Oppenheimer, Johanna (née Gärtner)

None

United States of America, State of New York County of Kings, I, William Langerbein, being duly sworn, depose and say: That I reside with my wife Mrs. Ottilie Langerbein nee Mayer at 59 Rockaway Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. That I have resided in the United States for the past fifteen (15) years and that I am a citizen of the United States holding Certificate of Naturalization #.237,253 issued by the Southern District Court at New York on December 3, 1930. That I am a—37 years of age. That it is my intention and desire to have the following friends come and stay with my wife and me in the United States: Mr. Julius Israel Oppenheimer born in Gemmingen, Baden, Germany on May 5th, 1882 and his wife Mrs. Elsa Sarah Oppenheimer — born in Gemmingen, Baden, Germany on Febr. 14, 1894 both residing at Munich, Alfonsstr. 1 Germany. That both my wife and myself have known Mr. and Mrs. Julius Oppenheimer for over 30 years, since we lived formerly in Germany in very close contact with our friends. That both Mr. and Mrs. Oppen- heimer consider our friendship as a very close tie between us, even closer than any relationship might be; in proof of which, Mr. and Mrs. Oppenheimer have taken care of my wife's parents for a long time , acting for them as if they were their children instead of their friends parents. That I promise hereby to give Mr. and Mrs.Julius Oppen- heimer full board and lodging after their arrival in the United States, and to take care of all their expenses — needs; that I do not wish to enumerate everything I am going to do for them, since I feel my obli- gation as a friend very strongly; that being elderly people, I do not expect them to earn their own living, but that I entirely wish to support them. That I am in a position to guarantee that Mr. and Mrs. Julius Oppenheimer will never become a public charge, since I have nobody dependent on me— upon me for support, my wife being self — supporting. That I have a steady income of $36.40 with the Eagle Pencil Company, as proved by the enclosed statement. (Encl. 1) That I have a joint bank account with my wife at the Hamburg Savings —ank, showing a deposit of $3,172.24 (Encl.2)

This affidavit from William Langerbein of Brooklyn is one of the most detailed sponsorship documents in the collection. Langerbein, a naturalized U.S. citizen since 1930 (15 years in the country, age 37), provides key biographical data for both Julius and Elsa Oppenheimer: Julius born May 5, 1882, and Elsa born February 14, 1894, both in Gemmingen, Baden — confirming their birthplace and the 12-year age difference between them. Their Munich address at Alfonsstrasse 1 is consistent with the earlier documents. Langerbein's emotional language — that the friendship was "closer than any relationship" and that the Oppenheimers had "taken care of my wife's parents for a long time, acting for them as if they were their children" — reflects genuine personal obligation. His financial resources included employment at the Eagle Pencil Company ($36.40/week, roughly $40,000/year in today's money) and savings of $3,172.24 at the Hamburg Savings Bank. The document is dated February 1, 1941, over a year after the initial affidavits of November 1939, indicating that the visa process was still unresolved despite multiple sponsors and extensive documentation.