Roots - Sally and Clara Ermann - A Brief Ray of Hope

Then, at last, there came a ray of hope.

Oma’s sister, Betty, tried to make arrangements for my grandparents to come over to England to follow her brother Joseph and her sister Meta, who had since settled in Palestine. There was much to prepare. Documents and visas were required in an atmosphere of anxiety and harassment.

Visits at the dentist were arranged. Opa had to have false teeth; Oma dreaded to have some teeth pulled out. She had a new housecoat made for herself; wrote to me what colour material to choose for eiderdowns to bring with her etc. etc. She envisaged creating a home for me and Oswald in England so that we could all be together again. She tried to bring me my bicycle; wondered what to do with the furniture at home; knew it would not bring much money after having been smashed and repaired after Kristallnacht.

Alas, it was all too late. War put a stop to everything. It must have been a devastating blow.

My grandparents were able to stay in our flat in the Schefelstrasse until their deportation in September 1942. There is no record of how they lived. The only contact possible was through the Red Cross, but all messages were restricted to a maximum of 25 words. Answers had to be written on the back of the Red Cross form.

The first message was sent in March 1942 and by great fortune and to their immense joy, arrived on their Golden Wedding anniversary in June that year.

Translation of response to Lore's first Red Cross message

Highly delighted. March message received on the day of our Golden Wedding anniversary. Are in good health. Happy about Oswald and your further education. Hope for reunion.

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