The Letters

In mid-March, 1939 Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, then to be known as the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, under Reich Protector Baron Constantin von Neurath.

The following month the first anti-Semitic legislation was enacted defining "Jewishness" and restricting the number of Jews who could practice certain professions.

Letter 1 From Paula

Prikope 35 Prague June 21, 1939

My dearest children,

We were very happy to get your letters — I'm so glad that you seized the opportunity and left God will help you, and I pray for you, my children. My thoughts are with you, even when I don't write. I don't have much time, I'm busy all day, and I have to get up early in the morning to write you – in the evening I'm too tired, and the dear little ones call me all the time and I have to tell them stories 'til they fall asleep. Both of them fight over me, so I have to go from one to the other and tell something to each one; so I have to think up all lands of things. In the morning I take them with me shopping, and then we go out again. After eating I put them down for a nap and in the afternoon we go out again. Both of them look very well, knock on wood, and also dear Rayushka has her happy face back again. They are both very good, especially Helgichka, and she is very understanding. Dear Rayushka can be very charming even when she is angry – so it's necessary to have strong nerves. But she is still little, and she'll grow up to be good. Both are very clever, and I'm going to miss them a lot

They also have a good time with Erwin, and he amuses them – it's a pleasure to see it They are both happy when their uncle takes time to be with them and play with them and tell them stories – for which, unfortunately, there is enough time because he does not have many patients. Yesterday was a nice day and there was no rain. I haven't had time to look for someone to help with the children because I am busy with them all day; and it doesn't pay for only a few weeks. I'll stick it out How do I know when they will go? I would like it best if Armin could take them along. He said that perhaps he won't be going. We have taken the apartment on Masna Street, opposite the place where dear Shishinko went to school, and I showed the little ones the school.

The rent [of the new apartment] is 14,500 Kr. including heat and water, and there is a concierge. But, if my wishes could be granted....

I worry very much about you. Dear Mother Czerner no longer worries. I wanted to visit her but Elisha doesn't want me to go. And Erwin cannot go because of Lotte. So well have to wait until Mother comes to us. She would get so much pleasure out of seeing the girls – they don't even know her. But Elisha doesn't want it, so we have to go along with his wishes. When you called at eleven o'clock, Erwin had already left and he came home late and didn't know, Moshko, that you were going to call and he was very sorry he couldn't talk to you so I had to talk and I wrote everything down and in the morning I went to Armin immediately and to Elisha. I was happy that the children heard your voices, even briefly. If only Erwin were already taken care of. But — you understand me. I yearn for you and I still thank God and hope everything turns out well. From my last letter, you know we had to give up the big apartment and sell everything in it for 350 Kr.! And I was happy to find buyers! If I hadn't, "they" would have taken everything away. Tonscha [a maid] and the nursemaid were also fine ones! But let's not talk about that, it doesn't pay to get upset about it What's gone is gone – we just want peace. You asked about our sleeping arrangements – Mr Rosenthal would have liked to stay with us, but I told him that I need the room for the children — so he wasn't happy about it but he left and the children sleep in beds for a change and are very proud that they have their own room. Rosenthal comes daily to see us and would like to live with us again. I will see – I would like to have a boarder.

Now, to continue: today I sent Zanka [a housekeeper] out with the children so I could rest a little. Since today is Wednesday you are probably already in your new situation – God be with you and give you health and happiness. Write us when you have time, about the trip and how Tomichek is; whether you have a good apartment, and whatyour impressions are, and about everything because I am curious about everything. Before, I could just run to you and check out everything — now that s not possible. Aunt Rosa already packed everything but she can't send it yet, it was stopped. Arnold would have liked to speak to you, Moshko. Today we received a letter from Sperling. I hope you will get together and well hear more. We're now getting ready to move so I'll be busy again but then I won't have much time. Perhaps Aunt Elsa will help me. And I'll give the little ones to Elisha.

We continue well - big kisses from

Your Mother

* * *

Armin Davidovic was married to Max's sister Regina.

Elisha was Max's brother (married to Hella)

Max, Elisha and Regina — and in fact all seven of the Czerner siblings – were born in Russia; they were therefore eligible for American visas, since the Russian immigration quota was not filled: Soviet Russia did not allow emigration. Erwin and Paula, on the other hand, had been born in Czechoslovakia and the Czech U. S. quota was filled. There was a long waiting list

The children had to be accompanied to America by an adult Paula preferred that Armin accompany them rather than Elisha, who had a difficult personality.

Mother Czerner (Bathsheva), Max's mother, lived in the Bulharska section of Prague with two unmarried daughters: Ettel and Lotte — who was lame and in poor health. Although all three women qualified for the Russian quota, Lotte's health apparently put her admission to the U.S. in question. Mother Czemer refused to leave Lotte and did not want to emigrate in any case, although her eldest son Janko already lived in New York.

It is not clear why Elisha did not want Paula to visit Mother Czerner. It is certainly known that there was bad feeling between the Czerners and Erwin because heavy pressure had been put on Erwin to marry Lotte and he had steadfastly refused.

Paula and Erwin were being forced to move into the Masna Street apartment and to take in a boarder, probably primarily for financial reasons arising from the new Nazi laws.

Kr. is an abbreviation for the Czech crown. In 1939 there were approximately twenty-five crowns to the US dollar.

Aunt Rosa Vogl was Paulas sister; Arnold was Rosa's son, who had emigrated to America in 1938, but was in Prague visiting at this time.

Dr [Joseph] Sperling was a friend and former medical student of Erwin's who was able to emigrate. He wrote many letters on Erwin's behalf.

Elsa Brok was another of Paula's six siblings.

On June 21, 1939, the date of Paula's letter, Von Neurath issued a comprehensive decree which implemented the Nuremberg racial laws of 1935 and...