, Opa is the only one not currently under Nazi occupation. How could one even imagine that possibility?!

Patti did not get to finish her exams and has no idea when or how or even if she ever will. Word from August has ceased, as well as his financial support. Patti will need to find a way to support herself and soon. I try to imagine if my parents suddenly were not able to support me in college. This would have been extremely difficult for me, especially if I didn't have access to student loans. However, this is something that many of my friends experienced as their norm, and I think that has been a common thread for many Americans for a while: to work and put themselves through college. This was not the case in Germany. Opa expressed his shock when he saw how college students worked to put themselves through school.

Maybe this cultural difference is why both Patti and Ella (and I'm sure August would say the same if he could write) have been so protective of Opa and how hard he must work to keep himself financially afloat while in school. They caution him not to overwork himself or take on too much. However, I think Opa adapted well to the new culture, and I think the busy-ness helped him keep his mind off the reality that faced his family... and the absolute infuriating inability to do anything about it.

Patti puts forth a contented perspective of her simple life, she is grateful for her in-laws who have helped, she is grateful for where she lives in un-occupied France, and she is grateful that Maurice has not been called up to serve. 

Patti's life is one big question right now. Maurice continues to study and prepare for his schooling, while Patti is to wait and see what she can do to make a living. I don't know how long Patti is going to be able to sit around and do nothing. She is eager for more information from her brother, and about her parents. She sends multiple pictures- hoping for some in return. 

Patti is in that insufferable time when no one knows what will happen next, and nothing can be done to prepare for it, nothing can be done to affect it, nothing can be done to predict it. She must wait and see when there is a small opening for her to act. How incredibly hard it must be for her to have life happen to her, beyond her control. She had plans, dreams, visions, and all of it is on hold, interrupted, and postponed until further notice by the war. 

July 11, 12, 22, 1940: Need Not Worry

 Letter from Albert Martin to Kathleen Hanstein of AFSC

Transcription:

131 Barclay Street

Hamiton, Ontario

July 11, 1940.

Mrs. Kathleen Hanstein:

Returning from a trip I find your letter of the 25th ult. addressed to Mrs. Martin. Since Mrs. Martin is away in the Far West for a month, and since I know Thomas Doeppner very well, I will write Pres. Schwalm at once to allay any fears in his mind. They need not worry about Thomas.

With kindest regards,

Yours truly,

Albert R. Martin

 Letter from Lowell Wright of Quaker Camp Harmony to Kathleen Hanstein of AFSC

Transcription: (I'm only going to transcribe the last paragraph of this letter- the part having to do with Opa, the rest is conversation about people at the Quaker summer camps)

...Have you sent Dr. Schwalm at McPherson the information he wanted about Doeppner and Naumann? I've had no word from him, so I presume you have.

Yours,

Lowell Wright

Letter from Kathleen Hanstein at AFSC to Lowell Wright at Quaker Camp Harmony

Transcription: (once again, I'm just going to transcribe the last two paragraphs- the first part of the letter is in reference to the summer camps)

...I did write to Dr. Schwalm about Thomas Doeppner and Dr. Naumann and received a reply from him saying that there was no real doubt in his own mind, but that he was glad to have the material that I have sent.

I guess this is about all I have to report at the present moment.

Very sincerely,

(Mrs.) Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Associate Counsellor.

So these are just follow up letters in case you were still worried Opa was a spy or being accused of being a spy. After the rapidly successful spring invasion of Holland and France, folks started to worry about Nazi spies infiltrating their world. They called them the hidden "fifth column" of soldiers who go before their comrades and prime the place for a successful invasion. While there were likely Nazi spies all over- they didn't look like Opa. 

Kathleen Hanstein must have gotten some of her information from Lowell Wright (who probably travelled to colleges to talk about opportunities at the Quaker camps). Maybe Lowell and Dr. Schwalm had a conversation and Lowell got the impression that Dr. Schwalm was concerned about the 5th Column stuff? Or maybe the students asked questions about it? I'm not really sure- but here we find Albert Martin letting Kathleen know he'll vouch for Opa- and I love his line: "they need not worry about Thomas." 

In the next letter, you find Lowell Wright checking in to make sure Kathleen got the info and followed through with Dr. Schwalm. Kathleen responds that she did and that Dr. Schwalm was grateful for the information, but that he wasn't concerned that his German refugees on campus were potential spies.

I think that wraps up the 5th Column conspiracy for Opa. Luckily he had been connected with folks who could vouch for him, and connected with the community at McPherson enough that they did not suspect he could have anything to do with Hitler.

I appreciate (and get boggled!) the fact that there is constant communication between multiple Quaker agencies and people on multiple pieces of information. These documents were embedded in a file with a handful of letters about the camps. 

July 9, 1940: Write to Me

Letter from Ella to Opa

Translation:

Nr. 30

Berlin, Charlottenburg, July 9^th 1940

Droysenstrasse 14

My very dear boy,

If only I had news that you survived the harvest work safely. It is so hard to be so far away from everybody, and not to hear anything. I am very worried about all of you! I know nothing about Papa.

The office has been closed down, he wants to rent the house, and take a room in the city, does not want any letters from me!! Please, Hunschenkind, write to me what you hear about him. I tell myself over and over again, that Pattilein is happy now, I hope to receive mail from her soon. I do not know why your letters do not arrive, but I am sure that you have written. The last one was of June 2^nd 1940. Whenever I get home my first glance is for the mail. I know from Ellenruth that you have written to her, but I do not know about what!! But that also has been quite a long time ago. But I do believe that both of you together can achieve something, I am convinced that Ellenruth can and will help me!

I see you with that giant straw hat working in the field!!! Hopefully it will not get too hot for you.

But that is probably finished now, hopefully went well, and I do not know where you are! Do you think you will be able to work for your studies? From whom here do you really hear anything? Gis, Annie, Hilde W.? I have since Anni’s visit, which I wrote to you about, not seen anybody. I cannot go to the “evenings” (Quaker meetings), because I give lessons late in the day. Kurt sent a sad letter. Please write to him right away, he longs for freedom and love. You can write to him using the old address, the letter will be taken to him.  

With much longing I await a letter from you.

I kiss my boy

Your Mama

Can you contact Pinkley in regards to Papa? 

Ella is out of contact with almost everyone, and her main source of information is Opa- the person furthest away. Opa hasn't heard from August since the invasion, and only a couple of times from Patti. The world has gone quiet for Ella, but she knows that it isn't peace, but the deafening sound of censorship.

I keep meaning to mention what is happening with Kurt- Ella has mentioned him a couple of times with concern. Kurt is in Italy in what we might call a "light" concentration camp. He has more freedom of movement than a normal prisoner might- but he is still a prisoner. When I traveled to Berlin to do research and meet people from Opa's life, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Renate- Opa's cousin. Her father was Ella's brother Kurt. She told his story, here is a snippet of what she told us when we talked about him:

Kurt got an invitation to report to the Gestapo and instead, he dropped everything and escaped to Italy in 1937. Charlotte (Renate's mother) went to Italy on a holiday, met up with Kurt and spent a long time there with him. It was then that she found out she was pregnant. When she had to return home, the couple wasn't sure if they were ever going to see each other again. Charlotte went back home to Berlin. Meanwhile, Kurt was arrested by the Italian police (I'm not sure the year). Renate said that the Italians weren't ant-semitic, they just arrested him because the Germans told them to. They asked Kurt what he did wrong, and he said "I'm Jewish" - they said "yes, but what have you done?" They didn't understand it. So Kurt was in a camp in Italy that wasn't too bad. Many artists were in the camp and allowed to go out and paint. Later the Germans came and made the camp a Nazi camp, and the conditions worsened. I will share more of Kurt's story as we go along in the time- but in this time he is in Italy and the conditions aren't horrible, but he is in fear and is a prisoner.

So Ella encourages Opa to write to Kurt for comfort, encouragement, hope. Ella knew the power of a kind letter from a loved one.

I love that Ella envisions Opa in a wide straw hat working out on the Kansas farms in the sweltering heat. It was probably close to the reality of what he looked like- but it is such a caricature of what a "farmer" looks like. I'm imagining Opa with a wheat stalk between his teeth, his hands in his pockets and overalls on. His mother would have a fit with that picture if he ever had one made!

I hope Opa sent her more pictures, and sent Kurt a letter, and kept living his life in freedom so that those in fear and held prisoners could have joy knowing that someone they loved was safe.

June 29, 1940: Isolated Freedom

Letter from  Annaiese Thieman of American Friends Service Committee to Opa

Transcription:

June 29, 1940

Mr. Thomas Doeppner,

McPherson College,

McPherson, Kansas

Re: Ella Doeppner

My dear Mr. Doeppner:

We received your letter of June 3rd regarding your mother's immigration problems but also things have changed since that time to such a considerable extent we have not yet been in touch with the different addresses, because no transportation facilities are available at present and there is no saying as to when they may become available again.

I want to correct one misunderstanding and that is that a person who gives an affidavit for a prospective immigrant has not at all to be an American citizen. The question is merely one of financial responsibilities and if you have friends or relatives who came over a while ago but would financially be able to give an affidavit for your mother they certainly can do so. The American citizenship is important for preference quota and as soon as you would be an American citizen you could get your mother on first preference which only takes a few months - but I am afraid you are still too far away from that.

As to Holland we have not heard from our Center since the invasion but just the other day we heard from a so-called "Aryan" young girl who had married a Jewish man after the German laws were enforced that she so far has not been molested in Holland and hopes to be able to emigrate. We have no information about possibilities of transferring money from Holland to Germany but redoubt very much that it can be done.

We think that immigration possibilities from Germany to Palestine are nil at present but at a later date one perhaps could take up possibilities for transit stay for your mother at the Dominican Republic with Mr. George Warren of the International Migration Service of 122 East 22nd Street, New York City, New York. If you think that those friends whose addresses we have would be able to raise at least $2,000 for your mother it might not be quite impossible to get her into Santo Domingo temporarily - but all this unfortunately is rather theoretical at the present time. I hope to hear from you again if and when you have found information or suggestions.

Sincerely Yours,

Anneliese Thieman

P.S. Since this letter was dictated your letter of June 26th arrived. I think you are right- it is a little early for your cousin's friend to prepare a affidavit of support for your mother, but it probably would be of quite some encouragement for her to know that somebody in this country is willing to send these papers.

I do not think that the people in McPherson who told you that the German quota is not even filled are right. According to the present status the German quota is filled for sex to seven years to come and even though a number of people at present may not be able to leave the immigration number of your mother would not be called that much sooner. If you would inquire at the American Consulate you no doubt would get the reply that your mother will have to wait for several years until her quota number is reached. I certainly would not suggest that you already try to prepare the necessary affidavit papers.

At present the passage possibilities from Europe to this country are very restricted. The American Export Line stops in Lisbon but neither Spain nor Portugal at the present time admit German Jewish refugees for transit stay. There is still the possibility of going via the Trans-Siberian Railroad but we do not recommend traveling that route in particular not is the traveller is an older person. Once a month a small boat leaves Petsuma, Finland, for New York City but that is sold out for months to come.

We feel pretty sure that until your mother's number will be called up the world situation would have changed again and there is nothing which we can do right now in regard to your mother's immigration.

Sincerely yours,

Anneliese Thieman

This is the second letter like this that Opa has gotten. This letter is even more final with the last line reading: "there is nothing which we can do right now in regard to your mother's immigration."

When Anneliese starts talking about some temporary stay in the Dominican Republic, I knew she was stretching for ways. You can tell that the American Friends Service Committee have literally searched every route and loophole. They know the exit of one tiny boat from Finland, they even have the Siberian railroad as a not-so-good possibility. The thing that is keeping Ella stuck in Berlin: the quota system. She is years in line. Opa's false hope that perhaps the line was going by faster because people couldn't get the required affidavits gets squashed. Anneliese says that even if people aren't getting out, it still won't get Ella out sooner. 

I do remember reading somewhere that the US actually didn't get their "quota" filled each year, and it was because of how impossible it was to get out of Europe and into the United States.

What do you do with a letter like this? What did Opa do? In his autobiography he mentions having to write his mother a letter when he finds out there is no hope of getting her out of Germany. Is this when he writes that letter? How on earth do you write a letter like that to your mother?! How infinitely frustrating it must have been for the AFSC folks and for Opa. They were powerless. They fought in every way they knew how and yet they were rendered useless by a number. 

I think about Opa in a small town in Kansas, cushioned from the war by thousands of miles of dirt and oblivious people. He was as safe as he possibly could be. Yet, how could he feel good? How could he feel the tips of his freedom if he knew that every other member of his family were in caged fear of the Nazis? And how frustrating that his freedom meant nothing, it could not be shared or transferred, he gained no power in it. It was an isolated freedom.

All he could do was the next day's work. He had to live his freedom that no one else in his family had. He had to keep trying so that just in case the realm of possibilities opened even an inch- he might be ready.

June 28, July 4, 1940: Confusion from the INS

Letter from Salisbury of INS to Opa

Transcription:

U.S. Department of Labor

Immigration and Naturalization Service

Washington

June 28, 1940

Mr. Thomas Doeppner,

  McPherson College,

      McPherson, Kansas

Dear Sir:

Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of June 5, 1940 in connection with your desire for an extension of time of your temporary admission to the United States.

Enclosed is form of application for extension of time of temporary stay, which you may execute in duplicate, have sworn to before a person authorized to administer oaths, and forward to the Immigration and Naturalization Service at the port of your arrival in the United States for appropriate action.

The renewal of your immigration visa should be taken up with the American Consul nearest your place of residence, the issuance of visas being a function of the consuls, who act under instructions from the Department of State.

Very truly yours,

By direction of the Commissioner,

E.E. Salisbury, Assistant.

Letter from Opa to Kathleen Hanstein of American Friends Service Committee

Transcription:

Thomas Doeppner       McPherson, July 4, 1940

McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas

Mrs. Kathleen H. Hanstein

American Friends Service Committee

Philadelphia.

Dear Mrs. Hanstein,

Today I received the enclosed letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, and an application blanc to extend time of temporary stay. I filled it out as asked and sent it to New York. I do not understand the last paragraph of the commissioner's letter in which he writes about "renewal of my immigration visa." Does that refer to my application for a student visa? If so, which consul should I write to, since there is no mail communication with Holland?

I would like you very much to answer these questions. I am having a harvest job ow close to McPherson, as wheat scooper, and after harvest time I am able to work in the college library. I enjoy the work very much and am looking forward to my next year at McPherson College.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Doeppner

Poor Opa. He is learning that the US government has its flaws in communication. For all the trouble he went through to have his paperwork just perfect and to get the important student visa- he has a temporary visitor's visa and the government doesn't really seem to care what he does with it. He is trying to upgrade his visa to a student's visa (what it should have been in the first place) and trying to make sure he doesn't get deported... and the INS has sent him two equally non-helpful letters. This one at least gives him a means to get some sort of legal extension for his stay in the United States, but it's as if the INS didn't even reference his case or questions in this response. 

Opa forwards his confusion to Mrs. Hanstein at the AFSC and hopes she can help him. I imagine he would like to blow the whole thing off as the INS has seemed to do his immigration question- but then he would have every right to fear that his negligence would cost him his entrance. I think in the back of his mind, Opa is hoping to graduate quickly from McPherson so that he can provide a valuable affidavit for his mother, even if things seem pretty hopeless right now. You never know when a door might open. So Opa has to play by the rules as much as he can. It's too bad the INS doesn't really seem to care to tell him how.

June 25, 28, 1940: 5th Column, Psshhhh

Letter from Kathleen Hanstein (AFSC) to V.F. Schwalm (President of McPherson College)

Transcription:

June 25, 1940

President V.F. Schwalm

McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas

My dear President Schwalm:

Mr. Lowell Wright, when he visited our office recently mentioned the concern that seems to have arisen in the minds of some people as to the reliability of the two young Germans now on your campus; namely, Dr. Walter Naumann and Thomas Doeppner. Mr. Wright saw the records of these two men which indicated how highly they were recommended to us and from what reliable sources. He said that he would report to you on this but thought that it would also be helpful if I would send you some material in writing which could be used in response to any questions which may be raised.

In the case of Dr. Naumann, he was first referred to us by Mrs. Elsa Brandstrom-Ulich, the wife of Dr. Robert Ulich of Harvard University at whose home he stayed when he first came to this country. The Ulichs are personal friends of Dr. Naumann and recommended him to us most highly. If you feel that it would be helpful for you to have direct word from Dr. and Mrs. Ulich I am sure that they would be glad to answer any inquiry which you may address to them. Dr. Naumann also stayed at our hostel here in Bryn Mawr for seven weeks following his visit with the Ulichs. The hostel is directed by Mrs. Karoline Solmitz, who is herself a refugee and the widow of a prominent anti-Nazi newspaper publisher who was one of the first concentration camp victims. Mrs. Solmitz recommended Dr. Naumann as belonging to the best type of German immigrants.

Thomas Doeppner was recommended to us by Dr. Albert Einstein among other people, and  I am enclosing the translation of an original letter from Dr. Einstein which is in our files. I think that Dr. Einstein and his attitude toward the present German Government are well enough known so that his sponsorship of a person is doubtless sufficient to allay any possible suspicion. However, Mr. Doeppner was also well known to Mrs. Albert Martin one of our workers abroad who wrote to us to the effect that she would not hesitate to take Thomas into her own family. I am asking Mrs. Martin to write you directly in more detail about Thomas.

I hope that the information that I have given you will be sufficient to meet any question that may arise in regard to Dr. Naumann or Thomas Doeppner but if there is anything further you think we might do which would be helpful we shall be very glad to hear from you to this effect. I hope also to be able to send you within a few days a reprint of an article in regard to the refugees which I think may be helpful to you in meeting general questions which may be raised.

Sincerely yours,

(Mrs.) Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Associate Counselor

Letter from Kathleen Hanstein (AFSC) to Mrs. Martin 

Transcription:

June 25, 1940

Mrs. Albert Martin

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario

Canada

My dear Mrs. Martin:

As you can imagine, we are seeing the question of possible fifth column activities in regard to the refugees whom we are endeavoring to aid and I have been asked to make a statement to McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas, in regard to Thomas Doeppner which could be used to allay any question which might arise in regard to him.

As you doubtless remember, Thomas is the son of August Doeppner the manager of the United Press Association for Holland and Belgium. He arrived in this country in November 1939 ad secured a scholarship at McPherson College through our efforts. Our record contains a letter which was written by Thomas to your husband and on which you had added a note to the effect that he was an active member of the "Jugendgruppe" in Berlin and a good boy whom you would not hesitate to take into your own family.

If you could write a letter to President V.F. Schwalm, McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas, telling what you know of Thomas and especially giving any information which would establish his status as a genuine refugee, I am sure that it would be a great help and we should also appreciate having a copy of your letter.

Mary Rogers asks me to send you her greetings. As you can imagine, the new work for the care of evacuated British children means that she is now busier than ever which could hardly have seemed possible.

Sincerely yours,

(Mrs.) Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Associate Counsellor

Letter from V.F. Schwalm (President of McPherson College) to Kathleen Hanstein (AFSC)

Transcription:

Miss Kathleen H Hanstein

Associate Counsellor

Friends Committee

Dear Mrs. Hanstein:

Your letter regarding Mr. Doeppner and Dr. Naumann reached me yesterday.

We have no further questions to ask you now. We are not hysterical about the situation here, however the excitement regarding the so-called Fifth Column Activities which was created immediately after the defeat of Holland created some discussion here which gave us slight concern. I think the matter has blown over and there will be no further questions at present.

I realize the difficulty or doing much about such matters. If I were personally accused of disloyalty, I might find it difficult to produce documentary evident of my innocence.

I thank you your letter.

Sincerely yours

V.F. Schwalm

The letters leading up to V.F. Schwalm's response are carefully constructed letters of people who are walking on eggshells. They are hoping that the freedom of these refugees that they have fought hard for won't slip away with one conspiracy theory. It is understandable that people might have suspicions after Holland and France's quick defeat. It is understandable that the folks at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) are scrambling to address those suspicions. However, if the community listened only to fear, then how would Opa and Dr. Naumann really prove themselves "innocent?"  

In his response to these careful letters, V.F. Schwalm does the equivalent of dropping the mic. I love it. He basically says: we're not worried, those that were- are over it, and if I had to prove my innocence in some cracked up plot- it'd be a challenge. This ain't my first rodeo. We're not concerned- thanks and goodbye. Mic Drop.

I love V.F. Schwalm. I also love that these two refugees became such an integral part of the community at McPherson that there was not a real concern about their loyalties. I'm sure that in other places and other refugees, they got a lot more grief when these fifth column theories came out. Opa's community at McPherson did not succumb to the fear, but rather continued to embrace his presence in their community.