With this I authorize my daughter Eva Frankenberg, Rath, residing in Leipzig, Grusiusstr 1/11 sur disposal about my stuff in my apartment in Leipzig, Vrusiurstr.1 / 11, laundry, clothes and furniture. That person is also authorized to give my name to third persons and to represent me in all authorities.
Kolomyia, 29 November. 1938.
Repertory number 927 / 38.-
I certify to those who are not personally known to me, Naclman Rath, currently in Zabłoty, whose identity I have established on the basis of my passport issued by the Polish Consulate in Leipzig on March 4, 1938, Number 5298 / - I signed this document myself. The stamp duty was not taken after 112 and 142 u.o.s. As a notary deed, 21 notary fees were deducted for the amount of gold.
Kolomyia, on the twenty-eighth day of November in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight.
New York, November 28, 1938
My dear ones,
I hope you know me well enough to know how deeply I feel for you all in this misfortune that has come upon you, and thus upon all of us. You can rest assured that the help I will offer you will not be smaller than what I will offer my own next of kin. This is just an introduction. And now the practical part of my letter. The way things are right now, it seems advisable to first take care of Gisela. On the day I received your letter, dear Mother, I already took steps to find either a regular affidavit or what you describe as a household affidavit for Gisela. I will now have to wait a few days to see what happens to all of the “nooses” I laid. Once Eva, Suse, and Gisela are here, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a possibility for Joachim to get here. That would take care of the younger generation. But the older one as well, you as well as my mother and Grete, whom I could among the “older ones” due to her eye issues, will not be forgotten. I will be busy for every last one of you. I don’t know when I will have success. But it is certain that I will one day. I ask all of you to be in good spirits and not to lose hope for a new life, even if it sometimes impossible. A lot can be achieved with love and determination. But I also want to ask you not to rely exclusively on me, but to take every opportunity to do something for yourselves. I’m sure I don’t need to explain to you how tenuous my situation is here and that my ability and my willingness to help are limited due to the hard facts. I hope you understand this. I want to take this opportunity to ask whether you are in touch with your brother in Belgium, and whether he is willing to help you and how. I know that Aunt Paula is not eager to help victims. But I assume that she might be a bit less obstinate in the face of such misfortune?
I hope it will be possible for you to keep your heads above water until I am ready. I think that [my?] father can do something and that Joachim helps him. Maybe Gisela will find some housework. That will help her prepare for America. Life will begin for her here like that, and she really needs to learn how to run a household or get used to harder work. If Gisela could learn a little about childcare, that would be good. – Then I want to ask you why you are not living with your relatives in Kolomyja, or do they live in Zablotów? I have news from Evchen. She is brave. I hope she will be here in late January as planned. – That’s all I have to say for today. Write to me regularly every week so I can stay updated about developments. – I need Giselas birth date and year as soon as possible. She was born in L., right? Her full name. And I need this information from all of you. So full names, born where and when. Mother’s maiden name! I hope you are all in good health and will remain that way. Keep up your spirits and don’t let things get you down under any circumstances. Better times will come after this horrible time.
With many warm greetings I remain, Your Fritz
