The Aufrichtig Family

This page and its featured links is dedicated to the memories of Walter Aufrichtig, born 16 September 1906, Misslitz, Moravia, his wife Erna Hindler, born 19 June 1919, Vienna Austria,  and all other members of his family killed in the Holocaust. Walter and Erna were both murdered in Chelmno in September 1942 following 10 months at the infamous ghetto at Lodz, Poland. From December 1940 until his November 1941 deportation to Lodz, Walter was an inmate of the forced labour camp at Traunkirchen, close to Ebensee, Austria. 

 

Walter Aufrichtig and Erna Hindler pictured on their wedding day.

No branch of the Jakob line of the Aufrichtig Family suffered more devastatingly than that of Simon Aufrichtig's. Four of his five sons - Ernst, Paul, Fritz and Walter perished, as did wife Regine Aschenberger, Paul's wife Hedwig Lobl, his daughter Lieselotte Aufrichtig, and Walter's wife Erna Hindler.

The fates of musician Walter and Erna hung in the balance during the spring of 1939 while attempts were made to secure passage to Shanghai for members of the Piccadilly Dance Band and their spouses. The issue was the subject of considerable correspondence between the Vienna-based Israelitisches Kulturgemeinde and The Council for German Jewry in London. Photocopies of these letters are reproduced here in chronological sequence

The letter above was written to on 17 March 1939 to the Israelitischen Kultugemeinde, Seitenstettengasse 4, Vienna, by the Joint Secretary of the Council for German Jewry, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1. It reads:

Dear Sirs

I have had my attention drawn to the case of the PICCADILLY DANCE BAND which is made up of the following persons.

Josef Haberfeld, Wien 2, Gr. ----- 8/11                

Robert Fischer

Paul Weiss

Gustav Vogelhut

Walter Aufrichtig

Siegfried Komorner

I understand that these people have a contract with the Jewish Club "Kunst Wientsin", which should have commenced on the 1st January, 1939, but which has been held up because of the inability of these people to obtain tickets to Harbin.

In view of the fact that these six men have a definite job of work awaiting them in Tientsin, I feel that it should be possible for your committee to make the necessary arrangements for the provision of their tickets, even if it involves a slightly larger expenditure than was expected.

I shall be very much obliged, therefore, if you can inform me, with as little delay as possible, that you have satisfactorily completed negotiations for the emigration of these men and have set them on their way.

Yours faithfully

Joint Secretary

The letter above was written to on 03 April 1939 to the Israelitischen Kultugemeinde, Seitenstettengasse 4, Vienna 1, by the Joint Secretary of the Council for German Jewry, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1. It reads:

Dear Sirs

I have received a visit today from Dr Haberfeld of Vienna, who tells me that he is the leader of the PICCADILLY DANCE BAND of six persons, and that they have a contract with the Kunst Cluib, at Tientsin, to go out there to perform.

I understand from Dr Haberfeld, that he has received a letter from the Jewish community in Harbin, approving the scheme, and asking them to come out as soon as possible.

Dr Haberfeld tells me that the difficulty is that they have no money for the fares. and I should be much obliged if you would kindly investigate this matter and let me know whether the facts are as stated, as if they are it would seem that this is a case where the band might be assisted to go, provided that you are satisfied that they are going to be in permanent employment.

Yours faithfully

Joint Secretary

 

 

The letter above was written on 06 April 1939 to The Israelitischen Kulturgemeinde, 1 Seitenstettengasse 4, Vienna 1, by the Joint Secretary of the Council for German Jewry, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1. It reads:

Dear Sirs

With further reference to the correspondence which we had had regarding Dr Haberfeld on behalf of the PICCADILY DANCE BAND, who have a contract with the Kunst Club at Tientsin, I am afraid it is quite impossible for us here to supply the tickets. If, as stated by Dr Haberfeld, it is not possible for you to obtain tickets for them in Vienna, would you kindly get into touch with the HICEW in Paris, with a view to their obtaining the tickets, as, if the facts given to me are correct, this does seem a case which should be assisted.

Yours faithfully

Joint Secretary

* Document mis-spells PICCADILLY

 

 

The letter above was written on 06 June 1939 to M Stephany of the Council for German Jewry, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1 by Dr Josef Israel Löwenherz of the Israelitischen Kultugemeinde, 1 Seitenstettengasse 4, Vienna.

Dear Mr Stephany

Referring to the conversation we had at the occasion of my last stay in London, I beg to inform you that Mr Josef Haberfeld has already been granted the subsidy towards his passage to Shanghai, however, no tickets are to be had here.

Mr Haberfeld and the members of his band stated below have the possibility to find employment as musicians in Tientsin, and I should be most grateful to you if you would kindly enable the named persons to get the boat tickets.

The names of all persons concerned are: Josef Haberfeld, wife: Ilona Haberfeld, child: Julius Haberfeld.

Walter Aufrichtig, wife: Erna Aufrichtig,

Karl Knapp, Gustav Vogelhut, wife: Ella Vogelhut, Alfred Katz, Siegfried Komorner.

Thanking you beforehand for letting me have your decision at your earliest convenience, I beg to remain

Dr Josef Israel Löwenherz, Director and Leader of the Vienna Jewish Community

 

 

The letter above was written on 29 June 1939 to M Stephany of the Council for German Jewry, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1 by Dr Josef Israel Löwenherz of the Israelitischen Kultugemeinde, 1 Seitenstettengasse 4, Vienna.

Dear Mr Stephany

re: Mr Haberfeld

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 13th regarding the above named, and in reply have to state that no tickets for Shanghai are to be had here at all since some time. The Italian Lines demand payment in foreign currencies, which is impossible due to the present regulations. In consequence thereof these lines are also trying to sell their passages against foreign currencies also abroad. Those persons emigrated to China in May had procured their tickets to Shanghai many weeks, resp. months in advance already.

As the number of 1007 persons emigrated to China in May has struck you, I took leave in your absence to give the respective informations with regard to the emigration of these persons to Prof. Bentwich and Mr Adler Rudel.

Mr Haberfeld and his small group of musicians assured me to have a contract for China, and I should be much obliged to you if you would be good enough to be of assistance to them in procuring the tickets.

Yours sincerely

Dr Josef Israel Löwenherz, Director and Leader of the Vienna Jewish Community

 

 

The letter above was written to on 04 July 1939 to Dr J I Loewenherz of the Israelitischen Kultugemeinde, 1 Seitenstettengasse 4, Vienna by the Joint Secretary of the Council for German Jewry, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1. It reads:

Dear Doctor Loewenherz

I am in receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, and am at a loss to understand why, if you assisted in the emigration of 1007 persons to China in the month of May, who, in the main, have no possible means of livelihood when they reach Shanghai, you find it impossible to furnish sufficient foreign currency to purchase the necessary steamship tickets for Mr Haberfeld and his small group of musicians, who, once they are in China, will be fully able to maintain themselves, and thus not fall a charge upon the already overburdened Relief Association in Shanghai.

Yours sincerely

 

Walter & Erna Picture Gallery

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Walter Aufrichtig in his Piccadilly Dance Band tuxedo
Erna Hindler
Walter Aufrichtig
Walter Aufrichtig and his Brothers

 

Walter Aufrichtig - Traunkirchen Intro & Memorial Ceremony

Walter Aufrichtig - Trauinkirchen-2 List of Names

Walter Aufrichtig - Traunkirchen-3 Denmalenthullung

Walter Aufrichtig - Traunkirchen-4 George E Wozasek

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