ARCHIVE OF 130 MANUSCRIPT LETTERS & WRITINGS FROM GERMAN-JEWISH INTERNEE ULLI HIRSCH AT HUTCHINSON ENEMY ALIEN INTERNMENT CAMP IN DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN, JULY 14 1940-AUG 29, 1941. WRITTEN PRIMARILY TO WIFE LISL [ELISABETH] HIRSCH (NÉE SCHIFF)

Hirsch, Ulli [Julius]

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In 5 uniform 24-sleeve commercial portfolios. Most letters are 3-fold, ca. 6"x10," written on one side and then folded for mailing, with address and occasional censor stamps on the reverse side. Most letters are to wife Lisl Hirsch (née Schiff), not interned at the camp as she was Hungarian. Some letters are to friend and former camp-mate Manfred, with occasional return correspondence from Manfred included here as well. Most of the earliest letters to Lisl Hirsch are numbered 1-36 (Nr. 36 is dated Nov 8, 1940), with a new numbering system then starting over on Nov 11, 1940 with a new Nr 1, continuing to Nr 22 (Jan 23, 1941). After that date, numbers occasionally appear at the top of letters, but not as a rule. Letters are almost all in a neat legible German hand; occasional letters written on standard stationary and sent inside envelopes (with the envelopes generally present) are instead in English, perhaps to comply with censor rules. Ulli Hirsch's (1916-1996) letters discuss not only the daily goings on of camp life, but also display his anxious hopes to receive necessary papers which will allow him to be freed from Alien Internment and for him and Lisl to emigrate to New York. One letter dated July 18, 1940, includes a blacked out word, probably from the censor, indicating the number internees in the camp (Ulli later penciled the original number "2000" in the margin). Included also is a telegram from Ulli to Lisl dated July 30, 1940, requesting, "WIRE MOTHER TO URGE IMMIGRATION MY ONLY RELEASE POSSIBILITY [.] AM WELL HOW ARE YOU [.] WIRE HUTCHINSON INTERNMENT CAMP IOM ULLI." On the rear, Lisl has composed a response to Ulli, with some scratchouts, probably read out loud to a telegram officer: "Julius Hirsch Hutchinson Internment Camp IOM. Cabled Amerika, omota [?] | reached 8 weeks, - wire money tomorrow are well letters parcels coming love Lisl Hirsch." Another telegram, also from 1940, discusses the need for needed photocopies or original documents and again includes Lisl's note for a reassuring response to her husband on the rear. One letter in English dated Dec 16, 1940 discusses their plans for emigrating to the USA, including the completion of forms and the requisition of tickets. He notes that "there have arisen new difficulties." and advises her as she pursues the necessary permissions, "Please be clever enough not to be satisfied with the usual replies-as you know we have to avoid any unnecessary delay." Regarding tickets to America, Ulli emphasizes, "If there are 2nd or even 1st class tickets available only-take them, Mr Feist (Manfred's Chef and Selma's Uncle) will give the necessary account on Manfred's behalf. We can't miss any chances now, as Mama seems to be very ill and I'm anxious to proceed to New York as soon as possible." Also included are related manuscript notes and documents, including a hand-drawn map of the camp and a set of word plays on the initials IOM (Isle of Man, eg: "Is Manfred Obstinate?"). Ulli (Julius) Hirch was born in 1916 in Hamburg, Germany; Lisl (Elisabeth) Hirsch (née Schiff) in 1918 in Hungary. In 1935 Ulli's father Henri Hirsch developed a way to use x-ray radiation to treat cancer, a discovery that brought him to the attention of Nazi authorities. Fearing further persecution the Hirsch family fled Germany to other parts of Europe and Palestine. While Ulli's family were preparing their eventual emigration to the Americas, Elisabeth Schiff rejoined her family in Budapest, Hungary, after two years in Belgium. The Schiffs had made plans to emigrate to England. Julius Hirsch then decided to join his brother Alfred in England, and Alfred assisted Julius in procuring a student visa. In December 1939 Julius Hirsch and Elisabeth Schiff married in England. In 1940 Julius Hirsch was interned at the Hutchinson Internment Camp on the Isle of Man due to being German-born (Lisl, born in Hungary, was exempt); by October 1941 he had been released. Of particular interest is the role that Ulli playe. Seller Inventory # 42810

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Title: ARCHIVE OF 130 MANUSCRIPT LETTERS & WRITINGS...