Chapters 6 -10

Jump to Chapter: 6 7 8 9 10

Chapter 6

Sigmund’s wallet (from 1957) Click to enlarge
Poem found tucked inside the wallet
  • Sigmund did sue the Austrian government, however, I was unable to find how the case resolved.
  • The information about Sigmund’s involvement with the various associations was gleaned from the memorandums and letters he wrote.
  • All the information regarding the Scheibengasse house came from documents sent by the Vienna archives as well as letters written by Sigmund and documents he saved..
  • Click HERE to see a current view of Scheibengasse 11 on Google maps.
  • Sigmund did teach at the Trade School of Vienna for several years, beginning in 1928.
  • The information about Solomon (Real name: Paul) threatening to kill himself came from my mother. The conversation in the story came from my imagination.
  • Sigmund’s opinion of the Spiegels was related by my mother. She shared that Sigmund actually did consider sending Paul away in hopes of preventing the marriage.
  • The information regarding the change in LITAL’s status came from documents written by Sigmund as well as the entry in Vienna’s Commercial register,
Commercial Register – Vienna

Chapter 7

  • The dinner table conversation was imagined as a way to convey the situation in Vienna.
  • I don’t know the actual reason Sigmund decided to rent out the Scheibengasse house, but retirement income seemed plausible. He and Rosa did, in fact, move above the shop on Mariahilferstrasse in 1934.
LITAL hat – probably from the early 1930s
Interior of LITAL hat – probably from the early 1930s
  • The conversations between Sigmund and Rosa and that between Paul and Rose.were crafted to share the information regarding the current situation in Vienna.
  • The scene in the shop when Rose buys the tiny silverware was based on a story my mother told about how she loved seeing the tiny utensils hanging on the Christmas tree.
  • I was inspired to write the scenes about the New Years coin when I found it among my mother’s possessions. I have no idea who actually purchased it. But considering it was in a hand-crocheted pouch and made it to America suggested it held some significance to the owner.
1938 New Years Coin – same on both sides

Chapter 8

Doris actually received her schoolbag before leaving Vienna and brought it with her to the US. Considering she kept it safe for her entire life, it must have held real significance to her.

Doris’s schoolbag is in pretty sad shape now.

The four images below are annotated images of Sigmund’s Declaration of assets – June 30 1938. Click each image to enlarge. Annotated by Tom Nentwich.

1938 Register of Assets part 2
1938 Register of Assets part 3
1938 Register of Assets part 4

Chapter 9

The images below are of Silbergasse 43 found in Rose’s photograph albums.

The images below are of Silbergasse 43 today (2018) Taken during my trip to Vienna.

Doris is on the right. On the left is her best friend, Lucy.
  • The scene in the park was inspired by the video found on USHHM website. Click HERE to view video. See INTRODUCTION of the book for more information. Read more on my amazing find on my blog post at: Who We Are and How We Got This Way.

The making of these cookies, along with two other Viennese has become an annual Christmas tradition. Ever since I can remember, my mother made Linzer cookies, Viennese nut Crescents, and Cream cheese crescents for Christmas. We carry on the tradition to this day.

  • My mother frequently spoke about how much she hated her “Shirley Temple curls. The story of her cutting her own hair is factual, as was the story of her sitting atop the radio cabinet.
  • The scenes of the morning Paul left are imagined. I have no information on the actual events of that day other than Rose reporting in various documents that he “received a call from the police asking him to report to the Döblinger police station because they wanted to ask him some questions.” Source: Letter written by Rose in February 1967. The letter, which does not state to whom it was written, is my collection.
  • The descriptions of Doris’s room, her toys, and the Silbergasse apartment were drawn from stories my mother told as well as a floor plan she drew in her later years.
Floor plan of Silbergasse 43, drawn by Doris in 1996.
Click to enlarge.
Embroidered snow scene that hung over Doris’s crib. This piece is in my collection.
I hope to make it into a pillow someday!
  • The scene of Rose going to the police station was based on information in documents written by Rose as well my own research.

Chapter 10

  • The scenes of Paul in the Sammellager (collection center) were based on memorandums written by himself and Rose, as well as my own research.
  • The tale of Paul’s trip from Vienna to Dachau was based on his written testimony and corroborated by my research.