December 17, 1940: No News is Bad News

Letter from Ella to Opa

Translation:

Berlin, Charlottenburg 4, December 17, 1940

Droysenstrasse 14

My beloved boy,

What’s going on, that I still haven’t received any news from you? I get mail from Ellenruth fairly regularly, and also from Hanna. I’m terribly worried about you, my boy! I know you write promptly, and can only think you must be sick. This being far away is almost unbearable. I haven’t heard anything from Patti for a long time, either. If I could call, I would have tried to have a conversation with the college. I’m terribly anxious. Every day, with every mail delivery, I hope—and always in vain.

Now it’s almost Christmas! Probably this letter won’t get there until later. I will—like every day— be with you strongly and wish you lovely hours and days. I’d like more than anything to stay home all alone, so that I can concentrate all of my wishes and feelings on the two of you all day. But I’ll have a lot of company; everyone knows I’m free and will come over. –Annchen is probably traveling to Frankfurt. There she can rest the best. Anni and Gis still haven’t been over; we’re scheduled for Friday; hopefully that will work out this time.

Tomorrow and the day after there are lectures with the Quakers—tomorrow by Dr. Otto Buchinger/ Pyrmont, Thursday by Douglas Hure.  I’m going to try to be free on Thursday.

Hunschen, if only I had news from you!  I kiss my boy!

Your Mama

I'm equally curious as to why Ella doesn't hear from Opa. We know he has received her letters because he wrote to the AFSC in response to one. I wouldn't be so confused if she wasn't also receiving letters regularly from Ellenruth. What is the hold up? 

Ella continues to stay connected to the Quakers and her friends and family. She continues to wish for quiet days when she can hold her children, at least the thought of them, in her heart all day. 

Ella did not mention the Stiers, so I'm assuming they are still with her and still planning on leaving soon. Their plans seem to be delayed continually- not a surprise from all the stories of how refugees had to wait and see if their plan would open up at the opportune time.

You know who we haven't heard from in a while? August. Ever since the Nazi invasion of Holland in May, we have heard nothing but rumors of his well-being through his sister Annchen, and through Ella's contacts. I do think it is a little odd that even Ella has stop mentioning him. I wonder if Opa feels the same dread in his heart every month that goes by and he doesn't hear from his Dad.

In this time, no news is bad news- and Ella fears for Opa. This is not faded much by the reality that Opa is the safest of his whole family- in the middle of America.

December 10 & 14, 1940: Ickes Politics

Opa's letter to Anneliese Thieman of AFSC

Transcription:

Thomas Doeppner

McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas

                McPherson, December 10, 1940.

Re: Ella Doeppner.

Dear Miss Thieman,

Today I received a letter from my mother, in which she tells me about an immigration possibility for the Lesser Antilles. She writes that the problem is only to find somebody who would give an affidavit of support. I guess that she sees the situation a little bit too optimistic, but I would like to find out the truth about it. Is there really a possibility of going to the Antilles in these times?

I would be very thankful if you would write me soon about this.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Doeppner.

Response from Anneliese Thieman of AFSC to Opa

Transcription:

December 14, 1940

Mr. Thomas Doeppner,

McPherson College,

McPherson, Kansas.

Re: Ella Doeppner - #3340

Dear Mr. Doeppner:

In reply to your letter of December 10 regarding possibilities to go to the Virgin Islands, unfortunately we have to disappoint you again. Governor Kramer who had suggested the Virgin Islands as a possibility for transit stay for refugees has resigned and the State Department feels that these islands are too important for defense to make them available for refugees now. So that is out of the picture again. We were quite hopeful too a while ago, but that hope is gone now. In case other possibilities should develop at one time or another, I shall be glad to let you know.

Sincerely yours,

Anneliese Thieman

AT:mom

Article highlighting resignation of Lawrence Cramer, Governor of Virgin Islands

Transcription:

Governor of Virgin Islands Resigned Yesterday

Had Controversy with Secretary Ickes

Translated from El Mundo

Washington, December 3; U.P. The resignation of Governor of the Virgin Islands Lawrence W. Cramer and the transfer of Governor Leahy of Puerto rico to the position of Ambassador to France have left the two advanced position of the United States in the Caribbean without executive heads and have presented to both President Roosevelt and Secretary of Interior Ickes the opportunity to commence a New Deal in both territories.

The resignation of Cramer which was announced in St. Thomas today did not surprise insular and territorial circles, they having heard informally from time to time of the deep controversy between Cramer and Ickes during the last six months. Originally, Cramer was widely known as a liberal and intellectual and he helped in formulating plans for certain phases of the wide program of rehabilitation for the Virgin Islands which were at one time called a veritable poorhouse by President Hoover. The sugar industry, tourism, rural rehabilitation and the government rum industry helped to give the islands a certain amount of prosperity. 

Cramer encountered strong resistance from Ickes in matters governing personnel and inter departmental affairs and it is said that recently he virtually ordered Cramer to leave the offices of the Interior Department in Washington. As Governor of the Virgin Islands Cramer was administratively a subordinate of Ickes who had more or less the same difficulties with Governor Winship of Puerto Rico before  Admiral Leahy was named to the post. Winship was selected and appointment exclusively by President Roosevelt and he reported almost directly to the White House.

Ickes maintained excellent relations with Leahy and repeatedly eulogized his work as governor. Leahy was, according to certain information the first governor of Puerto Rico with whom Ickes has had cordial relations.

You guys. This one makes me angry. Let's take it one step at a time. Opa receives his mother's letter from November 20th on December 10th (yes- you can click on that little link and it'll take you to her letter). The time delay isn't as bad as I thought and makes me really wonder why Ella isn't getting any of Opa's letters. Opa immediately writes to the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). These are the folks that found the tiny window of opportunity for him to come to the United States, and as a refugee support organization, they tend to be in on all the viable paths for emigration. Opa writes them about this Antilles rumor, hoping that maybe his mom found a loophole to get herself to safety. You can tell that Opa is clear-headed about the possibilities, but that doesn't stop him from trying.

Annaliese from the AFSC writes back a few days later with the expected, but still disappointing response. The Governor who was refugee-friendly and seemed to have to the power to welcome refugees to the Islands; he's resigned. 

I know that if any of us know anything about politics- we're all thinking the same thing: his welcome message to the refugees did not go over well with someone higher up. And sure enough- you get this vague article about how the Governor of the Virgin Islands (which is a part of the Lesser Antilles) had "controversy" with the Secretary of Interior, Ickes. First of all- his name is Ickes and it seems most of the article talks about how he doesn't get along with most folk. Anyhow, the article leaves out any detail and just goes broad stroke, but I found another article that gave me some more information about the "controversy." This article (yeah go ahead- read it- but come back)... this is a fascinating article about just how actively some people in government worked to thwart refugee immigration to the United States. 

I have to remind myself that this side of the story (the side where fear rules and people in need of safety perish) is only one side. I was recently at the Holocaust Museum to check in with my librarian/archivist friends Ron and Becky. Becky was traveling to obtain some information that supports a new book she is publishing (I will give you the link to it as soon as it's available). In her book she explores about a rarely talked-about policy: when the US government decreed to help fight the eradication of the Jews in Nazi Europe. They did! I know, I was shocked too. Like I said, in history, there is always another angle of the story. 

With that caveat, let's all agree that Ickes was not one of the helpers. At least not in retrospect. He and others like him worked hard to prevent refugees from infiltrating the United States- security and fear trumping humanity and evidence. 

This blockade of a viable exit for Ella- it angers me. How did Opa tell Ella? His heart must have ached. Bad news and more bad news. Would Ella get a break?

Spotlight: Willi Guttsman

Spotlight on Willi Guttsman

(by Jason Snow)

In the last letter, Ella asks if Tom has had any news about Willi Guttsman. This was a name I didn’t know and had no frame of reference. In searching online, I am almost positive it is the person below. He was born in Berlin around when Tom was and says he went to school in Berlin, so perhaps they were classmates at some point. Either way, here is what I know of Willi:

Willi Guttsman was born on August 23, 1920 in Berlin, son of an engineer and a schoolteacher. He was Jewish. Willi transferred to a Jewish school in 1933. In 1936, his father lost his job because they were trying to “aryanize” the workplace. They moved outside of Berlin and at 16, Willi left school. As the war began, Willi was one of many taken to the concentration camps (Willi spent time at Buchenwald). He did not stay there and his parents got him an emigration visa to England with no money or relatives. His parents were murdered in 1941, most likely at Auschwitz. As a nineteen-year-old he was given work picking potatoes on an isolated farm in Scotland, but when the war finally came he was classified as an enemy alien and deported to Australia. All this he endured quietly and with philosophical acceptance, but also with a tenacious resolve to survive his misfortunes.

The bureaucratic authorities would not reclassify Guttsman but returned him to Britain. From that point his life gradually turned from disaster to eccentric success. He came back to be united with his beloved Valerie Lichtigová, whom he had first met in Scotland, where she, a refugee from Czechoslovakia, was employed as a dairymaid and given a sleeping berth above the cows. They married on 11 July 1942 and worked for the rest of the war with a group of young Jews, he on a farm and she cultivating a market garden near St Albans. In 1942 Guttsman began a part-time degree course at Birkbeck College, and in 1946 went on to study for an MSc (Econ) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), an institution especially hospitable to refugees from fascist regimes, who included Karl Popper, Ilya Neustadt, and Claus Moser. In the early post-war years jobs in the social sciences in Britain were hard to come by; Guttsman, like Neustadt, found one at LSE as a library assistant, in fact as a lowly basement boy. He combined his duties as librarian with preparing, first, a thesis and, later, a book supervised by David Glass and other colleagues at LSE. The book, The British Political Élite (1963), became the most frequently cited work on this topic, widely admired for its combination of learned history and exact statistical analysis—a model of its kind.

Then came Guttsman's great career opportunity: the opening of the new Robbins universities of the 1960s. Among the first five foundations was the University of East Anglia, where the vice-chancellor, Frank Thistlethwaite, envisaged a central library with open access. The chief architect was Denys Lasdun. Thistlethwaite sought a founding librarian and approached LSE; Guttsman was appointed, fitting the job specification as a competent acquisitions librarian and a devotee of the arts. From the outset he treated his job at Norwich as a vocation, a way of life. Not only did he continue to write books himself, including The German Social Democratic Party, 1875–1933 (1981) and ending with Art for the Workers (1997), but he also quickly assembled a teaching collection, organized exhibitions, and impressed both colleagues and students, as well as Denys Lasdun, with his meticulous and exacting discipline in the running of a highly efficient modern library.

Guttsman stayed at the University of East Anglia until he retired in 1985, as emeritus librarian. His wife was a psychiatric social worker, and they were both energetically and happily involved in the town and the university. Valerie Guttsman was lord mayor of Norwich in 1979–80 and was appointed OBE in 1991, for community service. Guttsman was proud of the achievements of his wife and of their daughter Janet, a journalist. He remained an eccentric individualist who never hid his socialist sympathies or his discriminating love for England. He very seldom spoke his mother tongue. He was modest but articulate, shy but determined. He was one among many Jewish continental refugees who contributed spectacularly to the cultural life of war-time and post-war Britain, its science, its drama, its art, its architecture, its music, and—perhaps, above all—its universities. Willi Guttsman died, of cancer, at his home, 9 Osborne Court, Lime Tree Road, Norwich, on 13 February 1998. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Adapted from Oxford Dictionary of National Biographies and Obituary online

December 6, 1940: Sharing Information

Article about International Relations Committee 

in the Spectator (McPherson College Newspaper) by Opa

Transcription:

Henry Speaks for I.R.C.

By Thomas Doeppner

IRC Gives Tea

Today at 4 o'clock in the S.U.R., the International Relations Club will have its annual tea. Every member is invited to attend. The general discussion topic will be "A World Union." At four tables, presided by Dr. W. A. Naumann, Dr. O.A. Olson, Miss Margaret Heckethorn, and Prof. Maurice A. Hess, different aspects of this topic will be discussed.

The World At Large

If this column were to take a cue from current newspapers, it would be filled with glowing accounts of the victories of the mighty Greeks. Let it suffice to say that the modern Spartans and Athenians are surprising the whole world, even themselves. The duration of the conflict remains a matter of speculation.

More important to Americans this week is the recent statement by Avia Camacho, President-elect of Mexico, to the effect that the unity of the Americas is of supreme importance to him. The United States sent vice-president-elect Henry A. Wallace to add recognition to the ceremony. Wallace figuratively was rotten-egged by the opposing Mexican faction which added a note of discord to the unifying inaugural speech.

In conclusion we wish President Roosevelt a pleasant fishing trip in the vicinity of his newly acquired possessions in the Caribbean.

Magazine Articles of Interest

Tomlinson, H. M. "England Under Fire," Atlantic Monthly, 166:732, December, 1940.

Trueblood, D. E. "The Quaker...

**missing section**

Again, apologies for the missing sections. This article is a spunky one. I think Opa was trying to poke fun at Roosevelt but I don't know the history well enough to know for sure. I find it fascinating that the Mexican president talks about the unity of the Americas- I think now the United States of America is very myopic and considers themselves the only and important part of America. To think that there is a whole land mass attached to us that we largely ignore or denigrate, is odd at best.

I also was struck by the mention of the fighting Greeks and how our quick sweep of history tells us only the big details and major players, we don't hear about the little victories that pave the paths for the big ones. I know that's inevitable in a comprehensive history course, but it heightens my awareness that there is so much I don't know. 

The tea with focused discussion by professors and scholars sounds awesome. Again, I miss school. I'm a nerd.

I love the recommended article section- it's cut off, but it reminds me of the articles my dear friends share with me, some fun but many incredibly insightful and mind-opening. It encourages me that even though we might have an epidemic of false news, we still have the habit of sharing information. If we can sharpen our skills of discernment and work towards holding our information highways accountable, we at least have intact the desire to share information. That's a good start.

December 5, 1940: Terribly Clever Reason, Terribly Dumb Worrying

Letter from Ella to Opa

Translation:

Berlin, Charlottenburg, December 5, 1940

Droysenstrasse 14

My dear boy,

I am terribly sad and worried that I haven’t gotten any news from you. Since the letter from October 12 I haven’t heard any more from you. That’s two months ago now, and I would so like to know how you are feeling. I wish so much that you wouldn’t torment yourself with your feelings for Esther anymore. Hopefully you got my letter where I talked to you about that, as well as I can from here. I can’t come to you and hold your hand, and all my fervent wishes for your happiness have to take effect from afar. Have you tried something on the Panama thing? I also impatiently await an answer to that. The Stiers hope to be able to travel in a few weeks. I got news from Patty child; her husband wrote so sweetly too. It’s so remarkable to me, with him; I’ve never seen him, and yet he’s so dear to me, so trusted, as if I’d known him for years. I feel very certain that he belongs to us, that there are strong connections there, that go directly from each of us to the other. Now I long even more to be together with all of you.  

Today I have the afternoon free, since my students are on break, and so I’m sending my boy a quick greeting! Hunschen, I always say to myself with my terribly clever reason that things are going well for you, that you are writing, that the letters will come late; but then my terribly dumb worrying gets in the way: maybe he’s sick again; maybe he’s tormenting himself so much that he can’t write, and then I despair that I’m not with you, can’t help you, can’t hold you close. If only some news would come! A letter came a few weeks ago from Ellenruth, who was almost four weeks underway; but I’ve gone much longer without news from you.  

Sunday evening I was, for the first time in a while, with the Quakers again. It was a good lecture on “The Tragic and the Christian.”  In the silence I felt like you were quite close by. Maybe you were also with the Quakers! I’m planning to go again on December 28; Douglas Steere from the USA is speaking on “Quakerdom: A Community of Life,” a topic that interests me greatly.  

Sunday I was expecting Anni and Gis, but it was all a misunderstanding; they didn’t show up. Now we have to see when it will work for them to come to me. I was really disappointed, as it got later and later and they didn’t come; I had been looking forward to being able to speak to them about my boy. Egan(?) was here, also Fräulein Hein; they both send their greetings. Have you written to Kurt? If not, do so already! If you don’t have his address, ask Ellenruth. Have you inquired about Willi Guttsmann? Write to me about it. What have you heard from Jürgen?  Tell him hello for me!

Have you thought about the fact that Aunt Berta has a birthday on December 12, Martha on January 14, and Lizzie on January 12?  Martha sends her greetings!

Write soon and a lot, my beloved little boy!  Kisses and hugs!

Yours,

Mama

Ella takes advantage of an open afternoon to write to her son. She hasn't heard from Opa in almost two months, and she uses this fabulous phrase that all parents can identify with: "terribly clever reason...terribly dumb worrying." She knows intellectually that Opa's letter are likely delayed in the mail or censor. But she worries that Opa is in a ditch with pneumonia. I cannot imagine have that much time to let your imagination worry before you hear of any news. She is desperate for something, anything, just to be sure he is alright. 

I love that Ella still has space amidst her worry to counsel Opa about girls- this time someone named Esther. I swear- Opa fell in love with every girl he met! I think the shock of going from an all-boys school to an American college was a little more than he expected in the girl department!

Ella asks Opa about the "Panama thing" which is another route from Europe into the United States (or really- just out of Germany). I actually had a friend post pictures online of her recent trip to Panama, and I realized that the United States had a military outpost at the Panama Canal. I need to do more research into how many refugees came through this way. After a short glance at the Holocaust Museum website, it appears that Panama was a place that accepted Jewish refugees during and after the war. For all Jews and other "unwanted" residents of Germany and the lands under Nazi control- there was a flurry of activity to get people out any way they could. Many of these escape routes were valid, some were fraudulent. Word of mouth, success stories, and refugee agencies were the only way to authenticate whether these avenues were worth whatever fee was nearly always required. There was no Snopes website to check. Honestly, I'm sure even without all the background checking, people were desperate enough to follow whatever path in hopes that they had found the unexpected loophole out. 

Ella's sister Martha and her husband Erich were expecting to travel soon on one of these escape routes (Shanghai I believe). However, Ella wasn't going with them.

I love how Ella talks about Patti's husband, Maurice. She loves him as her own, fully trusting Patti and clearly connecting to whatever he wrote in his letters. She said he "belongs to us." Beautiful language.

Ella spent some time with the Quakers, and "in the silence, you were close by." That silence connected her to Opa across the ocean, and she imagine he might have been with the Quakers at the same time. Ella is a deeply feeling person- who employs her entire body and soul into remembering and embracing her children who are so far away. 

Opa's good friends, Anni and Gis Halle, sisters from the Quaker youth group, missed their visit with Ella. I love that they plan visits with Ella. They are so good to her. You can tell that Ella surrounds herself with people to keep herself sane, and to feel connected to her children. Another thought that occurred to me is that she also might have done this as sort of a buffer against the Nazis. If she had non-Jews continually visiting and corresponding with her, then she was less isolated and perhaps a less easy target to ship out. It's good reasoning on her part if that crossed her mind.

Then Ella, after not hearing from Opa since October, gives him a laundry list of folks to look into or write- to include birthday wishes. Ha. I just love it. You can ignore your mother for a bit, but you really should write Aunt Martha a birthday card! She asks Opa to write Kurt, who is her little brother that is in Italy hiding from the Nazis.

This letter is a typical letter from Ella with girl advice, sadness and waiting to hear from her boy, and a soulful commitment to love her children in all the ways she can. I love Ella.

November 28, 1940: Wait, Work, and a Little Hope

Letter from Patti to Opa

Transcription:

(transcribing this was a beast- thanks to Jason for tackling it! I included the edits and my own because it's confusing without them. I'm not sure who did the editing- perhaps Patti herself or Opa?)

My dear little Hunschenboy,

About a week ago I received your letter of last July controlled by the Germans. I think that is the reason that it took so long to reach me. I was much pleased with it, in spite of the old news. But since I got this letter, I have an even stronger impression that you worked too much during the holidays, that you overtaxed your strength (is it English?). And you dear little brother offered to send me your money! I was so much touched by it and I thank you very, very heartily for your care. I would never accept this money you earned by such hard work, even if I were short of money. But I am not at all. In the beginning I wrote you that papa could help me no longer and that I don't have the right to work here, and indeed, that idea troubled me very much at that moment. But I am sorry I've told you so, since it made you such worry. I hope it is not because of me that you worked so much beyond your strength. I couldn’t bear it, tell me the truth, my dear boy! You need not be concerned about me at all. We lack nothing. My parents-in-law take care of both of us so kindly, and Maurice has his scholarship, a monthly sum of about 700 francs, not very much, not even enough for one person, but his parents are helping us, they are able to do it for the moment. Of course, I am not very satisfied with this solution of the financial question, I would prefer to earn some money myself, but it is not possible for the moment, unless I do work such as a charwoman or the like, and that Maurice would never permit nor would his parents. I hope I’ll be able to give some lessons. Till now I could not look for it, for there were so many other things to look for: our money (?) and finally I got the measles. I have recovered from it but I still cannot go outside. It was not very hard but for some awful days, and Maurice cared so well for me, attended me in such a perfect and loving manner that I recovered very quickly. I don’t know where the devil I got this illness. I am not a child, am I?

I hope you got my last letter about 3 or 4 weeks ago, with many prints, and I hope you were pleased with it. I told you that we were living together with Emma who has her lodging in the schoolhouse where she works. Her husband who was a war prisoner of the Germans came back 3 weeks ago, to our great surprise. He has been reformed because of an illness of the stomach and therefore he was freed so we were living together all 4 of us! Only I am not allowed to live in the schoolhouse, the mayor refused authorization because of my nationality, so we hired a little room in the neighbourhood to sleep in. We live 3 km from the town, but since we have bicycles, the distance doesn’t matter. I told you that I picked up my English (which does not prevent me from making many mistakes) and enrolled at the University for 2 exams in June, philologie and Etudes practiques. I intend to continue studying Russian for myself, to give some lessons, and to do some work in our household (we have ?? town, but not supper). I shall have plenty of work. But up to now I have done very little of this program. I could never do your work, I would be fired after a fourth of it, I suppose.

I got another letter from Putschi from Switzerland. I am always so awfully glad when I hear from her. She doesn’t write anything new to me, always the same life of waiting, work and sorrow and maybe a little hope. Do you have any new information as to her travel? I asked you once whether her liking would be assured over there. She would never allow herself to be dependent of Stiers and I can understand that very well. It seems that Erich has already annoyed many people at the Droysenstr. He is an impossible man. 

I am astonished to hear that Ellen takes so much care of Putschi, that she tries to help her. Why did you never tell me? You always wrote in a puzzled way about her, as if you didn’t know her address, as if she never wrote you etc. What is the matter? She never wrote me since she left G (Germany). and as I told you so, you answered me it was the same with you. Do you correspond with her since you know she did something for Putschi? Does she know I am married? Write me her address, please, if she does not take the attitude I supposed. I never got any news from Lillie neither from Hanna since I wrote them. Did you hear from them? 

Yesterday I got a letter from Mr. Vos of Switzerland. Do you know him from your being in Amsterdam? Is he American or Dutch? Do you like him? I don’t know him at all and remember only the name from Papa’s telling me. He wrote me a kind letter telling me he got one from Papa who begs him to send him a letter from me as he didn’t get any for a long time. However, I wrote him some weeks ago and my friend in Switzerland surely forwarded the letter. It reached him perhaps after he wrote. I even sent him prints in that letter. Papa writes that they are quite well except for the financial side of the question. And Putschi wrote me that he intended to join you. I wonder whether he will be able to do so. I answered today and wrote also many things about you. 

I didn’t get any letter but the old one from you for a very long time. Do write me, my little Hunschen. I always long for your letter as I can’t see you. I hope you are well and you enjoy your work. Is your visa matter settled now? Tell me much about you.

Many kisses of your loving sister

Patti

(French note from Maurice)

At top upside down:

Your last letter was from July 29th, The one before, that is the real last one from September 29th. 

This letter is confusing. Let me run by a synopsis: Patti is pleased that Opa wrote, she's upset that he worked so hard to make money and is afraid that he did it for her. Patti confirmed that she is safe and does not want for anything, however she gives that comforting information with a host of caveats that makes you realize how tentative her financial situation is: she is not allowed to work (except now perhaps she can give lessons/tutor), her husband gets a scholarship stipend that barely covers one person, and her in-laws are filling in the rest while they can. She is reassuring Opa that she is OK- but I'm not convinced. Then she tells Opa about her little bout with the Measles, which sounds awful. She treats it like a nuisance to be brushed off, but she is still unable to go outside- that's pretty intense. Then she talks about her friend whose husband returned from a prison because he was ill. I thought this was some weird code, but Patti's daughter Helene told me that the friend is named Emma (not to be confused with August's wife), but everyone called her Mickey. Emma and Patti were best friends. When Patti and Emma were first friends, Emma's husband was a French jew who went off to war but then was discharged due to a mental illness he developed while at war (perhaps what we call PTSD). He and Emma divorced. Patti mentions that she and Maurice are living with them and then she says that no- they are living in a rented room because of her German nationality. Helene told me this happened because the mayor found out Patti's nationality, so they were forced to move. Patti talks about picking up her English and taking classes. Helene tells me these are advanced level english course, including English Literature. Patti talks about learning Russian, which Ella also studied for her work at the Russian embassy. Helene said that Patti had many Russian friends and became fluent in Russian. I remember reading in Opa's autobiography that Patti even hoped to emigrate to Russia in the beginning of the war. She ended up in France instead. Patti talks about not Maurice not wanting her to be a charwoman- which is like a housekeeper or a maid. Apparently that was not a kosher thing to be doing. 

Patti starts talking about Putschi (Ella) and says she got a letter through her friend in Switzerland. I love the way she describes Ella's letters: waiting, work, sorrow, and maybe a little hope. She asks Opa about her "travel" and if she would be liked "over there"- my guess is she's asking if Opa's gotten any further in the work to get his mother to the United States. Then we learn about how much everyone seemed to like Erich (Ella's brother-in-law, Opa and Patti's uncle)- not a whole lot. I wonder why he was so difficult to be around?

Patti got word from August through another friend in Switzerland, and he sent his good tidings. Everything was fine with August except the financial side of things. That was one way that Hitler did seem to attack his enemies, whoever they were- by ostracizing them financially. Helene remembers hearing that August was paid fairly well, so I wonder when the financial burden began. We know that conditions in Holland worsen as the war goes on. Apparently August still has dreams of traveling to the United States. I wonder if he is working some of his newspaper friend channels. 

As always, Patti asks for more letters. She and her mother are alike in that request. 

This letter is a jumble of information, questions, and frail reassurances. It's got to be exhausting to keep writing back and forth to your family the paragraph equivalents of "Still Alive." Especially when there is nothing anyone can really do about anything. Waiting, working, hoping.

I think back to my first year of marriage when I had moved to a new city, a new job, and my husband and I were managing the normal adjustments of adult married life. It was challenging... then I read here of Patti rooming with her friend and ex-POW, being evicted because of her nationality, not having the ability to work and depending on her in-laws for financial survival, and then the measles. I wonder what their evening conversations were like. Did they drink coffee in the morning and have even a few minutes without worry? The adrenaline of the wartime allowed them to continue in the state of waiting, working, and hoping.

November 27, 1940: Opa in Transition

Letter from Elizabeth Walton to McPherson College President V.F. Schwalm

Transcription:

November 27, 1940.

President V.F. Schwalm

McPherson College,

McPherson, Kansas.

Re: Thomas Doeppner

Dear President Schwalm:

We regret that your letter of October 29, 1940, addressed to John Rich in regard to the immigration technicalities of Thomas Doeppner, has not been answered before this. It was turned over to this office which, in the meantime, had been in direct communication with Thomas Doeppner and Mr. E.E. Salisbury of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, D.C. It was found that there have been two files on Thomas Doeppner in the Washington office and that the confusion arose from this fact. Mrs. Schauffler of this office talked directly with Mr. Salisbury on November 1, 1940, at which time he stated he would take care of the situation and advised that Thomas Doeppner take no action until a decision is reached in Washington. This message has already been forwarded to Thomas Doeppner. We have had no further word from Mr. Salisbury, but when we hear from him we shall of course, be glad to notify Thomas Doeppner and get in touch with you if any action seems indicated.

We are also interested to secure advice as to further work for Thomas. He has written to us that he has taken all the courses in science and engineering given at McPherson College and we have advised him to discuss his future plans with the dean. We have not corresponded with the dean as all our communications have been directly with you. But perhaps you would rather have us write to him to learn of Thomas' present academic standing and what suggestions he may have for his future professional training. In his letters to us Thomas has frequently expressed his appreciation of the interest shown him at McPherson College and his gratitude for this opportunity to study and be a part of your student body. He has known all along that the curriculum at McPherson does not offer a wide selection of courses in his professional interest. That is the reason for his wishing further vocational advice at this time.

Very sincerely yours,

Elizabeth Walton.

So Opa had two files. I can't believe how long it took for them to figure it out and what a roller coaster he had to be on while everyone else was getting their act together. But at least for now he gets to stay in the US- not so much by permission but by omission as they need to consolidate his cases and make a new decision based on all the information. 

In the meantime - Elizabeth Walton- a new name from the American Friends Service Committee- has been in touch with McPherson College President V.F. Schwalm. In this letter she caught him up on what's happening, but I'm sure he already knew. She also let him know that Opa was starting to explore his educational options that allowed for more advanced engineering and technical training. I love how she emphasizes how grateful Opa has been to McPherson. It's almost like she's trying to soften the blow that he needs something that McPherson can't offer. But Opa has always been forthright about his educational goals, and I think Schwalm has always known Opa would need to move on at some point. 

This is why Schwalm and McPherson are so special... they welcomed and supported Opa even when they knew he might not finish out his school career there. They knew that they might just be a way-station for this boy. This is true hospitality. I think about some of the organizations that I have been a part of and how they have been less willing to help people who are not members or who won't be around long enough to give back. McPherson helped Opa with no promises of a return and I bet that Schwalm will do whatever he can to keep helping him in this time of transition.