Fritz Heymann Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains some articles by and two photos of Heymann. The bulk of the collection consists of letters, along with a few postcards and telegrams, that Heymann sent to Franz Littmann, a confidant and writer for the Haaretz newspaper in Israel, during his exile from Germany, first in the Saarland, and then in France and the Netherlands. The last letter from Heymann is dated 1940. The letters discuss personal and professional matters, and paint a vivid portrait of Heymann's life and activities in exile. Finally, a telegram sent by Heymann in 1943 contains an appeal for help, and two letters sent shortly thereafter detail Littmann's efforts to secure support in this endeavor.
Dates
- 1919-1964
Creator
- Heymann, Fritz (Person)
Language of Materials
This collection is in German, English, French, and Hebrew.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org
Biographical Note
Heymann was born in 1897 or 1898 in Bocholt to a merchant family, but the family soon settled in Düsseldorf. In 1914 he volunteered for military service, and was captured by the British in 1917 but managed to escape. Although he began his university studies in Berlin shortly after the end of the war, he interrupted them to participate as a member of a Free Corps group in the suppression of the Spartakus revolt. After completing studies in literature and law, he became a writer for the Vossische Zeitung, where his satirical writings attracted considerable notice, and editor at the Düsseldorfer Lokalzeitung. In 1933 he fled to the autonomous Saar, where he started the anti-Nazi periodical Westland (later Grenzland), but was eventually forced to flee to the Netherlands over France. In Amsterdam he wrote two longer works, Der Chevalier von Geldern , and the Marannen-Chronik , a history of the Marranos. After 1940 he went into hiding with his mother in the Netherlands, and was deported to Theresienstadt at an unknown date, and executed at Auschwitz in 1944.
Extent
8 Folders
Abstract
The bulk of the collection consists of letters, along with a few postcards and telegrams, that Heymann sent to Franz Littmann, a confidant and writer for the Haaretz newspaper in Israel, during his exile from Germany in the 1930s. Also present are some articles and photographs.
Microfilm
Collection is also available on microfilm number MF 82.
Separated Material
Some photographs have been removed to the Photograph Collection. An issue of Filantropia (146 , 1946 May, Buenos Aires, Argentina ) with a memorial to Heymann has been removed to the LBI Library Collection.
- Title
- Guide to the Fritz Heymann Collection, 1919-1964 AR 764 / MF 82
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by LBI Staff and Timothy Ryan Mendenhall
- Date
- © 2010
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- October 03, 2011 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
- May 15, 2012 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
