Chapters 36-40

Jump to Chapter: 36 37 38 39 40

Chapter 36

  • Click on the images below to view Emile’s letter to Doris describing his potential discharge from the military.
Latter from Emile to Doris – September 4, 1944 – side 1
Latter from Emile to Doris – September 4, 1944 – side 2
  • The scene of Doris tucking her letters in a box was inspired by the box (shown above) that my mother kept her buttons in.
  • Click below to view Emile’s letter sent to Doris on her 15th birthday.
Letter from Emile to Doris – February 20, 1947 side 1
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Letter from Emile to Doris – February 20, 1947 side 2
  • Click on the images below to read Claire’s letter. It is partially in English, then reverts to Dutch.
Letter from Claire to Sophie and Rose – June 7. The year is assumed to be 1945. p1
Letter from Claire to Sophie and Rose – June 7. The year is assumed to be 1945. p2
  • My mother shared stories about her beloved Cocker Spaniel, Nipper.
Doris with five-month-old Nipper – Summer 1945
  • Photos and letters sent by Emile inspired the scene in which Sophie, Doris, and Rose look at the pictures of Eva Braun’s home. The captions were typed by Emile on the back of each photo. Emile wasn’t kidding when he cautioned Doris to be careful when touching the pictures. The image below shows what happened when I attempted to clean the dusty photo with my finger. Too bad I didn’t read his letter first!!
Caption on back of photo of Bookshelf
Caption on back of photo of bed
Eva Braun Bookshelf-Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eva Braun Bedroom-Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 -Emile is seated in chair furthest to the rigth
Eava Braun Couch-Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eva Braun Dining Room-Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eava Braun Fireplace-Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946 – Photo taken by Emile Speeger
Emile in front of Eva Braun’s home – July 18, 1946
Emile Gerritt Speeger -Portrait sent to his mother 1946
  • Description of Doris’s school activities was derived from documents in my collection, as well as personal knowledge.

Chapter 37

  • Information regarding the sale of the Scheibengasse house came from letters between Sigmund and his lawyer.
  • Click on the images below to enlarge the communication between Sigmund and the Department of Social Security
Sigmund’s handwritten note (in German) p1
Sigmund’s handwritten note (in German) p2
Sigmund’s letter to Social Security – October 2, 1953 p1
Sigmund’s letter to Social Security – October 2, 1953 p2
Reply form Social Security – October 26, 1953
  • Click on the images below to enlarge Sigmund’s application for passport. Note that he didn’t date it, as he never followed through with the application.
Sigmund’s application for a passport side 2
  • The lunch meeting between Sigmund and Paul came from my imagination, as did the conversation between Sigmund and Rosa, and was based on documents written by Sigmund.

Chapter 38

  • PHOTO of 1949 Letter from Bob “It is with heavy heart”
  • The scene of Doris remembering life with her Omi was imagined.
This is my copy of Struwwelpeter – a book of cautionary tales for children.
  • Sophie did, in fact, request to be buried with her sister. This information came from documents in my collection.
  • The information regarding the fates of Sigmund’s family was found on various Holocaust-related websites.

Chapter 39

  • Letters between Janowitz and Sigmund provided much of the material for this chapter.
  • Click on the images below to see the inventory list from Berger Antiques and his accompanying letter.
Inventory from storage container December 29, 1948
Letter sent by Berger Antiques along with inventory list – January 25, 1949
  • PHOTO of notice from Marittima notifying them of loss
  • Click on the images below to view Sigmund’s 1948 affidavit related to his suit against the Italian government for the loss of items in the storage container (also referred to as a liftvan)
Lawsuit against the Italian government – December 29, 1948 – pg 1
Lawsuit against the Italian government – December 29, 1948 – pg 2
  • Click on the image below to read Senator Lehman’s reply to Sigmund’s request for an increase in Social Security.
Lehman’s reply to Sigmund’s request – January 26, 1950
  • Click on the image below to enlarge the affidavit of Paul Lichtenthal – July 7, 1950.
  • Click on the images below to enlarge the four page petition against Italy, September 26, 1950.
  • PHOTO of affidavit written by Paul on his father’s behalf
  • PHOTO of Janowitz letter that Nenninger must vacate by July 1
  • Click image below to view the letter sent by Sigmund to the High Commissioner of the US offering the Scheibengasse house for rent
Letter written by Sigmund offering Scheibengasse hose for rent – June 4, 1951
  • PHOTO of letter saying Nenninger eviction completed- Janowitz says “ you are now happily finished”

Chapter 40

  • The scene of Doris getting ready for the prom was inspired by a PHOTO in my collection. Doris did go to a dance with Alan, but I have no proof that it was her senior prom.
  • The information regarding Alan’s future plans was based on personal knowledge of his life and stories shared by my mother.
  • The scene of Alan and Doris meeting at the elevator was inspired by a card written by Alan to Doris. PHOTO????
  • David Nilson did live aboard the Chinese junk Amoy. He and Doris enjoyed a relationship for some time during high school. Ephemera found in Doris’s scrapbook helped me give context to their relationship.
  • Doris’s outlook on religion was based on conversations we had throughout her life.
  • The conversation between Doris and her parents regarding her relationships David and Alan came from my imagination.
  • Information related to Doris’s attendance at Katharine Gibbs was derived from my research and artifacts in my collection.
  • Doris told me she worked at General Foods following graduation, telling me she was their “token Jew.”
  • The conversation between Doris and Jessica came from my imagination.
  • Doris and Elaine Roswell remained friends for decades.
  • The scene of the proposal came from my imagination; however, my mother did tell me the engagement ring previously belonged to Alan’s grandmother. (I am assuming his maternal grandmother, Estelle Byk, based on the relation he had with her.
Engagement article – Standard Star – Found in Doris’s scrapbook
Clipping found in Doris’s scrapbook
Found in Doris’s scrapbook – I have no idea who wrote the names!
  • The scene of the wedding preparations was inspired by photos in my collection. PHOTO Doris and mother, father, etc.
  • Information related to the wedding was based on artifacts in my collection and local newspapers. PHOTO newspaper announcement.
  • The portrait of Doris was painted by Malva Schalek, a Viennese artist. You can read more about her fascinating HERE.
Portrait if Doris – 1937
  • The phrase, “Who ever said you were supposed to by happy?” was actually uttered by my mother during one of our many conversations about life.