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Letter from Senta Loewenstein to Suzy and Beate Stern containing translated letter from Flora and Albert Schmidt

French | English
 
1944
Ma chère Beate et chère Susy,

Vous ne pouvez pas vous imaginez comme j'étais contente et heureuse de lire vos noms dan le journal, disant que vous me cherchez. Hier soir j'ai su par notre cousine Röschen Loewenstein (qui est à New York) que Mme. Senta Loewenstein lui a écrit et qu'elle s'occuppe de vous. J'ai tout de suite envoyé un petit colis pour vous et il y a quinze jours j'ai envoyé un à Dr. Minleowsky à Paris. Avez-vous entendu quelque chose sur vos chers parents? Je me suis mariée entretemps. Tante Bertha est encore à Londres et elle voudrait bien venir ici. Votre grand-mère, tante Selma et oncle Siegfried ont eu de vos nouvelles par une fille qui était avec toi, Beate. Ecrivez moi vite, n'importe dans quelle langue et faites moi savoir, si vous savez lire l'anglais. J'éspere, que vous soyez toutes les deux en bonne santé, et aussitôt qu'il y aura une possibilité, oncle Albert et moi vous ferons venir chez nous. En attendant, nous vous enverron chaque semaine un petit colis, écrivez-nous de que vous avez besoin. Nous attendons avec impatience de vos nouvelles. Ecrivez vite.

Je vous embrasse tendrement votre
tante Flora
qui vous aime beaucoup.

Chère Beate et Suzy, malgré que je ne vous connaisse pas, veux-je vous envoyez quelque lignes car chère Flora m'a beaucoup raconté sur vous. J'étais aussi trés content, d'avoir un

 

signe de vie de vous et d’entendre, que vous êtes en bonne santé. S’il y a une possibilité de vous faire venir ici, sommes-nous tout à fait disposés de vous donner un chez vous. À bientôt de vous lire,

Je vous embrasse bien affectueusement
votre oncle Albert

Mes chères petites, voilà la traduction de la letter de votre tante, j’aurais telle-ment voulu de vous la lire ici à vive voir. Je peux vous dire, que je suis trés déçue de lire dans votre carte du 15-II, que vous ne soyez pas parties à Paris, alors, pourquoi n’a-t-on pas laissé vous venir ici? Après les dernières nouvelles de Limoges je pouvais com-prendre, que vous devriez bientôt partir en Angleterre, si ce n’est pas le cas, j’aurais voulu que vous veniez près de moi. Vos parents m’ont demandé cela et vous savez bien, que je vous aime beaucoup. Mais peut-être vous reverrais-je tout de même encore. Rependez directement à tante Flora, je lui écrirai de mon côté aussi. Avez-vous eu des nouvelles de l’Angleterre? Ecrivez-moi,

Je vous embrasse
bien tendrement
tante Senta.
English | French
19441
My dear Beate and dear Susy,

You cannot imagine how delighted and happy I was to read your names in the newspaper saying that you were searching for me. Yesterday evening I learned from our cousin Röschen Loewenstein (who is in New York) that Mrs. Senta Loewenstein had written to her that she is looking after you. Right away I sent a small parcel for you, and two weeks ago I sent another one to Dr. Minleowsky in Paris. Have you heard any news of your parents? I’ve meanwhile gotten married. Your Aunt Bertha is still in London, and she would like to come here. Your grandmother, Aunt Selma and Uncle Siegfried have had news of you by way of a girl who was with you, Beate. Write to me quickly, it doesn’t matter in what language, and let me know if you can read English at all. I hope that both of you are in good health, and as soon as it becomes possible, Uncle Albert and I will arrange to have you come here to us. Meanwhile, we will send you a small parcel every week. Write to us and let us know what you are in need of. We can’t wait to hear news from you. Write to me as soon as you can.

With tender hugs for both of you from your
Aunt Flora
who loves you very much.

Dear Beate and Suzy, although I don't know you, I want to write a few lines to you because my dear Flora has told me so much about you. I, too, was so happy to have a

 

sign of life from you and to hear that you are in good health. If there is a possibility to arrange for you to come here, we are absolutely willing to offer you a new home here. Hoping to receive word from you soon,

With great affection, a warm embrace from
your Uncle Albert

My dear little girls, there you have the French translation of the letter from your aunt.2 I would have liked so much to read it to you here in person. I can tell you that I am very disappointed to read in your postcard dated February 15,3 that you have not left for Paris. So, why did they not let you come here? After the most recent news from Limoges, I understood that you would soon be departing for England. If that isn’t the case, I would have liked you to have come here to be close to me. Your parents requested that I do this, and you well know that I love you very much. But maybe I’ll still see you again. Reply directly to Aunt Flora, and for my part I will write to her as well. Have you had any news from England? Write me.

With a warm hug and a
tender kiss, from your
Auntie Senta.

Notes

1. The date “1944” was penciled into the upper-right-hand corner at a later date, but must be incorrect. The letter from Flora and her husband Albert was dated 2 FEB 1945, and arrived in France 21 MAR 1945, so Senta couldn’t have written the translation in 1944. [back]
2. See the original letter from Flora and Albert Schmidt (soh.sto001.00217): "Letter from Flora and Albert Schmidt to Beate and Suzy Stern, February 2, 1945." [back]
3. The month indication in this abbreviated handwritten date is very unclear. It could be “15-4” in Arabic numerals (April 15), or “15-II” with the month indication in Roman numerals, which appears a lot in these letters, and which would be February 15. Either date would have to be in 1945, not 1944, i.e. after the liberation of France. Paris was not retaken until August 1944. The girls left for England July 2, 1945. The postcard Senta refers to was most likely dated FEBRUARY 15, 1945. [back]