Letters From Ernst

by Ernst Gottlieb

[from Holland  prior to the Nazi invasion]

Graciously Provided by Marian Price

Below are two Letters to Selma Gottlieb Kallis from her cousin Ernst Gottlieb in Holland

Translated by Gene Gottlieb, January 2002

Letter #1 

Undated, handwritten letter:

Dear Selma,

I want to use this opportunity to send you a letter and an enclosure.  Many thanks for the photo you sent.  Your daughter is getting big.  Our son goes to school now.  He is also big and wild.  At the next opportunity I will send you a photo of him.  At the moment I do not have a recent one to enclose.

Are you still in your profession, or is your occupation now mother and housewife?  Your husband is also probably an academic.

The brothers of my wife are also in the French army.  One of them is now stationed in Syria, and  probably will protect Turkey against Russia if necessary.  He belongs to a heavy artillery unit.  That your cousins from Thionville have also been drafted is naturally a daily occurrence for France.  Hopefully they will return safe and sound.

Here also there are war conditions (preparations) because one can't trust the neighbor (Germany).  If it were up to me everything would be democratic.  Countries are declaring war on Germany in order to help England and France.

And you in USA must deliver to us  arms and munitions.

I continue to pursue my business.  As you probably know, I manage a knitting goods factory.  Lately there is a shortage of wool, due to the fact that the knitters overseas leave much to be desired.  And therefore the output is rationed.  Also sometimes one cannot deliver as much as is required.  If it does not get any worse I am nevertheless satisfied.

I don't have any more news to write.  Martha, my wife, also wanted to write to you, but she is not in the house at the moment, and I don't want to delay this letter.

Continue to stay healthy.  Heartiest regards.

I just found a new wallet photo and I am enclosing it.

Your cousin, Ernst

Letter #2 

Typewritten and dated letter:

Zolle, Holland

April 4, 1939

Dear Selma,

Since you have recovered somewhat from reading the other letter, I will write with the machine.  As you of course know, the name Gottlieb no longer exists in Bosen, after being there for hundreds of years.

I live in Holland for over three years and therefore I have avoided the worst.  However, the last few months were completely terrible, and one can almost not believe that in Germany there are still people, but only wild animals.

Dear Selma, you remember when we were together in Nahbollenbach, and how the entire village came together in order to see you and greet you and send regards to your mother.  And today these same people would not even look at you, but would spit on you.  This is how people have changed, especially the youth.

Are you dear Selma still in your profession, or are you occupied being a mother?  I also have a son, and is six years old.  He goes to school and speaks both languages (German and Dutch) perfectly.

After a long search I am back in my previous profession branch manager, and have an agency for stockings, and I visit wholesalers.  I am relatively satisfied with the results.  However, one worries whether the evil neighbor, which one cannot trust, and fears whether the same thing will happen to Holland that happened to Czechoslovakia.  Without help, Holland cannot protect itself.  Since the declaration by Chamberlain, the mood is naturally much better and we hope it remains this way.

Also, the business rises and falls with this mood.

I don't know anything else of importance.  Therefore, receive only heartiest regards from your

Ernst

*****