Link to Family Tree to understand family relationships.

Today we have a carbon copy of a letter that Helene sent in 1955 to the Reparations Office in Trier Germany.

August 28, 1955

Dear Sirs,

I would be extremely grateful if you could tell me what I need to do to receive reparations

In addition to the attached documents, I wish to mention the following facts:

On May 18, 1920, in Vienna, I married Haim Seneor Moisse Cohen and became a Turkish citizen.  I had been Austrian up until then.

In 1938, my husband was notified of that his (our) citizenship was no longer recognized.  Until October 1, 1943, we lived under the protection of the Turkish General Consul (Humanity).  After October 1, 1943, unfortunately he could no longer do anything for us.  On October 15, 1943, in the home we had been assigned (we had had to leave our original home in June 1941), we were both arrested.

On November 4, 1943, I was brought to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, and on February 28. 1945, via an exchange, I was brought, by the Swedish Red Cross, on the Drottningholm to Turkey, where I lived as a prisoner until April 1946 until my children, who had been in California since 1939, succeeded in bringing me on the Vulcania to the USA.

I have since that time lived in San Francisco and earned my living as a practical nurse and housekeeper.  A year ago, because of my age and health, I had to stop working.

My financial resources consist of Social Security, a contribution from the Public Welfare Department, and financial help from my son.

I would, therefore, be most thankful to the employees of the Governmental Reparations Office if I could find out what steps I need to take.

Many thanks in advance,

In this letter, Helene summarizes her life since 1920 on a single page in order to make her case for reparations. Behind the formal language of her request, we feel so much of her sorrow, helplessness, and loss over the past nearly 20 years. We also learn how she earned a meager living in San Francisco and that in 1954, at the age of 68, she was no longer able to continue working.