Letter from Kaunas
In the Oral History section, Sophie talks about a letter from the cousins in Kovno (Kaunas). Checking through Min's papers recently, I came across the letter which I reproduce below. There is also a photocopy of the letter.
The letter was written to Uncle Joe from Harry Lanzman, who was Min’s cousin who lived inKaunas – the son of grandma’s sister Sorettel. As we know Harry had visited England in the years before the war. We have heard of this letter before – apparently it was the last contact with theKaunas family who all died in the Holocaust. At the start of the war Russia took over Lithuania, so when this letter was written the Germans had not yet invaded (that happened in June1941).
This transcript also shows the phrases I couldn’t read. Click here to read the original document(and fragments of an earlier one from 1938). I’ll be delighted if anyone can make a better attempt at transcribing it!
The front of the first letter reads:
H. LANZMAN
KAUNAS, LITHUANIA
Representations for the Baltic States
Telegrams: Lanzman Kaunas
Communications: P.O. Box 311 Kaunas
Telephone Kaunas 22263
6th June 1940
Dear Joe,
I hardly dare offer you excuses for not answering so long, but believe me I tried to do this in the last weeks and could not settle this; there are a lot of reasons but not of a special charakter maybe that the world news the whole sudden perturbations the uncertain times and also the present conditions and the (……. of ……….) I received your loving letter of the 16th March at the 22nd of March (as you see very soon) but (now?) we have here any possibility to send letters to England by airmail only by the ordinary way; only from England to our country as also to the other Baltic States it is possible to read letters by airmail! I got yesterday letters from Manchester and Bradford of the 22nd ultimo it is also quick enough. Business are at present not bad, but they could be better; certainly this is not the main point as the general world conditions are much more important. The question – what will come, what will be in the near future only about this thinks now almost everybody. We all are very happy to learn that everyone of yours are well and safe and of good health. My mother, father, my wife and children and all other of our family as also Uncle Tevyah asked to send you, your family, your loving mother and all of yours their best love and best wishes! My dear cousin Joe please write as soon as only possible again and also in case you are vey busy, please drop a few lines and I promise you to answer soon, with my best love and my best wishes to you all, from your cousin Harry.
The reverse of the letter is harder to read – the writing is at an angle:
In Bradford and in M/er I (heard?) considerable losses but (what?) is nothing to do. I cannot (………) help it. Maybe if I (……..) stayed there and this could be avoided. Maybe you was right but as you know nobody can see (…) know something in advance – the principal thing we must keep ourselves well to be of good health and (………) we will be able to make good cousins again.
Please give my best love and good wishes to your loving mother, you wife, Audrey and her fiancé, Brenda and their little brother, to your sisters and brothers, and also to their wifes, husbands and children-babies (tell me please the name of MINNIE’S baby, a ‘bris’ or a daughter?) as also to Uncle Jack and his family and the Wainberg’s and Rosie and her family. As you will kindly understand it is quite impossible to write to everybody seperate. I hope to see you even if sometimes later and all your again – much kisses from your Harry.