Fuldauer, Irma (née Oppenheimer)

Copy Zug, February 4, 1939. Dear Mr. Oppenheimer! I only received your letter of January 21 yesterday. You addressed it to L. Oppenheimer, so the successors of my firm Louis C. [Oppenheimer] received it and forwarded it to me yesterday. I take the liberty of responding to your inquiry. I have long been interested in whether the Hanover Oppenheimers — as the first names Louis and Otto also suggest — the bankers and cattle dealers, were related to the Michelfeld Oppenheimers. They had a very good name in Hanover and I was often asked about this when I frequently traveled to Hanover on business around the turn of the century. As you probably know, I was the last one to continue the specialty product of my great-grandfather, Zacharias O. in Michelfeld (Lower Franconia) until August of this year. In fact, my father Louis O. (son of Sigmund O., the second-youngest son of Zacharias O.) was in Bruchsal, but had to give up the manufacturing due to a lack of suitable materials (or water) at the end of the 1860s. A few years ago, I had a volunteer (Dr. jur. Edgar Wolf) write the history of the firm O. Michelfeld-Bruchsal based on the available documents. The documents you mentioned, I examined and copied about 30 years ago, when they were still in Michelfeld in the archive of the Freiherren [Barons] von Gemmingen, before their transfer to Neckarelz. However, the main files are in the General State Archive in Karlsruhe, and there Dr. Wolf had ample opportunity for interesting studies. A copy of this book is in the possession of my firm's successors, Ernst Franke & Co. in Bruchsal, because we still trade under the name "Uniform Cloth since 1803," which is now being challenged. As you write, you belong to the Gemmingen Oppenheimers, insofar as they are connected with the Michelfeld branch — that is, through the eldest daughter of August O., who was already married into Gemmingen before his departure for the USA, that is, before 1845. I visited the 80-year-old Mr. Hermann O. a year ago and still think fondly of that visit. What is your family relationship to this gentleman? Did you get my address from him or from Dr. jur. Meyer in Hanover, who is also occupied with the family history of the O[ppenheimer]s? I was still in Michelfeld itself last August, to show my three grandsons from Karlsruhe — shortly before their emigration to the USA — the factory building and the residence of their great-great-great-grandfather. We were also able to visit the cemetery where my grandfather — died May 31, 1872 — Sigmund O. is buried (my grandmother, née Levi? from Karlsruhe, is buried in Waghäusel?), because it was a Saturday. Sheet 2

Abschrift Zug, den 4. Februar 1939. Sehr geehrter Herr Oppenheimer! Ihren Brief vom 21.1. habe ich erst gestern erhalten. Sie haben ihn an L. Oppenheimer adressiert, so haben also die Nachfolger meiner Firma Louis C. erhalten, die ihn mir gestern nachzuschicken. Ich erlaube mir, auf Ihre spätere Anfrage zu erklären. Es hätte mich schon lange interessiert, ob die Hannoverschen Oppenheimer, wie als die Vornamen das auch Louis und Otto besagen, die Bankiers und Viehhändler mit den Michelfelder Oppenheimer verwandt waren. Die hatten einen sehr guten Namen in Hannover und ich wurde oft danach gefragt, als ich um die Jahrhundertwende geschäftl. ich oft nach Hannover kam. Wie Sie wohl wissen, war ich der Letzte, der den Spezialartikel meines Urgrossvaters, Sacharias O. in Michelfeld (Unterfranken) im August dieses Jahres weiterführte. Tatsächlich hat mein Vater Louis O. (Sohn des Sigmund O., des zweitjüngsten Sohnes des Sacharias O.) in Bruchsal, hat aber diese die Fabrikation aus Mangel an geeigneten Waren (oder Wasser) Ende der Sechziger Jahre aufgeben müssen. Vor einigen Jahren habe ich einen Volontär (Dr. jur. Edgar Wolf) die Gesichte der Firma O. Michelfeld-Bruchsal anhand der vorhandenen Dokumente schreiben lassen. Die von Ihnen erwähnten Dokumente habe ich vor ca. 30 Jahren eingesehen und abgeschrieben, als sie noch in Michelfeld im Archiv der Freiherren von Gemmingen zur Verfügung nach Neckarelz waren. Die Hauptakten aber befinden sich in Generallandesarchiv in Karlsruhe und dort hat Dr. Wolf reichlich Gelegenheit für interessante Studien gehabt. Eine Abschrift dieses Buches befindet sich im Besitz meiner Firmennachfolger Ernst Franke & Co. in Bruchsal, weil wir unser noch "Uniformtuche seit 1803" firmieren, was jetzt doch beanstandet wird. Wie Sie schreiben, gehören Sie zu den Gemmingschen Oppenheimern, soweit diese mit den Michelfeldern zusammenhängen, also durch die älteste Tochter des August O., also vor dessen Auszug nach USA, also vor 1845 schon nach Gemmingen verheiratet. Den 80-jährigen Herrn Hermann O. habe ich vor einem Jahr besucht und danke noch mit Freude an diesen Besuch. In welchem Verwandtschaftsverhältnis stehen Sie zu diesem Herrn? Haben Sie von diesem meine Adresse oder von Herrn Dr. jur. Meyer in Hannover, der sich ja auch mit der Familiengeschichte der O. beschäftigt? In Michelfeld selbst war ich noch im August letzten Jahres, um meinen drei Enkelbuben aus Karlsruhe kurz vor ihrer Auswanderung nach USA. das Fabrikgebäude und die Wohnung ihres Ur-Ur-Urgrossvaters zu zeigen. Den Friedhof auf dem mein Grossvater + 31.5.1872 — Sigmund O. begraben liegt (meine Grossmutter, eine geb. Levi? von Karlsruhe liegt in Waghäusel?) begraben haben wir auch besuchen können, weil es Samstag war. Blatt 2

Otto Oppenheimer was a textile manufacturer in Bruchsal, Germany, descended from the Michelfeld branch of the Oppenheimer family. His great-grandfather Zacharias Oppenheimer had established a cloth manufacturing business in Michelfeld (Lower Franconia). By February 1939, Otto had already relocated to Zug, Switzerland, likely fleeing Nazi persecution. This letter responds to a genealogical inquiry from another Oppenheimer, possibly from the Hanover branch. Otto discusses the family's connections across Michelfeld, Gemmingen, Bruchsal, and Hanover, and mentions his grandsons' recent emigration to the USA. The letter reveals a family deeply aware of its history even as it faced displacement and persecution. The firm "Uniformtuche seit 1803" (Uniform Cloth since 1803) was a significant textile enterprise.

— 2 — If you are now interested in the ancestry of the O[ppenheimer]s, I urgently recommend: Contact Mr. Head Teacher S. Rosenthal, Mannheim, Rupprechtstrasse 14. This specialist in genealogy and Jewish history of Southern Germany has prepared a very interesting family tree for me based on available documents and gravestones, and has written a paper about it, which I cannot send you without the author's permission. He demonstrated that the O[ppenheimer]s — who, as you correctly write, took their name from Oppenheim and were settled in Worms for at least approximately 300 years (an Aleph in the 900-year-old synagogue in Worms, of which I have a photographic enclosure, was donated by a David Oppenheimer, with three crowns and the inscription: "The best crown is a good name") — and that an O. in the year 1689 (driven out by the turmoil of war) fled to nearby Ladersach on the Bergstrasse. From there his descendants came to Heinsbach, and from there to Hoffenheim and Michelfeld, District of Sinsheim. This Jew Löb O., born around 1650 in Worms and died after 1722 in Heinsbach, was married to a Chare (Eva) Backerach/Bacharach, a daughter of the famous Rabbi Jair Chaim Bacharach of Worms (born 1660 in Worms and died April 5, 1701, in Laundesheim). This Rabbi Bacharach was a grandson of the equally famous Jewish scholar Chave (Eva), who was born in 1580 in Prague and died in 1652 at the age of 72 on her way to Palestine, in Sofia, where she is buried. And this Mrs. Chave was, through her mother Voglein, the granddaughter of the Jew Efra'im ben Sanschel, the Great Rabbi Löw of Prague (born 1512 and died August 22, 1609, in Prague), whose memorial still stands today on the Wenceslas Square in Prague. The grandfather of this great scholar, who became universally known through his legendary "Golem," also bearing the name Chaim (Heinrich), was born in 1450 in Issenheim (Alsace). It does no harm for us to know all this. So contact the above-mentioned Mr. Rosenthal, and if you or your relatives wish to go to the USA, contact Gemmingen for addresses. The descendants of the above-mentioned Mr. August O. are major textile dealers. With warm regards, signed Otto Oppenheimer. [Handwritten note at bottom:] Copy of a letter from the author / proprietor of the firm Louis Oppenheimer / in Bruchsal, now in Zug, Switzerland / Jahrequartierstrasse 28

— 2 — Wenn Sie sich nun für die Abstammung der O's interessieren, so empfehle ich Ihnen dringend: Wenden Sie sich an Herrn Hauptlehrer S. Rosenthal, Mannheim Rupprechtstr. 14. Dieser Spezialist für Familienforschung & Jüdischer Geschichte Süddeutschlands hat mir einen sehr interessanten Stammbaum anhand vorhandener Dokumente und Grabsteine angefertigt und eine Arbeit dazu geschrieben, die ich Ihnen ohne Genehmigung des Verfassers aber nicht schicken kann. Er wies nach, dass die O's, die wie Sie richtig schreiben aus Oppenheim ihren Namen bezogen und ca. mindestens 300 Jahren in Worms ansässig waren (ein Alef in der 900 jährigen Synagoge in Worms, von der ich eine fotografische Beilage, ist von einem David Oppenheimer gestiftet mit drei Kronen und der Inschrift: Das beste Krone ist der gute Name) und also ein O. in Jahre 1689 (die Wirren von dem Sonne vertrieben wurde) in die nahen Bergstrasse nach Ladersach floh. Von da kamen dessen Nachkommen von Heinsbach und von da nach Hoffenheim und Michelfeld. Amt Sinsheim. Dieser Jude Löb O., um 1650 in Worms geboren und nach 1722 in Heinsbach gestorben, war mit einer Chare (Eva) Backerach/Bacharach einer Tochter des berühmten Rabbi Jair Chaim Bacharach aus Worms verheiratet (geb. 1660 in Worms und gestorben 5.4.1701 in Laundesheim). Dieser Rabbi Bacharach ist ein Enkel der gleichfalls berühmten jüdischen Gelehrten Chave (Eva), die 1580 in Prag geboren und 1652 als 72-Jährige auf dem Weg nach Palästina in Sofia gestorben und begraben ist. Und diese Frau Chave ist durch ihre Mutter Voglein die Enkelin des Jude Efra'im ben Sanschel, des Hohen Rabbi Löw von Prag (geb. 1512 und gestorben am 22. Aug. 1609 in Prag) dessen Denkmal heute noch auf dem Wenzelplatz in Prag steht. Der Grossvater dieses grossen Gelehrten, der durch seinen erlebten "Golem" allgemein bekannt wurde, auch wieder auf den Namen Chaim (Heinrich) wurde 1450 in Issenheim (Alsace) geboren. Es schadet nichts, wenn wir das Alles wissen. Wenden Sie sich also an den von mir oben erwähnten Herrn Rosenthal und wenn Sie oder Ihre Angehörigen nach USA wollen, wenden Sie sich um Adressen nach Gemmingen. Die Nachkommen des gleichfalls oben erwähnten Herrn August O. sind grosse T-Händler. Mit herzlichen Grüssen gez. Otto Oppenheimer. [Handwritten note at bottom:] Abschrift eines Briefes von dem Verfasser / Inhaber der Firma Louis Oppenheimer / in Bruchsal, jetzt in Zug i/d Schweiz / Jahrequartierstr. 28

This second page of Otto Oppenheimer's letter contains a remarkable genealogical account tracing the Oppenheimer family back through centuries of Jewish history in the Rhineland. The family tree connects to several prominent figures in Jewish history, most notably the Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Judah Löw ben Bezalel, here called "Rabbi Löw"), the legendary creator of the Golem. The genealogy traces through Rabbi Jair Chaim Bacharach (1638–1702), a renowned Talmudist and rabbi of Worms, and his grandmother Chave/Eva (1580–1652). The reference to 1689 refers to the devastation of the Palatinate during the Nine Years' War (War of the Grand Alliance), which forced many Jews to flee Worms. The Oppenheimers' name derives from the town of Oppenheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. Otto's recommendation of S. Rosenthal as a genealogical specialist, and his mention of relatives emigrating to the USA, reflects the urgency of Jewish emigration from Germany in early 1939.

Dear Mina! From Munich we received a desperate letter today, and in Stuttgart still nothing for Betty's passport photographs has arrived. [Someone] telegraphed this week that the journey would depart next week — what is causing the great delay — Bella in Boston or Aunt Hermine? By the way, the Munich [relatives] have sent 4 crates and 5 kg here, and we will have them loaded on one of the next ships, and you will then need to take them into storage. A family named Bernhard Göschel from Forchheim and a Mr. Jacob Kaufmann from Bayreuth will presumably bring the luggage or take it along; they depart on the 28th. Perhaps it will be sent on another ship, in which case I will let you know by telegram or by "Clipper" [airmail]. Crate: 6963 — with couch/bedding, beds, etc. 6964 — Household items 6965 — [contents not specified] 6966 — Book crate Suitcases: I.O. 1, 10, 12, 14–18 containing clothes, linens, paintings and pictures You must see how you can get to Erich. [The] Kellers say how glad they are! Warm greetings, Arthur

[Main body:] Liebe Mina! Von München [?] bekommen wir heute einen verzweifelten [?] Brief, und in Stuttgart weiter für [?] noch für Betty Lustphotographire eingetroffen. Man [?] diese woche telegraphiert die Fahrt [?] gingen nächste Woche ab, woran liegt nun die grosse Verzögerung — an Bella in Boston oder an Tante Hermine? Übrigens haben die Münchener 4 Kisten und 5 Kg hierhergeschickt, und wir lassen solche mit einem der nächsten Schiffe verladen und musst Du dann solche in Verwahrung nehmen. Voraussichtlich wird eine Familie Bernhard Göschel aus Forchheim und ein Herr Jacob Kaufmann aus Bayreuth das Gepäck oder mitnehmen; diese reisen am 28. [?] hier ab. Vielleicht schicken es aber auch mit einem anderen Schiff dann lasse ich Dich telegrafisch oder per "Clipper" wissen. Kiste: 6963 mit Couch betten Betten etc. 6964 — Haushaltungssachen 6965 — 6966 — Bücherkiste Koffer: I.O.1, 10, 12, 14–18 enthaltend Kleider, Wäsche, Gemälde u. Bilder [?] du musst eben sehen wie Du zu Erich Komest. [?] Kellers sprechen Wie froh sind wir! herzl. Grüsse Arthur

This letter documents the logistics of shipping household belongings out of Germany — a critical aspect of Jewish emigration. The Oppenheimers were sending crated possessions via ship to the United States through intermediaries. The mention of passport photographs, "Clipper" airmail, and the urgency about delays reflects the desperate race to emigrate. Bernhard Göschel from Forchheim and Jacob Kaufmann from Bayreuth appear to be fellow Jewish emigrants carrying luggage on the same ship. The detailed inventory of crates and suitcases preserves a record of what the family tried to save from their household.

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Copy. New York, Febr. 4. 1941. Ame rican Consulat, Stuttgart, Germany. [Handwritten annotations: illegible] Honorable Consul: I, Mina Kaufmann, residing at 145 West 86 Str. new York herewith state, that I am willing and abl[e] [to gi]ve to my uncle and aunt, Julius Israel Oppenheimer and Elsa Oppenheimer, residing at 1 Alfonsstr. Muenchen Germany $5.— every week for their personal use. I also like to state, that after my mother, this uncle is my closest relative, since he brought me up, my father having been killed in the first world war. That I know, that Mr. Julius Oppenheimer is suffering from varicose veins, and Mrs. Oppenheimer from rheumatism. That never- theless I maintain my affidavit to its full extent, and that I wish to add that I am more anxious than ever that my uncle and aunt should join me in the United States. Mina Kaufmann Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary Public in and before said County this 4th day of Febr. 1941 Irma Lotheim Notary Public

This is perhaps the most personal document in the entire collection. Mina Kaufmann — the central figure coordinating the rescue effort from New York — reveals her own family connection: Julius Oppenheimer is her uncle and closest living relative after her mother. She explains that Julius "brought me up" because her father was killed in the First World War. This biographical detail transforms our understanding of the entire correspondence: Mina's tireless efforts — coordinating multiple sponsors, depositing $1,015 at the bank, paying for affidavit filings, arranging luggage storage — were driven not just by family obligation but by a deep personal debt to the uncle who raised her after she was orphaned by war. Her promise of $5 per week (about $107/week today) for personal expenses supplemented the full board and lodging promised by the Langerbeins and Samuel Morris. Like Morris and Langerbein before her, she explicitly acknowledges the Oppenheimers' health conditions (varicose veins and rheumatism) and maintains her affidavit "nevertheless" — the same formula used to counter the consulate's potential objection to admitting immigrants with medical conditions. The document is dated February 4, 1941 — three days after the Langerbein affidavit — suggesting a coordinated blitz of paperwork aimed at finally securing the visas. Notarized by Irma Lotheim.

[From Stuttgart:] To: FRED OPPENHEIMER 804 W. 180 [Street], NEW YORK TRANSFER FOR PASSAGE [of] JULIUS [and] ELSE OPPENHEIM[ER] 300 DOLLARS TO BANCO LISBOA E ACORES LISBON [at] OUR DISPOSAL TRAVEL AGENCY VOCK

[WESTERN UNION CABLEGRAM header] R. B. WHITE, PRESIDENT NEWCOMB CARLTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD J. C. WILLEVER, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Received at 40 Broad Street (Central Cable Office), New York, N.Y. ALWAYS OPEN PCR/BF PR6890 STUTTGART 25 31 NLT RP$2.07 FRED OPPENHEIMER [crossed out: RJ] 804W 180 NEWYORK TRANSFERIERET FUER PASSAGE JULIUS ELSE OPPENHEIM 300 DOLLAR AN BANCO LISBOA E ACORES LISBON UNSERE VERFUEGUNG REISEBUERO VOCK THE QUICKEST, SUREST AND SAFEST WAY TO SEND MONEY IS BY TELEGRAPH OR CABLE

This cablegram reveals a parallel escape route being pursued simultaneously with the Cuba visa attempt: passage through Lisbon, Portugal — the last remaining neutral port in Western Europe. Reisebüro Vock, a Stuttgart travel agency, cabled Fred Oppenheimer at 804 West 180th Street in New York (the Washington Heights neighborhood, another center of German-Jewish refugee settlement) requesting that $300 be transferred to the Banco Lisboa e Açores in Lisbon to cover passage for Julius and Elsa. This is the same $300 referenced in Julius and Elsa's own telegram (0036). The involvement of Fred Oppenheimer — likely a relative (possibly Julius's nephew or cousin) living in Washington Heights — adds another member to the rescue network. The Lisbon route was the primary escape corridor for refugees in late 1941: Jews who could obtain transit visas through Spain and Portugal could potentially embark from Lisbon for the Americas. The Banco Lisboa e Açores was commonly used as a financial intermediary for refugee passage deposits. The Tausig Service Corporation (which had filed the original 1939 affidavits — see 0001) also became involved, querying Reisebüro Vock for details (see 0040).

Airmail envelope front. Addressed to: Dr. Mina Kaufmann 622 West [?] 43 St. [crossed out] c/o Heller [?] 4006 Norfolk Ave. Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A. [crossed out and rewritten as "New York" then corrected back] Stamps: Two Deutsches Reich postage stamps — a green Hindenburg stamp and a dark red/brown Hindenburg stamp. "MIT LUFTPOST / PAR AVION / BY AIR MAIL" label at lower left. The address appears to have been corrected multiple times, with "New York" crossed out and redirected to Baltimore.

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Airmail envelope front. Addressed to: Dr. Mina Kaufmann c/o Engel 664 [?] Norfolk [?] Ave [crossed out/corrected] 4006 Norfolk Ave. Baltimore, Maryland Stamps: Two Deutsches Reich postage stamps (Hindenburg portraits — purple/violet and brown). "MIT LUFTPOST / PAR AVION / BY AIR MAIL" label at lower left. Address has been corrected, with some portions crossed out with diagonal red lines.

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Airmail envelope front. Addressed to: Luftpost Nordamerika [Airmail North America] Fräulein Dr. Mina Kaufmann c/o Engel Baltimore 4006 Norfolk Avenue Stamps: Two Deutsches Reich postage stamps — a 40 Pfennig stamp (Adolf Hitler portrait) and a 25 Pfennig stamp (Paul von Hindenburg portrait). Blue "MIT LUFTPOST / PAR AVION / BY AIR MAIL" label affixed at lower left. Circular censor mark "Ab" visible. Postmark: Hannover.

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This envelope carried a letter from Simon Israel Oppenheimer III in Hannover to his niece Dr. Mina Kaufmann in Baltimore. The use of the mandatory middle name "Israel" (required for Jewish men by the Nazi decree of August 17, 1938) and the Deutsches Reich stamps with Hitler's portrait reflect the conditions under which German Jews corresponded in 1941. The censorship marks indicate wartime mail inspection.

[From Munich, October 25:] To: DOKTOR KAUFMANN 622 WEST 141 STREET APT 3D, NEW YORK CITY VOCK OFFER SEVENTH AUGUST REACHABLE IF YOU AGREE DEPOSIT HALF PASSAGE THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ELSE [AND] JULIUS

[WESTERN UNION header] R. B. WHITE, PRESIDENT NEWCOMB CARLTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD J. C. WILLEVER, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT The filing time shown in the date line on telegrams and day letters is STANDARD TIME at point of origin. Time of receipt is STANDARD TIME at point of destination. D36CC 4A VIA RCA CD MUENCHEN 25 10 NLT RP$3.87 DOKTOR KAUFMANN [handwritten: AW] 622 WEST 141 STREET APT 3D NEWYORKCITY VOCKANGEBOT SIEBTER AUGUST ERREICHBAR WENN DU EINVERSTANDEN EINZAHLET HALBE PASSAGE DREIHUNDERT DOLLARS ELSE JULIUS THE COMPANY WILL APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE

This telegram — one of the very few direct communications from Julius and Elsa Oppenheimer themselves in the entire collection — was sent from Munich, likely on October 25, 1941 (based on the routing code "MUENCHEN 25 10"). Julius and Elsa inform Mina ("Doktor Kaufmann") that a travel offer from Reisebüro Vock (a Stuttgart travel agency — see 0037 and 0040) is available, with a departure date reachable by August 7th [likely a reference to a ship sailing]. They ask Mina to deposit $300 — half the passage fare — if she agrees. The telegram was sent to Mina's new address at 622 West 141st Street, Apt. 3D, New York City (c/o Heller, as per the Zaro Tours documents). The fact that Julius and Elsa could still send international telegrams from Munich in late October 1941 indicates they had not yet been deported, but the window was closing rapidly. Deportations of Munich Jews to Kaunas (Lithuania) and Riga (Latvia) began on November 20, 1941. The telegram is signed "ELSE JULIUS" — Elsa's name first — suggesting she may have been the one managing the practical arrangements from the Munich end.