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Walldorf, October 16, 1938
Dear Gerdi,
It was gratifying to hear from you again this week, always a joyous occasion.
Despite the fact that you have to work so hard, we are of course glad that you
do have work. It would be far worse, were it otherwise.
With God's help you'll remain healthy; only I must often think how beautiful it
would be if we could create a warm atmosphere for you that you could come back
to after your daily labors. Hopefully, that day will come, although at the
moment there is precious little hope as far as the American consulate is
concerned...
I don't know how word got out that Father is no longer working. To be sure, it
won't be long before that is the case. Our business was taken over [by Aryans]
on the 10th of this month, but Father is presently busy as Mrs. S.'s private
secretary. Despite all that, we would be satisfied, if things got no worse.
Therefore, your worries about our finances are unnecessary for the time
being...
One can't help but envy each and everyone who reaches that stage [of being able
to emigrate.] Not that one imagines everything will be beautiful and
worry-free abroad. After all, we don't want to delude ourselves about
everything that might be in store for us there. The main thing would be to be
reunited with you, to be active again and to work with you. Once we would be
freed of these onerous problems [in Germany] and all the unpleasantness, we
could create a life with renewed vigor and one that would be modest and without
any demands.
[The letter continues with details concerning the Kleins' imminent move from
their home, which they had been forced to sell. It details their anguish over
certain decisions, i.e., whether to stay on throughout the winter months, mostly
without adequate heat, or whether to move to shabby quarters immediately, while
the opportunity still existed. They would be sharing the new premises with
another couple who were also about to be evicted because a Nazi woman wanted
their place. The letter includes a veiled reference to a "Mr. Darkner,"
meaning the dark uniform of the SS. This was the Kleins' way of telling their
children that the SS would make life intolerable for the other couple if they
didn't move.]
Mother
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