ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 106960 - Translation - German - Germany - Dresden - Oling


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - German
Approval Date: 5/1/2024 12:51 PM
Family Surname: Oling
Country: Germany
Town: Dresden
Date of Image: 7 March 1938

Click the picture to enlarge

Translation, please, of this first page of a letter from my grandfather Robert Oling to Mathilde Rosner in Prague. The letter is part of a large file in the Saxon State Archive. Robert was in prison at the time, charged with "speaking against the regime". It appears that the letter was not sent. Thank you. Carol

Response

5/2/2024 12:24 AM

Dear Mila!
.....[general uninformative statements about writing letters].....
What I told you last year has occurred
I am under medical care for my nerve condition, get medical diet, have severe pains on both sides and so cannot sleep at night

5/2/2024 6:35 PM

Here you go Carol, this is both pages. This letter is written in extremely neat – in fact unnaturally neat – script (Kurrent script, as all German speakers of that generation learned in school). I imagine the neatness and legibility was required in order to pass the prison censor.

***

My dear Milotschka,

I’ve gone back and forth and in all directions in my head, not daring to write to you. Of course I wasn’t sure whether it would bother you. But I also know how totally unhappy and annoyed you are when you don’t get the usual mail from me on time. At this time it is not so pleasant nor is it nice to get letters from here, so please don’t get angry and don’t be mad at me. That thing I told you about last year in Bad Pistyan has happened. I’m being treated for my nerve condition and eating hospital food. I have severe pain on both sides and insomnia, as you can imagine.

You can see where I am now from the letterhead, and since the 16th of last month I am no longer able to receive your letters, which are so precious and dear to me. If there’s something important in them, ask to get them back from the post office.

Don’t be surprised if this letter seems one-sided and inadequate. Anything else is not allowed – that’s why it’s so brief. Since sending letters back and forth might get unpleasant and cause distress for you, I propose we pause our correspondence until I’m released. As soon as I’m out I will write to you at once. Otherwise do as you see fit and I’ll do accordingly. I don’t know how you would take it. I was happy I was able to chat with you. Unfortunately you shouldn’t....You shouldn’t get upset and annoyed for nothing, there’s no reason.

I hope you are healthy and doing well. Many sincere regards,

Robert
Dresden, 7 March 1938

***

Translated by Robert Rosenbaum (Ashland, Oregon)
M.A. in Translation and Interpretation (German-English), Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/yiztran.html
Copyright 2024 Robert Rosenbaum. All rights reserved.

ViewMate Posting VM 106960

Submitted by Carol Jean Weightman

Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself!

Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information!

Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today.

Learn how to enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles submitted by volunteer researchers just like you!

Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community.

The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

ViewMate Posting VM 106960

Submitted by Carol Jean Weightman