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In today's letter, Helene writes to her nephew Paul who has recently arrived in New York from Europe. She summarizes the letters we saw on May 2 and 3 that her children sent to her from Istanbul, and the letter explains to us the circumstances of their going. She has not yet begun typing her letters to make sure they got through the censors.
Vienna, 5 May 1939
My dear Paul, we were waiting with impatience but not with unease your first letter from the land of unlimited possibilities, an attribute that relates to our Germany. I am not surprised that Arthur and his wife received you in a most cordial manner. I was only together with them briefly but the impression was a deep and very pleasant one. I am sure that you will regain your resilience and find a job soon, which, even if you really don’t think it appeals to you will not condemn you to idleness, which must seem like the absolute worst thing to people here. Keep your head high. I see in your spirit already now that your face is becoming more American and with your ability to fit in/assimilate, your circle of friends mostly imported from Europe, will increase considerably. I wish Robert were already there – the poor guy is alone and perhaps melancholy. Oh, the doorbell is ringing and it must be the postman.
Yes, indeed it was the post and we got a letter from Istanbul. Paul, since April 27th, the children are there because of a momentary inspiration on the part of Vitali. There was a satirical article that appeared with name and address about Vitali, the consequences of which we couldn’t really know just yet. A few weeks ago, a reporter unknown to us showed up and had a long consultation with Vitali. On the next day, another fellow came from this newspaper and he wanted an interview. You know Vitali. The man went away and after that appeared this article I mentioned. We made a pilgrimage to the Stubenring [their shop]. Four days later there appeared in the same newspaper, the article of the first visitor, who of course without naming names claimed exactly the opposite. If the first article writer had something else other than publicity in mind, one thing he certainly did manage to accomplish, the children were sent away “just in time.” Harry, in a morning, he managed to get all the visas - Hungarian, Yugoslavian, and Bulgarian; Vitali got the tickets; and Eva took care of the sewing with Jo and her mother who is 81 years old the rest of the clothing; and I packed the suitcases. And two days later, we sat with each other and 17 pieces of luggage in the Orient Express and rode to the border. This short trip, which has many interesting moments, I will describe to you next time. After a 48-hour trip, the children arrived safe and sound. Their detailed, illustrated reports are so well written that you could publish them. In succinct sentences they give a vivid picture of our next domain.
With the trip of the children, we have managed to pull off a very clever chess move. Apart from the actual purpose of the trip, we also managed to get an automatic extension of the passport and the children both got their feet on native soil before their 18th birthday. And finally, Onkel, a sort of Turkish Marco Polo, managed to have the effect that the General Consul here took off his “invisibility cloak” in front of Vitali and let us see our whole file of paperwork. We were able to see that our application with all of its papers and photos was all in the folder just exactly the same as the day we turned it in. Vitali is now very enthusiastic about following up on it. Whatever and whoever Onkel is, we now know because of what the children have said, that no person, not excluding our ancestors, may come to him without announcing themselves and getting permission. But for my children there are special provisions. They all want Vitali to come soon and are sure he will get a job there.
There is a complication. The children were supposed to go to the American Consulate and report themselves right away. There is no Turkish quota. It would be possible to intervene here because our consulate is not allowed to get involved in emigration matters. But we will certainly find the means and the ways. Unfortunately, I have not heard from the Zentners since January. I have only heard from Bertha Schiller that Tillie has an agent who is dealing in this matter.
The children will write to you themselves. Paula Bekhor is now visiting us quite often. She is a charming person, a really great person. I don’t understand why you withheld her from me as a friend. We sympathize very strongly with her.
Paula Friedman and her mother also followed my invitation. They say hello. I think Paula will be going to England soon.
Written around edges:
Greetings to the Schillers to whom I will write separately.
Marie is well. I told her about your arrival.
Paul has just arrived in America, the first in the family from Europe to do so. He is staying with Arthur Schiller in New York and hopes to find work there. Paul’s and Arthurs’s mothers were first cousins although they may not have met since Paul’s mother died in 1902.
We saw the newspaper article Helene mentions in the post from April 7. Although I have just two newspaper articles about Vitali, it appears he showed up in newspapers at least a few more times, including the second article Helene mentions here which I have never seen. Another research project!
Helene talks about their pulling off “a very clever chess move” by sending their children to Istanbul before they were 18 years old. This was just under the wire, since Eva turned 18 just a week or so after their arrival. I’m glad at least one step in their efforts to escape Vienna went smoothly.