May 22, 1940: Beloved Birthday Boy

Letter from Ella to Opa

Translation:

Nr. 25

Berlin-Charlottenburg

Droysenstrasse 14

May 22nd, 1940

My very beloved birthday boy,

Possibly as a birthday present to you, my first student stood me up, so I have time to tell you, that I have thought of you all morning.

First I woke you up with a birthday kiss, stroked my boy over and over again, then held his hand quietly, making strong wishes for him, for all of us. I wonder if you felt any of this! I know your friends will be especially nice to you today, and also the beltline won’t be so bad. Perhaps you received Rilke’s Werke as a greeting from me, maybe also the photo.

Day before yesterday your letter of May 4th arrived, which as always as any of your letters gave me great joy. Hopefully you did not catch a cold during that, partly willing and partly unwilling bath!! Please be careful with your health, my boy. Your exams will begin tomorrow, and I do not know what will happen with you then. But you are a sensible boy and will find the correct thing for yourself and do it.

Naturallly I will calm down only when I receive detailed news from you. I am so very worried about Patti-child. If only I would hear something from her, anything!  

Papa is doing better, as Diettrich said who went there and came back on Sunday. He had to stay at home for a few days, but now he is going to the office as usual.  Henschenchild today I am with you all day in my thoughts, spend the whole day with you as I imagine it. The weather here is very strange, still fairly cold, then warmer, light rain, everything seems veiled somehow, kind of unreal. And so I can go through the day in a light fog, out of touch with the real world, but even more clear and intensive in my inner feelings. Henschenchild, Do you have contact with Ellenruth now? It is really not true what you write about her.

When she was here, she was very nice and attentive to me, and I think she is really the only one who is trying to help me, aside from you two. She is very busy and very capable, I have great faith in her.

I also wrote to Rose.

Did you get a reply from Hanna? I gave the last picture of your Easter trip to Ann’chen. If possible send her another picture. I read your letter to Papa to her and usually add: This letter naturally is for Ann’chen also!! That makes her happy. You can also write to her using my address to save postage.

I hope you had a beautiful day.

I kiss my boy, especially today

Your Mama

My favorite thing about this letter is Ella's description of the weather. She talks about it being weird and fickle, sort of unreal and "veiled." She feels sort of in a fog like the weather and will go through the day disconnected from reality and connected only to her memories and introspective thoughts on Opa's birthday.

May 22 is Opa's birthday, this letter marks his twentieth birthday, and it stuns me to think he has only now left his teens. Ella still imagines waking him and doting on him for his birthday as if he were a little boy. While Opa might be embarrassed by this intimate description of her mother's love for her son- he has to understand her need to be maternal and loving- if only in her words and imagination. She no longer has him nearby to nag or hold his hand. Her heart slowly rips with every day that she does not see or hear from her children.

She has heard from August through her sources- but not from Patti. Patti wrote to Opa about her safety, but I'm sure that news will take time to get to Ella.

I feel like every letter from Ella is asking Opa for some kind of letter that he never sends. And perhaps that is because what she really wants is to be reunited- and no letter can fill that desire. She is really banking a lot on Ellenruth- perhaps because she has more formal standing in the United States with her marriage to a citizen than Opa as a visitor/student. It sounds like Opa has toyed with the idea of getting a job and postponing school so that he is in a better position to get Ella over to the United States. Ella doesn't want this- and can't quite get over why Opa won't get in touch with Ellenruth. So Ellenruth has kind of a negative reputation with Opa and Patti. I don't know the truth, but the I get the impression that Opa did not consider Ellenruth to be a steady person who would do much to help Ella out- and that she had arrived in the United States by questionable methods. Opa is avoiding writing her or involving her- and must have given his opinion to Ella. Ella is holding strong and refusing to believe his opinion about Ellenruth. I don't know if Ella truly disagrees (very reasonable as Ella was a very kind and open person)- or if she doesn't care as much as Opa and knows that she needs all the help she can get.

It is so hard to know with these letters what everyone really thinks. Does anyone really feel the urgency of Ella's plight? I think they do- and I don't think there is anything more that they could be doing- but it seems like it's the elephant in the room that no one wants to delve into. They'll mention it- but no one says "this is happening in Berlin- and this is why Mom needs to get out."

Today as I write this the weather outside is a little bit strange, with fog this morning and cloudy skies this afternoon giving way to patches of blue and sunshine. The weather convinced me to make myself a homemade mocha and write for a bit. To think. To wonder. I hope Ella felt peace in her introspection. That she enjoyed her memories of Opa's birthdays past. I know she likely continued to worry about her kids, herself, and her world whirling around her. But perhaps in the foggy rain- she was able to disconnect for just a few moments of peace.

May 21,1940: An Answer from the INS

Letter From Kathleen Hambly Hanstein of AFSC to Opa

Transcription:

                     May 21, 1940

Mr. Thomas Doeppner,

McPherson College,

McPherson, Kansas

My dear Mr. Doeppner:

We are still working on your visa problem, and have not yet received a reply from the Department Labor. However, I think that there will be no difficulty in securing at least a temporary renewal of your visa, and we hope it may be possible to have it renewed for your next college year.

In the meantime there is no reason why you should not go ahead with your plans for a farm job for the summer, as the type of position which you describe would be permissible even with a visitor's visa. As soon as we have any additional information, we shall let you know.

Sincerely yours,

(Mrs.) Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Memorandum in AFSC from Kathleen Hambly Hanstein to Louise Clancy

Transcription:

5-21-40

Refugee Service 

American Friends Service Committee

To: Louise Clancy, New York Office

From: Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

Subject: Re: Thomas Doeppner

Mrs. Schauffler suggested that I ask you to get in touch with the German Consulate to find out what can be done in regard to a student whose visa we wish to have renewed. He arrived in this country on the S.S. Penn land, November 15, 1939 with a Dutch Identification Certificate valid until August 28, 1940, which states that is entitles the bearer to return to the Netherlands before that date but cannot be renewed.

The boy is a German citizen, but his father has been a resident in Holland for sometime. We called the Dutch Consulate this morning for advice and they stated they have no jurisdiction over Holland at the present time and that we should apply to the German Consulate. It may be that our State Department would have some way of renewing the visa in spite of the fact that the Dutch Certificate cannot be renewed, but we thought we should explore every possibility before appealing to them for this action. His present visa expires June 15th, so it is important that we should do something quickly.

Telegram from Majorie Page Schauffler of AFSC to Mr. E. E. Salisbury of the INS

Transcript:

Mr. E. E. Salisbury              May 21, 1940

Immigration and Naturalization Service

Department of Labor

Washington D.C.

Referring our letter May 7 Re Thomas Doeppner can you inform regarding visa status STOP His Dutch identification certificate valid until August 28 cannot be renewed by Dutch Consul here under present circumstances STOP cn renewal American Visitors of students visa be given nevertheless to continue studies next year STOP American Visa expires June 15 haste therefore essential 

Marjorie Page Schauffler

Letter from E. E. Salisbury of the INS to Marjorie Page Schauffler of AFSC

Transcription:

Mrs. Marjorie Page Schauffler,

  American Friends Service Committee,

    20 South Twelfth Street,

       Philadelphia, Pensylvania.

Dear Madam:

Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of the 7th instant and wire of today's date in reference to Mr. Thomas Doeppner.

The records of this Service show that one Thomas Walter Doeppner arrived at the port of New York on the SS Pennland on November 15, 1939, in possession of a Section 3 (2) visa as a visitor issued by the American Consul at Amsterdam. He was admitted for a temporary period of seven months. If Mr. Doeppner is attending a school or college approved by the Secretary of Labor and desires to have his status changed from a Section 3 (2) visitor to a 4 (e) student, consideration will be given to such change upon receipt of a letter to that effect from Mr. Doppner.

Very truly yours,

  By direction of the Commissioner,

      E. E. Salisbury, Assistant.

If you read these letters from top to bottom- you sort of see the thread of information and increased urgency as the INS hasn't responded. Finally Mr. E. E. Salisbury responded- and it really isn't entirely helpful. I guess at best it is hopeful and gives the next step: If Opa wants a student visa he needs to write a letter to the INS asking for one.

I think that this development shows a few things: you can be right on top of things and it still sneaks up on you. This conversation began months ago, but the lack of clear information has dragged the process on. The INS representative responds after he gets a telegram - and it's sort of funny because he almost seems annoyed when he writes that he got both the letter AND the telegram. Ha- but those AFSC folks are persistent! They are always ahead of the game, so they don't like it when someone slows them down.

It sounds like- at this moment- Opa is safe to take the farm job even if it isn't the most lucrative option. It seems like he also isn't in any immediate danger of being kicked out of the country. It's sort of ironic that after all this back and forth with the AFSC as the liaison to the INS- the solution is for Opa to write a letter. We'll see how that goes.

May 21, 1940: Patti is Safe

Letter from Patti (and Maurice) to Opa

Translation:

Grenoble, May 21, 1940

My dear little Birthdayboy,

You must have been worried about me after the recent news stories, but you see that I am in Grenoble with Maurice – so for me everything is going relatively well. But I haven’t received any news from Papa, have you? I really hope he was able to leave Holland before the German invasion, but where is he now? If he were okay, I should have at least received a telegram. Two weeks have passed since I’ve gotten mail from him, and I am very worried. I just received a telegram in Grenoble May 13^th saying I could contact the UP office in Paris for money. And then nothing more. It was also the men at the United Press who were so kind as to take care of me the day of the internment of the Germans and German refugees in Paris, and thanks to the presence of Maurice who came especially to Paris for that purpose (you see there are people who really love your little sister), and thanks also to the marriage documents that were already prepared, I was able to obtain authorization to return to Grenoble to get married. My exams – forget it, adieu – but I was still lucky in that I was not interned. We will marry within a few days, before Maurice’s exams. When I will prepare the “Butstagstisch” =Bootdaytable (childish corruption of Birthday table) for Maurice tomorrow morning, I will think of my little brother who was born on exactly the same day.

My little Puppydog, your last letter was really nice, but it was nevertheless very impersonal; I was a little disappointed. And the photo is terrible. Would you really have that blasé look of a Don Juan that’s on that photo? That’s just not possible, so send me a better one with a more normal expression as soon as you can?

You must have received my letter for your birthday. Once more, I wish you all possible happiness, my dear little one! And write me a more personal and serious letter, or I won’t know what to write you back.

Here, I have found good friends, and I really feel that Grenoble is my second “native city”, since it’s here that I was reborn.  Everything is so familiar here.

Goodbye, or rather ‘til we write again, I am sending you sweet kisses.  Patti

My dear Tom,

I am writing to wish you a happy birthday – and all the possible luck and happiness – you happy lucky man in a country at peace!

My wishes will undoubtedly arrive late. But they are leaving at an appropriate time, and my thoughts will surely arrive on time – and will surely cross with yours. 

I will take an exam in 10 days and then another in 20, so please excuse the brevity of my message-

Once more, all my best wishes and my brotherly affection, Maurice

Patti just escaped internment and has the ability to change the subject from that to Opa's bad picture. Apparently no one likes the picture he sent- he must have been trying too hard to look debonair or something and everyone outright refuses it. I bet August liked it. 

I do think that Opa's debonair photo (I have no idea what it looked like) was likely almost a slap in the face for everyone. To have an aloof picture with a not-so-serious letter from someone who is enjoying the peace of America- it probably felt fake or forced to Patti. Yet that is what everyone is doing in these last letters. They are writing about the war, about near-misses, and they are shrouding their fear in little maternal jabs at Opa for looking aloof. Patti says "my exams- adieu"- but she has been studying for these exams for quite some time, and I imagine her as a little Hermione from the Harry Potter stories who is disappointed when the exams are cancelled. Her exams aren't even cancelled- it's just not safe for her to take them. Maurice is still able to take his- and it seems like every note he writes to Opa is ended with "sorry so short, got to study!" 

Patti has been protected by the United Press men (the company that August works for) and her engagement to Maurice. She is back in Grenoble- her place of second birth- and there she will have to stay to hide for the time being. She fusses at Opa for his aloof letter- but she hardly gave him any details in hers! 

Give me the details people! Tell me what happened! Why do you all have your hands in your pockets? I know, I know, they had so many different codes of censorship working against them. Literally they were worried about Nazi censors. Socially, they had been brought up to be stoic. And with great love and care for each other- they are trying not to worry or bother the other.

Well everyone's still worried. So stoicism isn't working. Hopefully Patti finds out that August is doing OK before having to wait the three months it seems to take for a reply to come from Opa (who should know through his mother's letter that August is fine). 

Patti is alright, and Paris is about to fall.

May 18, 1940: Opa Speaks about European Situation

Excerpts of Articles in the Gospel Movement (Church of the Brethren publication) about Opa at McPherson College

Transcription:

Report of Northwestern Kansas B.Y.P.D. Conference

Theme: Brethren in Reality

Brethren in Reality was the theme of the young people's conference of the District of Northwestern Kansas which was held at Lovewell the week ed of April 19-21. Bro. Earl Breon was the guest speaker of the conference. He is field secretary of McPherson College.

The banquet was a very fitting opening for a period of wonderful fellowship with those of like precious faith. The Lovewell church proved herself an excellent hostess to the group. Roscoe Switzer, president of the local group, extended a very cordial welcome to all who attended the conference. Bro. Brecon gave the address, Brethren in Reality, as the opening address of the conference.

Saturday morning, three phases of Brethren in Reality - Retrospect, Introspect, and Prospect- were discussed quite interestingly by the various speakers. However, Brethren in Reality seemed more real through the efforts of the German refugee student attending McPherson College, Tom Doeppner. We certainly admire Tom and his valiant efforts to do that which is so uplifting to the Father's kingdom through the building of the brotherly attitude which his coming has helped to bring about. Bro. S.E. Thompson gave the morning sermon.

We held our annual business meeting Saturday afternoon. Those who had enjoyed the privilege of attending Camp Wa-Shun-Ga last summer gave reports of...

....

White Rock - We met in council on April 9. Our love feast will be held on May 10. Elder Warren Gish baptized two of our high school boys recently. We had a lovely Easter service. Two interested persons of the community are making it possible to have bulletins on Sunday mornings for one month. Others have offered to care for them for another month. April 19-21 the district B.Y.P.D. held a conference at our church. There were 115 at the banquet. Bro. W.E. Breon of McPherson, Kans., was the guest speaker. Tom Doeppner, German refugee from McPherson College, gave talks on the European situation. They plan to meet at the North Solomon Church next spring. The people of the community opened their homes to the guests and gave us splendid co-operation. We have a nice group of children in our Sunday School. The primary superintendents and teachers gave Bibles to pupils who learn the Beatitudes, the twenty-third Psalm, and the names of the books in the Bible. Attendance is increasing since the roads are better. The W.C.T.U. institute was held here on April 23. A fine program was given. Rev. Molzhan was the guest speaker. The picture, The Magnificent Reprobate, was given in the evening - Mrs. Ben Switzer, Lovewell, Kans., April 25.

Opa's talks about the "situation in Europe" are well-received by the Church of the Brethren. I so wish we had a transcript of his speech. I can only imagine how he must have felt speaking from first-hand experience to an audience incredibly separated and insulated from the events he had witnessed. He had seen Hitler from mere feet away. 

I'm so proud of Opa trying to educate the people in these small mid-western towns in Kansas. That can't have been easy. He likely heard ignorance and naivety beyond his comprehension. But he showed up, he shared, and despite the fact that he has so many other things on his plate right now- I'm so grateful he invested in this. 

My only sadness is that his willingness and openness and urgency to share his story decreased as he became more embedded in the American fabric. He never told me about his life until he gave that speech in my sister's 10th grade European History class, which compelled him to publish his autobiography. I knew very little until he gave me that book. All I knew from Opa was that I was lucky to live in America. I wish he had opened my eyes a little more. 

May 15, 1940: News from Papa

Letter from Ella to Opa

Translation:

Berlin-Charlottenburg, May 15th 1940

Droysenstrasse 14

My beloved boy,

It seems reasonable to think that you receive my letters with the same delay, as I do with yours. The last one was from the middle of March, after that some earlier ones, and then the one Papa sent me dated April 6th, 1940. A few days ago your card about the Easter trip arrived, but I am still waiting for the announced letter with detailed descriptions.  

I have not heard anything from Papa since then, the letter came early in March. I am very worried about Papa, and I also do not hear anything from Patti. I think she will get married a bit earlier now. Hopefully you have contacted Ellenruth for she is the only one who energetically takes steps to help me. I wrote to you about that in my last letter.

Now about your picture, it made me so very happy! Naturally I carry it with me all the time. You look so cheerful, so happy! But you seem thinner, one can count the bones on your neck. And again the hands do not belong in your pant pockets, you Schlacks. (Schlacks is slang and describes somebody who is way too relaxed, stands tall and skinny.  Perhaps lanky would be a good word.)  But never mind, the picture is nice, together with Spatzi I look at it over and over again.

Write to me as soon as you hear from Papa. I will also write to Kurt, maybe he knows something. I hope very much, Hunschenchild, that you can continue your studies well and fast. Papa seemed to be worried that you might interrupt your studies.  

I have been very busy, cancelled a class today, to have one hour to write to you. My longing for all of you was so strong, I could not concentrate anymore, so I want to at least send you a short greeting. But I also cannot concentrate to write. Now I will call Anneken, and ask her to call the office, and inquire if there is news from Aust. (August) I myself cannot do that!!  

(Ron comment: I believe that the “office” Ella refers to is August’s old newspaper office which was taken over by the Nazis.  Several of August’s old colleagues were certainly still working there. Ella, as a Jew, would be very hesitant to call the office, both in fear for her safety and for the safety of anybody who might try to help her find news of her ex-husband. My guess is that Anneken had a contact in the office who might have some unofficial contact with August. I have nothing to back up this theory, but it is as good an interpretation as any other.)

What do you hear from Juergen? Tell him hello when you write to him. He will understand that I cannot write directly, but I think of him often and would like to know how and what he is doing now. If he would write to me, it would make me very happy.

Aunt Berta is back in Guestrow, her health is not good. All the excitements have robbed her of her sense of humor, she has grown very old.

Just now a reply from the office: Aust is doing well! That is most important.

Will I hear from you soon?

I kiss my dear boy,

Your Mama

Say hello to your friends for me! (written in the margin)

Today I learned that the Nazi Stormtroopers may have been on Meth pills when they invaded Holland and France. That's how they had all that energy and pushed through with such speed and success. This is super weird and creepy. Hitler really was sort of a villain that was looking for new ways to be horribly effective. I think it is interesting that we are still fascinated (even if it's macabre) about this reign of terror that came so close to ruling the world. We are fascinated because it is more extreme and bizarre than science fiction.

Ella begins her letter talking about the correspondence she has had and how she has not heard from August since before the invasion of Holland. She is so worried about him that she leaves the letter writing (which she cancelled a lesson to do) to try to get information on him. She is able to get word through August's sister Annchen, who we suspect called an old colleague of August's in Berlin. The word is that August is OK- and that is good news indeed!

This worry reminds me of two things: In Opa's autobiography, he wrote this: "My sister and I are convinced that our mother loved our father until the day she died, but she never seemed bitter." I think this is true, and I do believe August continued to care for Ella, although not enough to be married to her. I don't think that Ella pined for August, but more that she still cared enough about him to keep her bitterness at bay. It could be true that she was the master of politeness and her children never saw her true emotions. However, my understanding of who Ella was- I can see her forgiving August enough for her to move on and focus on the things that she cared most about: her children. After all, in this time, it was August who was getting a lot of the letters and pictures through to Ella faster. Not only did she care about his wellbeing- she also cared about her best connection to her children through the mail. August and Ella's relationship is odd and yet I bet it is very familiar to many people who divorce but do not forget about their spouses. 

The second thing I thought about in Ella's frantic search for information was how I felt on September 11, 2001 when I realized that my best friend's Dad might have been in the Pentagon. As soon as I remembered that, I called her family's home phone (we were in college at the time). My friend's dad answered the phone and reassured me that he was alright and that he no longer worked out of the Pentagon anymore. I have no idea why I didn't call my friend or why I thought her Dad should be telling a twenty year old where he was- but I was relieved and he was so kind. It's a moment of panic when an event becomes connected to you closer than you expect it to... When you drop everything and check in. That panicky feeling? I think Ella is living it perpetually. Every day is a new opportunity for something unknown and horrible to happen to someone in her family or herself- and she has little to no control over it- and hardly even a way to communicate with anyone about it. How terrifying and exhausting.

I think that's what she means when she talks about Aunt Berta (we still don't know who this is) aging quickly with all the "excitement." 

Ella keeps pictures of her children close by as reminders of what she lives for. She is still urgently seeking a way out of Germany, and hoping beyond hope on the abilities of her twenty year old son and his similarly aged cousin to do something to help her. 

In the meantime- all she wants is good information. Happy news, pictures (even if she chastises him for having his hands in his pockets!!), and greetings from his classmates. These all reassure her that somewhere on this planet, there is peace, happiness, and a beautiful shortage of "excitement."

May 12, 1940: Can I Work?

Letter from Opa to Mrs. Hanstein

Transcription:

                        McPherson, 5-12-1940.

Mrs. Kathleen Hambly Hanstein

American Friends Service Committee

20 South Twelfth Street

Philadephia

Dear Mrs. Hanstein,

Thank you very much for your letter. I was quite surprised when reading that I have a visitor's visa instead of a student's visa. As far as I am informed, that means I am not allowed to work in summertime. Are there possibilities to change my visa into a student's visa?

As to my passport, I think it is impossible to get it renewed. First, because of the present situation in Holland, and then there is a statement printed in my passport, saying: "This identity certificate is valid until August 28, 1940, and entitles the bearer to return to the Netherlands before that date. It cannot be renewed." When getting the passport, I asked the police officials about that, and the answer was that there is no possibility at all to get either a prolongation or a new passport while being abroad. Thus I think it is of no use even to apply for it.

I would like you very much to inform me as soon as possible as to whether I am allowed to get a job in summer time, since I have to be sure about this problem before I can make a contract.

I thank you again so much for your kind efforts to help me.

Very sincerely,

Thomas Döppner

Handwritten note on bottom says: Farm job for maintenance would be ok on visitor's visa.

Opa touches base with Mrs. Hanstein about his visa. This conversation has been going on back and forth for a little bit. Now everyone is pretty much assuming that Opa has a visitor's visa. Opa is trying to figure out just what he's supposed to do since he really needs to be able to work over the summer to support himself. 

I do love Opa's clarification on the Holland passport- he says that the passport is stamped that it can't be renewed and when he asked the police officer they said "yep- it can't be renewed." And since the only way to fix that is to go back to Holland and Holland is currently playing host to the Nazis- that passport is null and void the minute it expires. 

I think Opa really is likely feeling a little panicky at this point. Holland has been invaded. His passport is now really useless. His current visa has been downgraded (in his understanding) and he's not even sure he can get a job. He could be in serious trouble.

However, we get a glimpse into the response as the handwritten note states that his farm job will be ok. 

As much as the rule following German in Opa might be nervous about this fluid citizenship- I do wonder if anyone is really paying attention to what kind of visa this kid has. I mean, in Kansas, are they really going to ask to see his visa and understand all the notes and paragraphs and numbers? I mean, really. I bet he could get a job as a cook and no one would know. Now- the fact that Germany just swept through the Netherlands without hardly a fight- that might give Opa some trouble as a German in America.

May 10, 1940: That Escalated Quickly: Spotlight on Germany's Battle for the Lower Countries and France

As you have been reading through the blog, you have been reading letters from Ella in Berlin, Patti in France, and August and Emma in Holland. May 10 is a date that will be a significant turn of events for Opa and his family. 

---

On May 10th, Germany would overtake Holland. August’s letters will cease at this point (although we will still get a little info from family). The overtaking of Holland happened quickly and was ultimately a pathway to take over France. Germany will walk into an undefended Paris on June 14. As we just read, Patti is in Paris on May 9 preparing for her exams, happening in mid-June and planning to get married on June 20. Little does she know the ways in which the tide will turn for France within the next month. Instead of trying to be a historian, I will simply give two links to wikipedia sites that can explain how Germany moved on both Holland and then quickly to France. 

Battle of the Netherlands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Netherlands

Battle of France

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_France