Collection of Letters from German-American Woman Visiting Family in Germany During Hitler's Rise to Power Incl. his Annexation of Austria, Ca 1936-193

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Jun 10, 2016 - Jun 11, 2016

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• Lot Description
  Collection of Letters from German-American Woman Visiting Family in Germany During Hitler's Rise to Power Incl. his Annexation of Austria, Ca 1936-1938 
  
  
  
  Lot of 6 letters from Annchen, ca 1936-1938. 
  
  The tenuous political environment in Germany during the Weimar Republic led to the rise of one of the most infamous political leaders of all time, Adolph Hitler.  His promises of bread and pride were something many starved Germans desperately desired. He appealed to their nationalism and his enigmatic personality made many Germans, including Annchen, feel as if he were their savior or sent by God.
  
  Around 1923 Annchen’s father sent her and her brothers to the United States to escape the struggles in Germany. She finally returned home for a long visit, but her stepmother greeted her with sorrowful news. Five years I had thought and planned and looked forward to this trip and especially to see our father….I was almost home. One day too late!, wrote Annchen. After half a decade of separation, her father died 24 hours before her arrival; denying her long-awaited reunion. Life is so strange, she wrote to her brothers, It is beyond human comprehension…Tomorrow we shall visit father and mother’s grave again. (Flemsburg, October 19, 1936). His death dampened some of the joy she anticipated but the trip resumed and she visited their family and the streets on which they used to live:
  
  In America I used to dream a lot about Katherine St…I came in and saw mother so plainly in the kitchen cutting bread. This winter, one time, I walked alone up the Friesesdie Berg, down the Katherine St. past the house, where we use to live during the war time, when it was hard enough to buy bread for all of us children…Don’t you remember, how we use to think, that sometimes an angel had put a loaf of bread in our kitchen cabinet? reminisced Annchen (July 11, 1937).
  
  Annchen traveled through Germany four years after Adolph Hitler rose to power and inserted himself into the culture. She described her niece as a real Hitler Madchen, beautiful days as "Hitler Weather," because the sun usually shines when Hitler comes, and her relatives saluting "Heil Hitler" (February 10, 1937 and May 20, 1938).  For her, the prosperous "New Germany" may have inculcated good feelings towards Hitler. Her family was well-fed, employed, and had leisure time, which included festivals, birthday parties, and outdoor concerts. It is simply great what all is being done in Germany, wrote Annchen. Everything of this kind is [to] build up sort of 'Kameradschaftlich' [comradeship]. This is the spirit in which Hitler is trying to train the whole Nation…. I can well understand that our father was so enthused about our "New Germany" (November 8, 1937).  There seemed to be less suffering than the Germany she remembered, which made her believe in the Fuehrer's vision. She wrote to her brothers, I wish you could all read "Hitler’s Kampf."Hitler’s ideas are so ideal & so great & so deep that most people do not even understand them or do not want to understand, because, it means for them to sacrifice (November 8, 1937). Annchen’s German relatives enlisted in the army. She began classes in heredity, furthering her admiration for Hitler’s grand vision for the Volk:
  
  The dream of all great German thinkers & poets of the last thousand years has now been fulfilled. Germany now has become this “One Great Kingdom” (but without a king). “EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FUHRER!” has become a “Schlagworte” [catchword] in Germany. We always speak of the “Old Country.” I think it would be much more correct to call it the “New Country” or at least the “New – Germany.” The changes, which have been brought about since 1933, are indescribable (May 20, 1938).
  
  Just before her departure home, Annchen witnessed History, which should interest everybody & especially us Germans & German descendants, with Hitler's annexation of Austria. She wrote:
  
  It was March, the 12th, late in the evening, when the announcement came over the radio, that the Fuhrer & his troops were called over to Austria to rescue them from Bolshevism & war. I suppose you have heard or read some thing about Mr. Schuschnigg’s plan. Well, what a feeling came over all of us when we heard this news, I cannot describe. In my spirit I already saw Peter, Emma’s husband, leaving Emma alone with all her little children. Theo instead of celebrating his wedding, marching into war, & myself, packing my trunk & leaving with the next steamer for USA. That night we didn’t get much rest. We left the radio on nearly all night. And every now & then we heard “ACHTUNG, ACHTUNG.” And then again the latest news.... The following morning when “Peace” was announced instead of war, a country gained & 7 ½ million people delivered from a dreadful war. And all of this without losing a drop of blood! Oh, what a beautiful victory! Has ever anything like this happened in this world in the past? And only through the idea of one man. The thing is so great, that is hardly comprehendible for the present generation. 
  
  After the "great victory," Annchen's longing to see the “fuhrer” was very strong (May 20, 1938). On March 29th she traveled to Hamburg to see him. She wrote:
  
  About two hours I stood there in line among many thousands of people, near the station, where the Fuhrer was to arrive at 3 P.M. It was pouring! But it didn’t bother us much. One had enough to do to fight for one’s place. And did I ever fight!..When the train pulled in, the bells of St. Michael’s Church rang. And just a few minutes later a car, with the Fuhrer standing, greeting with “deutschem Gruss,” stretched forth right arm, past by very slowly. I had not thought, that I would have been able to control myself. I had expected to shout for joy, but when I saw him, I couldn’t say a thing, I just felt shaky feeling in my knees and a choky feeling in my throat. When he was past, I shouted “Heil” three times.
  
  It is impossible to describe the impression the Fuhrer makes on a person, the expression of his eyes! Well I can just imagine what you are thinking now: “The same thing like “Lindy.” Oh no! This is something altogether different. I can’t describe it & wouldn’t want to do it either for you might get the wrong impression. You might get the impression that I am idolizing the Fuhrer like many people are doing. I am not idolizing him, but I do consider him a great tool in the Lord’s hands.  
  
  Right after the great moment was passed, I took the next streetcar & rushed out to the Hanseatenhalle, where Hitler was to speak in the evening. I was lucky to get there just when the doors were opened. Thousands of people were already waiting to get in. There is room for 35,000 people in the Hanseatenhalle. You can imagine how everybody rushed to get a good seat. I was quite lucky, right in front, but pretty far back, because there were seats reserved for 10,000 Ostereicher which were “guests of honor” at this occasion. Five hours I sat there until the fuhrer came. But the time didn’t seem long at all. One was only too glad to sit there & wait. Thousands of people had to stand. Many people fainted….Everybody arose & greeted & shouted “Heil, Heil, Heil, Hitler, Heil mein Fuhrer, Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer, Heil, Heil, etc.” Only I stood there again silent, with stretched forth arm & tears in my eyes. It took quite awhile until the people were quiet. And there on the stage, stood the Fuhrer, the greatest man which the world had seen for many centuries & still so plain, in his brown uniform, greeting his people, his “Volk.” He spoke about an hour, wonderful & mighty. Never in all my life, have I ever felt so plainly, what it means, to be a German. And never, since 1923 have I ever felt so plainly, that I AM a German. (May 20, 1938). 
  
  For a more detailed look at the contents of the lot, refer to: http://www.historybroker.com/collection/annchen/annchen.htm.   

  Condition

  Most of the letters are in good condition with typical folds and some tears at the folds. Some are in more fragile condition than others, but still remain legible and intact.
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