Chapters 31-35

Jump to Chapter: 31 32 33 34 35

Chapter 31

  • All the conversations in this chapter came from my imagination and were inspired by documents found in my research.
Dragaon vase - photographed at Doris’s hoime 2011
Hot chocolate set photograohed at Doris’s home in 2011. This set is currently dispalyed the home of Rose’s grandaughter.
B;lue plates sitting on mantle in Dris’s home (2011) These plates currently are displayed at the home of Rose’s great-grandaughter.
Blue cobalt bowl photographed at Doris’s home in 2011. Doris loved her plastic fruit! She painted the bottle of Mrs. Butterwirth syrup and created the lamp seen in the background!
  • Information related to Norbert and Adele was derived from documents in my collection and additional research.
  • Information related to Kurt Mendel/Robert Cunningham was based on letters in my collection, including those written to my mother by her cousin “Bob”, as well as online research.
  • Letters sent to Sigmund by Robert Janowitz during this period provided insight into life in Vienna at the time.

Chapter 32

  • The scenes on the morning train and the family’s conversation came from my imagination and were based on events of that day, as reported in newspapers.
  • Emile’s visit was inspired by letters and documents found in my research.
Triangle Hatbox patented by Emile Speeger – in my collection
  • Click on images below to enlarge the pages of Emile’s 1941 Hatbox patent.
Triangle Hatbox patent – Emile G. Speeger – April 1, 1941 p2
Triangle Hatbox patent – Emile G. Speeger – April 1, 1941 p3
Triangle Hatbox patent – Emile G. Speeger – April 1, 1941 p4
  • My mother often spoke fondly of her Uncle Emile, sharing many stories of his childhood escapades.
  • The statement about Emile “spitting on Hitler” was found in one of his letters.
  • The list of Doris’s hobbies came from letters written during this time, as well as my personal knowledge.
Doris’s postcard from camp – July 6. 1941 – front
Doris’s postcard from camp – July 6. 1941 – back
  • Sophie’s conversation about Doris’s mental health was inspired by personal knowledge and letters written at the time.
  • The conversation between Paul and Rose came from my imagination, but was supported by the fact that Paul did cut down his hours at the hat factory.
  • The images below are of Speculaas cookies.
Zimt-Speculatius, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Speculaas baked by Jeanne Samueel – December 2023 She couldn;t find a windmill shaped cookie mold!

Click on the images below to enlarge the photos of Rose’s placemats. These photos were used in newspaper advertising through the mid-1950s.

Chapter 33

  • All information about Emile’s military experience was drawn from letters written at the time as well as documents in my collection and provided context for the imagined scenes.
  • Click on images below to enlarge letters sent by Emile to his sister, Rose.
V-Mail letter from Emile – March 18, 1944 – p1
V-Mail letter from Emile – March 18, 1944 – p1
V-Mail letter from Emile – April 11, 1944 – p1
V-Mail letter from Emile – April 11, 1944 – p2
V-Mail letter from Emile – September 291, 1944 – outside
V-Mail letter from Emile – September 291, 1944 – inside
  • Click on image below to enlarge Naturalization documents.
Rosa Lichtal – Declaration of Intent – February 23, 1943
Rose Lichtenthal – Naturalization Certificate – March 30, 1944
Paul Lichtenthalal – Naturalization Certificate -June 4, 1944
Sigmund Lichtenthal – Naturalization Certificate – July 25, 1946
Rosa Lichtenthal- Naturalization Certificate – January 13, 1947
Doris Lichtenthal -Certificate of Naturalization – October 19, 1945

Chapter 34

  • All information about Emile’s military experience was drawn from letters written at the time. as well as documents in my collection and provided context for the imagined scenes.
  • All family conversations came from my imagination, but based on actual world events.
  • Click on letter images below to enlarge.
Letter from Emile to Rose about the suffering of Germans – April 2, 1945
Letter from Emile – April 26, 1945
Latter from Emile on VE Day – May 8, 1945
Letter from Emile with reference to Dachau – May 14, 1945
Sophie’s letter to the Department of Dependency Benefits
  • Information about Hitler’s death and his successor came from various newspaper reports.

Chapter 35

  • The conversation between Sigmund and Rosa came from my imagination.
  • Click on images below to enlarge pages of Sigmund’s Fur Substitute patent.
Patent for fur substitute – May 2, 1944 -p1
Patent for fur substitute – May 2, 1944 -p2
Patent awarded to Sigmund Lichtenthal for Fur Substitute – May 2, 1944
Obituary of Sigmund’s mother – Antonia “Toni” Beller Lichtenthal January 1, 1920 -Neue Wiener Taglblatt p20
  • The story of the interaction between Rosa and her sister Renee was shared by Renee’s son, Kurt Mendel/Robert “Bob” Cunningham, on a letter to my mother.