December 26, 1940: Christmas Without

Letter from Ella to Opa

Translation:

Berlin, Charlottenburg 4, December 26, 1940

Droysenstrasse 14

My dear, dear boy,

Now it is Christmas, once again without my boy—without Spatzilein! (little sparrow) And once again without news from you! Without news, but not without greeting! I can sense that you are thinking of me and won’t let me feel lonely. I am with you all day, every day—from when you wake up to when you go to sleep! In all your work, in all your conversations, in all your wishes. Grete Sumpf sent me a sweet Christmas greeting, with a prayer: a plea for courage, trust, hope, holy joy, etc. When even religious belief fails me, the religion of the feelings remains very strong in me, and what’s there finds an echo in me.  (Resonates with me?) That’s how it was—8 days ago now—when I was with the Quakers. The American guest spoke about the Present as Eternity and gave a lot of examples from the Bible and the church fathers. I got less out of the “what” and more the “how.” There I am among people who know you, who still today like you and appreciate you. Herr Wohlrabe introduced me to a nice boy: “This is the mother of Thomas, who we always talk about.” And as soon as I came in Hilde W. threw her arms around me. We hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Even if I otherwise want to be appreciated for myself, there I am happy to be Tom’s Mama.  

Friday evening Anni and Gis were here; it was a very pleasant evening. Gis has apparently been doing well for herself; she got a position working with children and loves her job. Anni goes to the Pestalozzi-Fröbel-Haus; she also wants to be a kindergarten teacher.  Both are tackling life valiantly. We spoke an awful lot, of course, about you. Anni wants to ask the American, who is coming to Berlin again before his return to the USA, to inquire about you and bring me back some news soon. I have a lot of anxiety on your account—all of my sense and reason doesn’t help at all. And now I’m not even hearing anything from Pattilein! If only I had at least one of you with me! I long so much for that.  

I picture for myself how the two of you are spending Christmas, and I picture it being nice: surrounded by lovely scenery, with dear, worthy people, and also with thoughts for your Mama! What is Papa doing? I haven’t heard anything from him!

Hunschen, if only a letter from you would come! I would so like to know what’s going on with you; your last letter was so long ago, and I’m making myself anxious on account of your troubles. Did you get my response to your letter? When will I be with you again and be able to hold your hand, and look at you as we actually speak to each other!?

I kiss my beloved boy!

Your Mama

I love this letter. It's not very different from Ella's other letters, but there's a few little gems in it that make it stand out. Ella writes on Christmas (if I remember correctly, Germans have Christmas celebrations from the 24th through the 26th) . She consoles herself in the absence of her children with the presence of the feeling of them. I love the way she talks about that. She imagines herself as a presence in their every day lives, and holds the feeling of them in her days. 

My favorite phrase of this letter might be Ella's fabulously independent way of showing her love for Opa: "Even if I otherwise want to be appreciated for myself, there I am happy to be Tom's mama." She surrounds herself with the Quakers, not for the religious aspect so much as for the connection to her son. I love the way the Quakers embrace her and support her. 

She continues with her worry litany about Opa and Patti, and now August gets a mention at last. Ella must feel incredibly alone and isolated on this Christmas day. Although she is surrounded by friends and extended family members, there is something only her immediate family can fill- and she hasn't heard from any of them.

I wonder on the other side of this letter what Opa is feeling? Do her constant worries and pining for him get old and burdensome? Or is he softened toward her loneliness? I imagine it ebbs and flows. How absolutely frustrating it must be for him if he is writing her - to hear that none of his letters are making it through. I keep waiting for one of her letters to exclaim: I got all thirty letters you wrote! I'm not sure that'll happen. Maybe Opa was writing things that were not permitted to pass through the censors? Maybe he had to constantly guess at why his letters didn't make it? That would drive me nuts.

Happy Christmas Ella, I hope the feeling of your children sustained you on that day.

December 20, 1940: Opa's Snark

Henry Speaks Article in The Spectator written by Opa for International Relations Club

Transcription:

Henry Speaks for I.R.C.

By Thomas Doeppner

The World At Large

Gibraltar-chinned Benito Mussolini will be reaching for the ceiling pretty soon if his playmate from the North doesn't help him out. The boys and girls in Italy are getting hungry because of food shortage caused by the blockade, and boys and girls in that condition get in a frightful mood. Who knows, they might even pick on Benito? His drawn-out alley-fight with the natives of Ethiopia and the unexpected resistance which the Fascists met in Spain served to sap his strength and popularity.

Those English chaise who are incessantly whistling in the dark aren't getting along so well either. Their whole blasted country-side is bombed, and that includes the cities. They may not be able to hold out much longer.

Japan is thinking about throwing in the towel also. They may attempt to consolidate their gains and let the Generalissimo run the rest of China for a while.

All of which makes it appear that maybe the only country that will get  anything out of the struggle is Latvia, because most people know where it is now.

Eleanor Roosevelt says we should just up and give the British all the money and supplies she can use on her crusade, because if we would do that we would be disinterested. We wouldn't expect to get it back anyway, and if England is whipped, we won't try to win her war to save our money. Now isn't that a nice disinterested point of view?

P.G. Wodehouse well-known English humorist, is spending his time musing on something or other in a concentration camp "somewhere in France." If he comes out of there with a sense of humor, he is a wit in the full sense of the word. Incidentally, his latest "Wodehouse on Golf," is in the college library.

Magazine Articles of Interest:

"Shall We Feed Hitler's Victims?" Nation, 152:596, December 14, 1940, two articles.

Peffer, N., "Signapore and the English Channe," New Republic, 103:827, December 16, 1940.

Bliven, B., "The Men Who Make the Future," ibid p. 829.

"U.S. Foreign Policy: 'Short of War'." Fortune. 22:51. December, 1940.

Friends Service Committee, "The Lord's Battalions." ibid p. 65.

There's something different about Opa's tone in this article. I can't tell for sure, but it seems he has to laugh to keep from crying. For these articles he distances himself from the European scene, not mentioning that his mother is surrounded by Nazis in Berlin and his father and sister are hiding in occupied countries. He sounds very... American.

He writes this article with a sense of sardonic humor. In fact at first I was a little offended by the comments he made about the hungry boys and girls in Italy. I thought it was odd he would make light of food shortages in Italy, especially when he knew his uncle was interned there. But then he said that they might even pick on Benito... and that's when I felt his tone. A vicious snark, angry at the leaders who would march their countries into this fiasco. 

I have to remember that at this point in time, Opa is still closely tied to his Quaker roots, he is struggling with his pacifist ideals when faced with the war that is raging. He pokes fun at Eleanor Roosevelt who seems to be in favor of funding Britain's endeavors without sending US troops. Opa's opinion on that strategy is clearly not approving. He knows that money sent is strings attached and that the US cannot support a war effort without being in the war. Which eventually did happen, but not without provocation. 

This article actually helped me understand a bit more about why the United States held out for so long in joining the conflict. I think they really were trying to wait it out, hoping that their monetary support would hold the allies over to victory. Why would you get yourself involved in a war without obvious cause? I get it. I am sure I'll learn more as I go on in here, but I still cannot understand why Japan thought it smart to attack Pearl Harbor- knowing that would wake the giant. Unless they knew the US would inevitably join the war and felt it necessary to sneak in an attack before they were on highest alert. No idea. But that's in the future, back to the article.

The mention of the English humorist made me want to find out more about this man. He was interned in Italy, as they did for any adult man up to 60 years that were of enemy citizenship. After being shuttled around to various camps, he was released at the age of sixty, one year after he was first interned. He landed in Berlin where he recorded comedy shows over the German radio, an act that many would not forgive him. He eventually landed in the United States and had a prolific writing career. So it seems that he did have a real wit. You can read more about the details I learned from this wikipedia page, or look deeper. He's an interesting guy!

This article reminds me that war is not as cut and dry as when we learn about them in hindsight. Details fade away from our general education. And I imagine most folks who are not history buffs were not aware of Latvia's role in the conflict. It truly was a world war. May we never see that again.

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.