Bonn, 12 June 1942 My dear beloved children, We are about to embark on a journey to the unknown, and as we don't know what our fate in this unknown route will be, we want to write you a few lines. We owe Miss Hella Bente, Bonn, 45 Koblenz Street infinite gratitude. You will never be able to repay her, should we not see each other again - also the Verdingen family, who live at the same address, Eva knew them well. I am unable to concentrate - thus the brevity of my letter. My ardent greetings and kisses, from your father who loves you from the depth of his heart.
Letter from the Mother
Bonn-Enderich Dear beloved children, I can well see you standing in front of me…. Oh, we often hope the war will soon be over. We would then hurry back to you. The thought was so wonderful it kept me going. But unfortunately one cannot evade one's fate. Here in the icy Eulenburg (Monastery) we are quite well in spite of the disgusting food. Recently, unfortunately, we have not been allowed to go out…. Father is still unfit for work, and thus we hope not to have to go away [on deportation], to be able to stay here until the end of the war, to rush and see you. Fate, however, will not have it. Miss Hella (Mariechen) Bente…was wonderful. All the others have abandoned us. But she, with her courage and self-sacrifice, was a source of strength and help to us. It was she who repeatedly helped us with a nobility that I am unable to describe. A package from her arrived every Sunday, or she would visit us with the Urdingen family…who were also kind to us. What enormous courage was needed to maintain contact with us! May God bless them for this great act of love and kindness. You, dear children, will never be able to thank them enough. This is my dearest wish, as it cannot be described in words. Even brothers and sisters can not be as kind and noble to each other…. She will send all of our things to you. Yes, I have dreamed of giving you everything myself…. Have courage, dear children. God bless you. These will be my last words to you. Dearest Ruthchen, you are my eldest, you have experienced so much with us at our home. You have such a good, warm heart, my beautiful, beloved Ruth. You have always radiated so much strength. I would say to myself: I have to ask Ruthchen. I don't have to worry about her, because she would always think and take care of everyone. Utychen, you went through so much in America, had to work so hard, my poor Utychen, my heart aches for you when I think of you. But now that Murissa will be able to work again, I no longer worry about your future. Dear Murissa, your dear mother and Guenter wrote to us often with concern and love. Recently, they sent us two cheery letters and a sausage with a gentleman who travelled to Germany. The sausage was delicious. God, how happy we were. Beloved Murzi, Utychen, take care of our Everle. Dear Lillychen, my Lillychen, I can see you standing at the lectern. How proud I always was of my Lillychen. I cannot write at the moment, as we have just received news that we have to go with the next transport. I am loosing my mind. Siegmund Meyer could easily have let us stay here for another three months. (Vanham, Oskar, Ada, Willy were more fortunate, they can stay for a while. Klaerechen in Berlin can also stay, but she suffered so much during the last bombing). I can hardly think at this time. Lillychen, Jupychen, Bobbychen! God, my sweet child, how much I would have liked to hug and kiss you. My heart is bleeding. My Everle, my youngest! What should I write. My dearest. Be brave. Live you life in health and happiness. After all, we have lived our lives. Have no regrets for us. Always think of how happy I would be to know you are happy. I have one last wish, dear children, keep together, come what may. Love each other dearly. Then you will live according to my wishes. Everle would always give me her last penny. It was so wonderful in the summer at Hohenzollern Street when we were waiting for Uty-Murzi, when Lillychen, Jueppchen would surprise us. Jueppchen was always so kind and helpful in deeds rather than words…. A thousand thanks. One of the violins is very good. I give it to my Bobbychen. It is an Italian violin. Dearest Everle, you will hopefully soon find a dear man whom you will love. Then you will have your own home, your own children, and then you will be happy. Don't be too selective, it just has to be someone you love. God, if I could only live to see him, to look into his eyes and whisper softly: make my Everle happy. Now let us be brave. Dearest children, thank you deeply for all your love. Each one of you made me so happy with his love. So proud - and yet not enough - was I of my beautiful blond children. So I say goodbye to you with tears, kisses and hugs. Charitable God, protect them all and make them happy. And don't you cry for this Jewish fate of ours. It is not a fate, but sheer savagery. And with what greatness is it being borne. The Buchners have just come. It is from up here that the transports go to the beyond. Urtchen, Hildchen, dear Ben, Evchen, I would have liked to write much more, but I can write no more. The engineer Meyer could not let us stay here any longer, as he now assured me. The poor people, no, one cannot describe it. Dearest, thanks, a thousand thanks for all your great love. Gertchen will once be a great man. Evchen, if I could only see you now. God bless you all. Oh, Archen, Editchen, dearest kisses…. Ruth, Lilly, Evy, Muressa, Juepchen, Babbychen… Within three months there will be not a single Jew in Germany.
