Nathan Hatch’s hope of “better times ahead” never materialized. For a short time, it had seemed as though anti-Jewish agitation was slowing, and some Jews who had emigrated made the tragic mistake of returning to Germany. The Nazi hand grew stronger, more expansive, and more brutal. The Kristallnacht pogroms are spoken of as the “watershed” event that made German Jews realize that emigration was not a choice but an urgent necessity. But even though those pogroms of November 1938 were the most vicious attacks on German Jewry to that time, they were hardly the first such assaults.
Three years earlier, in July 1935, Nazis took to the Kurfürstendamm, the fashionable Berlin street not far from Luzie’s neighborhood, smashing the windows of Jewish-owned cafés and restaurants, breaking furniture, and attacking Jewish patrons. The elegant Café Kranzler was among the worst hit. The destruction of Jewish businesses did not satiate the violent appetite of the approximately eight hundred rioters and so passing cars were stopped; “Jewish-looking” passengers were pulled out and thrown to the side of the road or beaten.
Added to outbursts of violence were such “lawful measures” as the Nuremberg Racial Laws of September 1935. Jews were now excluded from Reich citizenship and from marrying or having sexual relations with “Aryans.”
And what of April 1936, the very month that Luzie decided to reconnect with the Hatch family in America? Normally a month filled with the joy of both Passover and Easter, that April was colored by occurrences both depressing and bizarre. It was reported that seventy-five thousand German Jews, including twenty-five thousand in Berlin, had received food relief in the form of free matzo.1 Never before in the history of German Jewry had so many taken Passover relief.
The Easter holiday also had an ignoble distinction that spring. It was the first Easter when Germans could go to market for the holiday and know that they were buying “pure Aryan eggs.” Der Angriff (The attack), Berlin’s Nazi paper, proclaimed that the egg trade, one-fourth Jewish before the Nazis assumed power, was now Judenrein, free of Jews.2
On April 12, the middle of Passover, the holiday commemorating the Jewish exodus from Egypt, Luzie renewed her efforts to leave Nazi Germany. In the three years since the Hechts had asked Nathan Hatch to help them emigrate, their situation in Germany had worsened. Circumstances had also changed for the Hatch family in America; this time Luzie’s request would be sent not to Nathan but to one of his sons.
On June 3, 1933, just four weeks after he had penned his blunt reply to Luzie and her family, Nathan Hatch died. He left behind his wife, Ida, and their two American-born sons, Arnold and Stephen. As the older son, Arnold assumed the presidency of Fuld and Hatch Knitting. His younger brother, Stephen, served as vice president.
Who was Arnold Hatch, this forty-five-year-old man who had simultaneously inherited two large and complex responsibilities: the family business and the issue of how to respond to the needs of his relatives in Nazi Germany? He was, first of all, the son of an ambitious, hardworking entrepreneur with an independent streak. In addition, he had inherited a legacy: his father’s numerous civic and philanthropic activities reveal a man with a deep sense of responsibility that extended well beyond his immediate family.
Although Nathan Hatch did not teach his children German, they still had some sense of their German heritage. In 1897, well before Luzie’s birth, the family had traveled to Germany for a summer vacation. No doubt this was something of a triumphant return for Nathan, who had left his homeland twenty-four years earlier.
Arnold’s one trip to Germany at the young age of nine did not allow the forging of deep bonds between him and his German relatives. Yet it must have provided some tangible link to a place, people, and family history that had formerly been nothing more than names and terms discussed at the dinner table.
When asked for recollections of Arnold, his daughter-in-law, Gloria Hatch, spoke of a big, heavyset, cigar-smoking man who often enjoyed a few drinks before bed, loved to tell jokes and stories, and had many friends. Luzie’s cousin Arnold was a man who never seemed to lack confidence. In 1906, he had entered Dartmouth, one of America’s most prestigious colleges, only to leave after two years, claiming that he had learned everything they could teach him.
Luzie’s immediate family in Berlin, along with other relatives in Essen, Baden, and Cologne, were by definition part of Arnold’s extended family. But he had not grown up with them, played childish pranks with his cousins, had his aunts ply him with home-cooked food, shared Passover seders and birthdays, or made visits to sick family members. All of these experiences, events that weave the threads of strong family bonds, were missing. Yet even without these everyday contacts, at some level, his German relatives had become part of his consciousness. And so he did respond to Luzie when she first wrote to him, even though they had never corresponded before. She knew so little about him that she inquired whether he was married and had children.
When Luzie wrote her cousin Arnold asking him to bring her to America, she did so in secret, not telling her parents. After their disappointing experience in 1933, perhaps Edwin and Helene had decided that this avenue of escape was closed, that another attempt would only have angered their Albany relatives. Luzie, however, decided to be persistent, to try once more.
It is likely that not a day passed when Luzie didn’t wonder about Arnold’s response. After all, he was Nathan’s son. Would he be as opposed to her emigration as his father had been? Even worse, might her request go unanswered? But Arnold did respond. Nearly a month from the day she mailed her request, his reply arrived in Berlin; given the mail system, he had been rather prompt.
We can only guess what Luzie’s reaction was on the day the letter arrived at 12 Zähringerstrasse. Did she quickly rip it open? Or is it more likely instead that she retreated to her bedroom, nervously turning the letter over and over again before gathering the courage to open it and doing so carefully so as not to tear one precious word?
To: Lusie Hecht, Berlin
From: Arnold Hatch, Albany, New York
Date: April 23, 1936
Dear Lusie:
I have received your letter dated April 12th and I can appreciate how little prospect there is in the future for a girl of ambition, situated as you are. I should very much like to help you in the way that you mention, and will try to see what can be done.
However, there are certain things that you should bear in mind. One of these is that the Depression which is afflicting Germany to a certain extent at this time is worldwide and has hit America very hard. There are in this country today between 10,000,000 and 12,000,000 unemployed, and these include plenty of people of ability and training who are willing to work at almost any job and almost any salary. I have countless friends struggling along on little or nothing, thrown out of work by reason of economic conditions here and unable to find anything which will even give them a bare substinence.
A good many people abroad have the idea that jobs are easy and plentiful in this country, but I assure you that this is not the case and I would hardly know where to turn right at this minute to find a post for you suitable to your training and abilities, which would even give you a living.
In addition, there is the question of the American immigration quota. Under this, as you probably understand, only a limited number of Germans are allowed into this country and since thousands of people are in the same position that you are, anxious to get out of Germany and into a land of greater promise, I have an idea that the quota is pretty much filled up.
You must not get the idea from what I have written so far that I am simply turning a deaf ear to your plea and tossing your letter aside forever. I shall really look into this thing carefully and see if there is any position where you could be placed in this country later on this summer. If I could receive some assurance that you would have something waiting for you when you got here, I would very gladly furnish the necessary affidavits to enable you to assure the immigration authorities that you would not become a public charge and would do all I could to help you get in under the German quota.
Of course, there is no use in saying right now come along as fast as you can, because that would be reckless and foolish and unwise for both of us. However, I think that a girl of your intelligence, education and training should have a chance, and I am not unmindful of the fact that you are a blood relative and are entitled to my help out of sentiment for your dear grandfather, whom I remember well.
In conclusion then I want you to let this matter rest a while until I can see what I can do for you. It will not be easy and in the end it may turn out to be impossible, but if there is a chance in the world that I can take you out of Germany and help you build a new life in this land; I give you my promise that I will do it.
I would suggest that you talk this matter fully over with your father, because there is no sense in secrecy over this and not the slightest reason why you should not have written to me and asked me to help you in your problem. I am glad that you did write to me and as I said before, if there is any possibility of bringing you over here so that you can be reasonably secure, self-supporting, and with a future, I will send for you, execute any papers that may be necessary, and help you in every possible manner. In the meanwhile, my dear cousin, with my sincere love to you and your family, I am
Your devoted cousin,
Arnold
Although Arnold had stated that he needed time to investigate the matter of emigration properly, his response had been quite positive overall and must have been reassuring to Luzie. Slightly less than two years later, in the winter of 1938, the one letter from Albany that Luzie had always hoped for finally arrived in Berlin.
To: Lusie Hecht, Berlin
From: Arnold Hatch, Albany, New York
Date: February 8, 1938
Dear Cousin Lusie:
The time has now come after almost a year’s delay when I am prepared to bring you over to this country. I am starting measures at once through the American Consul to vouch for you, and while these things take several months, nevertheless, the matter is being started, and I wanted to inform you of that fact so that you could at least begin to set your house in order and make preparations for coming to this country.
This does not mean that you would be wise to give up your present job or do anything at all until the German Consul notifies you that matters are arranged. You can simply begin thinking about it because I am willing and have agreed to it.
I do not know how you are fixed financially. If you are unable to finance for yourself the trip across, I should be only too glad to do so for you, when the time comes. Once you are in this country, I may be able to get you a job . . . However, whether you get a job immediately or not, I will look after you and see that you are not in want or in trouble in any way.
There is no need to write at greater length now. I know that you will be happy that I have finally agreed to what you have wanted so long. Later on, when things get nearer the time for your departure, we will arrange all matters . . .
I extend to you and your family my love and hope that everything is well with you.
Your devoted cousin,
Arnold
To: Arnold Hatch, Albany, New York
From: Lusie Hecht, Berlin
Date: February 28, 1938
Dear Cousin Arnold!
I have received your very nice letter of February 8th and can hardly express my gladness about the contents of it.
At present I only can thank you with words for all that you intend to do for me, but I hope that once in the future I can prove you my thankfulness and can show you that I never will forget your kindness.
I will be very anxious to find a job as soon as I am over there so that you have no trouble with me. According to your instructions I don’t give up my job or do anything at all until the German Consul notifies me that matters are arranged.
I am awaiting your further good news, and in the meantime I’ll take many English lessons in order to speak perfectly. If you know some work wanted in America that I can learn too, I would be thankful for your information, so that I can do all to make me fit in every respect.
your very thankful cousin,
Lusie
To: Lusie Hecht, Berlin
From: Arnold Hatch, Albany, New York
Date: March 8, 1938
Dear Cousin Lusie:
I have your letter of February 28, and first of all I do not believe that I informed you previously that in addition to you, I am bringing over here your cousin Herta Stein who is the daughter of Elsa Stein, from Berkach. All papers in connection with you two girls have been completed and are on the way to the American Consul abroad.
You of course understand that from now on, the speed with which this goes forward is out of my control, but I imagine that things will move along pretty well and that it will not be a great while before you are asked to appear before the American Consul for examination and investigation.
I think I may be able to find a job for you when you arrive in this country or at least help you secure one but whether you get one or not, I will see that you are taken care of until you are employed. In the meanwhile, you might be making some inquiries about what your expenses will be in marks, to get to this country. We will send you the money and you need not worry about whether you have enough of your own or whether you can secure an advance or loan from anyone else.
All you have to do from now on is to keep me informed about how this matter is progressing and give me as much advance information as possible about when you are called on by the Consul and approximately when you think you could leave Germany.
In the meanwhile, my best love to you and your family and you need not worry about a thing.
Your devoted cousin,
Arnold
Encouraged by Luzie’s success, Edwin Hecht once again reached out to his Albany relative. Arnold replied promptly, explaining his situation.
To: Edwin Hecht, Berlin
From: Arnold Hatch, Albany, New York
Date: August 13, 1938
Dear Cousin Edwin:
I received your letter written on the 20th of July with a postscript added from your wife, Helene, and I think that I realize the difficulties that you are facing today. However, I am unable to comply with your request at the present time. Regardless of the necessity of coming to America and your willingness to work at anything while here, it is not easy to secure employment in this country at the present time, although most foreigners do not seem to realize that.
I do not want to bring over any of the relatives unless I have a pretty definite idea what to do with them when they get here. By that, I mean that I must have some sort of employment either definitely arranged or in prospect. That is the situation with the two girls, Lusie and Herta. Herta, of course, will live with Aunts Eda and Alice and look after them, and as for Lusie, I had a job arranged for her in an office in New York. This is what I mean when I say that I have to have things arranged before I can bring people over here.
You may or may not know that I have had requests similar to yours from literally dozens of our relatives in Germany—some of them whom I cannot even place in my memory. It is a matter of regret that most of these have to be turned down or rejected, but regardless of the situation, there is a limit to the responsibility that I can assume, and there is no one else over here who can or will assume any.
Perhaps, at some future time, something can be done. I assure you that I will talk this over fully and carefully with Lusie when I see her. When I can see my way clear to bring you to this country so that your life here will not be all at loose ends, I shall do so.
Yours very truly,
Arnold
Finally, in the fall of 1938, plans were finalized for Luzie and Herta’s departure. In this letter, one of his last, Arnold enclosed a small, passport-size photo of himself so that Luzie could identify him when she disembarked. A close look at this photo reveals its many creases. It had had a good deal of wear. No doubt Luzie had looked at it again and again while on ship and held onto it for dear life when she arrived in Manhattan.
To: Lusie Hecht, Berlin
From: Arnold Hatch, Albany, New York
Date: September 13, 1938
Dear Cousin Lusie:
This will acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 4th. I am sorry if I neglected to answer your letter of July 13th. This was purely an oversight.
I am glad that the matter of the physical examinations, the visas, etc., is progressing satisfactorily, and I feel quite confidant that nothing will materialize to prevent your sailing on the contemplated date.
I will meet that steamer when it comes in. There is enclosed a small photograph of me, which will perhaps be useful in aiding you to identify me. So that you will not be frightened, I might add that I am not always as angry as it would appear from this picture.
With much love to you all, I am your devoted cousin,
Arnold