MAX
Deutsch-Völkische Bank und Handelsgesellschaft.
München
AUGUST 18, 1933
Mr. Max Eisenstein Eisenstein Galleries San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
DEAR MAX:
Heil Hitler! I much regret that I have bad news for you. Your sister is dead. Unfortunately she was, as you have said, very much a fool. Not quite a week ago she came here, with a bunch of storm troopers almost right behind her. The house was very active — Elsa has not been well since little Adolph was born last month — the doctor was here, and two nurses, with all the servants and children scurrying around.
By luck I answer the door. At first I think it is an old woman and then I see the face, and then I see the storm troopers have turned in the park gates. Can I hide her? It is one chance in thousands. A servant will be on us at any minute. Can I endure to have my house ransacked with Elsa ill in bed and to risk being arrested for harboring a Jew and to lose all I have built up here? Of course as a German I have one plain duty. She has displayed her Jewish body on the stage before pure young German men. I should hold her and turn her over to the storm troopers. But this I cannot do.
“You will destroy us all, Griselle,” I tell her. “You must run back further in the park.” She looks at me and smiles (she was always a brave girl) and makes her own choice.
“I would not bring you harm, Martin,” she says, and she runs down the steps and out toward the trees. But she must be tired. She does not run very fast and the storm troopers have caught sight of her. I am helpless. I go in the house and in a few minutes she stops screaming, and in the morning I have the body sent down to the village for burial. She was a fool to come to Germany. Poor little Griselle. I grieve with you, but as you see, I was helpless to aid her.
I must now demand you do not write again. Every word that comes to the house is now censored, and I cannot tell how soon they may start to open the mail to the bank. And I will no longer have any dealings with Jews, except for the receipt of money. It is not so good for me that a Jewess came here for refuge, and no further association can be tolerated.
A new Germany is being shaped here. We will soon show the world great things under our Glorious Leader.
MARTIN
CABLEGRAM
MUNICH, JANUARY 2. 1934.
MARTIN SCHULSE
YOUR TERMS ACCEPTED NOVEMBER TWELVE AUDIT SHOWS THIRTEEN PERCENT INCREASE FEBRUARY SECOND FOUR-FOLD ASSURED PAN EXHIBITION MAY FIRST PREPARE LEAVE FOR MOSCOW IF MARKET OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY FINANCIAL INSTRUCTIONS MAILED NEW ADDRESS
EISENSTEIN
EISENSTEIN GALLERIES
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
JANUARY 1, 1934
Herrn Martin Schulze Schloss Rantzenburg Munich, Germany
OUR DEAR MARTIN :
Don’t forget grandma’s birthday. She will be 64 on the 8th. American contributors will furnish 1000 brushes for your German Young Painters’ League. Mandelberg has joined in supporting the league. You must send 11 Picasso reproductions, 20 by 90 to branch galleries on the 25th, no sooner. Reds and blues must predominate. We can allow you $8,000 on this transaction at present. Start new accounts book 2.
Our prayers follow you daily, dear brother,
EISENSTEIN
EISENSTEIN GALLERIES
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
JANUARY 17, 1934
Herrn Martin Schulse Schloss Rantzenburg Munich, Germany
MARTIN ,DEAR BROTHER :
Good news! Our stock reached 116 five days ago. The Fleishmans have advanced another $10,000. This will fill your Young Painters’ League quota for a month but let us know if opportunities increase. Swiss miniatures are having a vogue. You must watch the market and plan to be in Zurich after May first if any unexpected opportunities develop. Uncle Solomon will be glad to see you and I know you will rely heavily on his judgment.
The weather is clear and there is little danger of storms during the next two months. You will prepare for your students the following reproductions: Van Gogh 15 by 103, red; Poussin 20 by 90, blue and yellow; Vermeer 11 by 33, red and blue.
Our hopes will follow your new efforts.
EISENSTEIN
EISENSTEIN GALLERIES
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
JANUARY 29, 1934
DEAR MARTIN :
Your last letter was delivered by mistake at 457 Geary St., Room 4. Aunt Rheba says tell Martin he must write more briefly and clearly so his friends can understand all that he says. I am sure everyone will be in readiness for your family reunion on the 15th. You will be tired after these festivities and may want to take your family with you on your trip to Zurich.
Before leaving however, procure the following reproductions for branches of German Young Painters’ League, looking forward to the joint exhibit in May or earlier: Picasso 17 by 81, red; Van Gogh 5 by42, white; Reubens 15 by 204, blue and yellow.
Our prayers are with you.
EISENSTEIN
SCHLOSS RANTZENBURGMUNICH, GERMANY
Mr. Max Eisenstein Eisenstein Galleries San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
MAX, MY OLD FRIEND :
My God, Max, do you know what you do? I shall have to try to smuggle this letter out with an American I have met here. I write in appeal from a despair you cannot imagine. This crazy cable! These letters you have sent. I am called in to account for them. The letters are not delivered, but they bring me in and show me letters from you and demand I give them the code. A code? And how can you, a friend of long years, do this to me?
Do you realize, have you any idea that you destroy me? Already the results of your madness are terrible. I am bluntly told I must resign my office. Heinrich is no longer in the boys’ corps. They tell him it will not be good for his health. God in heaven, Max, do you see what that means? And Elsa, to whom I dare not tell anything, comes in bewildered that the officials refuse her invitations and Baron von Freische does not speak to her upon the street.
Yes, yes, I know why you do it — but do you not understand I could do nothing? What could I have done? I did not dare to try. I beg of you, not for myself, but for Elsa and the hoys — think what it means to them if I am taken away and they do not know if I live or die. Do you know what it is to be taken to a concentration camp? Would you stand me against a wall and level the gun? I beg of you, stop. Stop now, while everything is not yet destroyed. I am in fear for my life, for my life, Max.
Is it you who does this? It cannot be you. I have loved you like a brother, my old Maxel. My God, have you no mercy? I beg you, Max, no more, no more! Stop while I can be saved. Fiom a heart filled with old affection I ask it.
MARTIN
EISENSTEIN GALLERIES
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
FEBRUARY 15, 1934
Herrn Martin Schulse Schloss Rantzenburg Munich, Germany
OUR DEAR MARTIN :
Seven inches of rainfall here in 18 days. What a season! A shipment of 1500 brushes should reach the Berlin branch for your painters by this week-end. This will allow time for practice before the big exhibition. American patrons will help with all the artists’ supplies that can he provided, but you must make the final arrangements. We are too far out of touch with the European market and you are in a position to gauge the extent of support such a showing would arouse in Germany. Prepare these for distribution by March 24th: Rubens 12 by 77, blue; Giotto 1 by317, green and white; Poussin 20 by 90, red and white.