Difference between revisions of "Frida Friedman"

On January 30, 1933 close to twenty - five thousand Nazis marched with torches through Berlin celebrating this major victory. In reaction , my mother, Frieda Friedman (1892-1974) became incensed. She still had confidence in the venerated President of Germany, Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934). She wrote him a distressed letter on February 23, 1933: "I was engaged to be married in 1914. My fiancé ...was killed in action as a soldier in the German army in 1914. My bothers Max and Julius Cohn were killed as German soldiers between the years 1916 to 1918. My last brother, Willie, returned from the field blinded and crippled. He recuperated so that he could move about in the street without help but his nerves made him suffer.

These happenings broke my father's heart, and when I see my poor mother , I cry because in 1920 I married another veteran who was wounded in the war. I have lived with him unhappily with his suffering which burdened me my whole life. They all earned the Iron Cross for their service to the fatherland. Then in our father-land it has gone so far that on the street publications are openly sold that say, 'Jews out' and open invitations to pogroms and acts of force against Jews. We are Jews and have fulfilled our duty for the father-land.

Couldn't your excellency provide help considering what the Jews have accomplished for the father-land? Is incitement against Jews bravery or cowardice when in the German nation with 60 million people only one percent are Jews?" ..

Hindenburg's office promptly acknowledged receipt of the letter and the President let my mother (Frieda Friedmann) know that he was decidedly opposed to excesses perpetrated against Jews.

The letter was transmitted to Hitler, who wrote in the margin: "This lady's claims are a swindle ! Obviously there has been no incitement to a pogrom!"

The Jews finally, like a considerable part of German society as a whole, were not sure — particularly before the March 5 , 1933, Reichstag elections — whether the Nazis were in power to stay or whether a conservative military coup against them was still possible . . . .

Hitler Becomes Dictator...

A letter about the mistreament of Jews was sent to German President Paul von Hindenburg, who then handed it over to the newly appointed chancellor in 1933.

...she wrote the German president about the new attitude toward Jews despite their contribution to the country.

She went on to explain that her fiance was killed in World War I, as were two of her brothers, while fighting for Germany. Her only surviving brother was blinded due to his injuries. All three brothers received medals for their sacrifice, she said, "but now there are open calls to take violent action against Jews. Is the incitement against Jews a sign of courage or cowardness, considering that Jews comprise just 1% of Germans..

The president said he took her complaints seriously and gave it to Hitler for comment. The newly appointed German chancellor wrote back, in handwriting, that she was making baseless accusations and that there were no calls for violence against Jews.

MK Rachel Azaria presents a letter written by her great-grandmother to President Hindenburg expressing concerns over anti-Semitism and violence; Hitler wrote a handwritten response calling her claims 'ridiculous lies.'