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snapshots of our past

Category Archives: Oscar

Oscar and his Platoon in a Cafe. WWI, 1915. Hamburg, Germany.

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Oscar, World War I

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I love this photo for its candidness. Unbelievably clear and real. On the back is a postcard written from Oscar. The translation comes from my grandfather:

My dear Parents, my best thanks for today’s postcard. After I worked very hard all day drawing, I recuperated for a short while in the Cafe. When will you, dear father, come visit here. From Manfred (Oscar’s Brother) I received a card the other day. Best wishes from your devoted son, Oscar. 

I really wonder what oscar was “drawing”. Maps? Army plans? Clearly he felt safe enough to invite his father up to Hamburg.

 

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Oscar, Henriette, and Friends. Germany

09 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Henriette, Oscar

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Because my thesis was so document heavy, it was easy to forgot the people I was writing about had a personality. It was very difficult to determine the type of person Oscar was through three letters he wrote while in a concentration camp. Seeing him through this new lens has really changed my perception of Oscar. I used to think of him as this stern, near emotionless figure, but looking at these photographs I am so wrong. He is smiling in nearly every photo, and that just brings a smile to my face.

Oscar is seated, interlocking arms with two friends.

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Oscar’s New Birth Certificate. Germany, 1938

07 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Oscar, WWII/Holocaust

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Here is a Nazi era birth certificate issued to Oscar. It clearly states that both his parents are of the “Jewish Religion”.

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Happy Birthday Letter to Oscar. 1931

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Gerd, Oscar

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Both Gerd and Hans Jürgen spent a year attending an international school in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Henriette saved every letter written by both of her sons during their stay in Switzerland. In this letter Gerd is wishing his father a happy birthday. My grandfather (pictured in the upper left) always described his father as stern, almost emotionless. This letter, along with the hundreds of other letters, really starts to alter my perception of Oscar. My hope, after intensive translation, is to construct a more accurate portrait of Oscar and Henriette.

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Oscar’s Building Plan featured in Architectural Journal, 1915.

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Oscar

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This was the first published (that I found) project of Oscar’s. Published in Deutsche Konkurrenzen Vereinigt mit Architektur Konkurrenzen, a journal about architectural competitions(?), Oscar’s plan shows an apartment building complex of sorts. Evidently Oscar submitted this proposal for consideration in the competition. 

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Oscar’s Building featured in German Magazine, Die Herren-Mode 1930

27 Monday Feb 2012

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Fast forward 26 years and Oscar found his building featured in a full page spread in Die Herren-Mode (Men’s Fashion). The magazine featured Unger Department Store, a newly built (and quite modern looking) establishment in Hamburg, Germany.

Unger is still in business today and from what I gather from google maps, it looks like it’s housed in the same exact building. Located at Neuer Wall 35, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

Edit: I reached out to the PR team at Unger, and they explained that the above building was destroyed during WWII.

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Oscar, During Construction. 1904.

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Oscar

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Close up:

Oscar is the furthest Left

Oscar was a prominent architect in Germany. Oscar was only 18 at the time of this photo. This was probably taken during his training or apprenticeship. This project looks more like a restoration/renovation than a new project.

Within 15 years, Oscar was having his designs published in German architectural journals. Oscar specialized in Department stores.

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Oscar and Henriette’s Marriage Contract (German/Hebrew) 1920

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Henriette, Oscar

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(click the photo to enlarge)

Not since the tombstones of the very first von Halles have I found a document in Hebrew.

The von Halle side was seemingly lax on religion. There are no records of belonging to a synagogue. Henriette’s side, however, was more religious. This contract is evidence of such piety. The wedding was located in Berlin, Henriette’s hometown.

My grandfather never mentioned attending temple as a child. In fact, it was not until after the Holocaust that my grandfather truly found his faith. Not once, in any interview or personal interaction with him, did my grandfather say he put faith in God. The only time he mentioned saying prayers was at the insistance of his deeply devout Christian harborers while in hiding.

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Oscar in WWI Uniform. 1915.

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by snapshotsofourpast in Oscar, World War I

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Oscar in his World War I German Uniform. On the back is a postcard written to his parents, Sophie and Seigmund von Halle (translation to come).

This is one of my favorite photos (to date). My great grandfather was evidently proud of his time in the German army. He saved numerous photos and materials from World War I, including his Military identification forms, which will be scanned soon. His father. Seigmund, served under Otto von Bismark. Henriette’s relatives even fought for German Liberation from Napoleon.

Oscar’s brother, Manfred von Halle, lost his arm during WWI. You can see a photo of him recovering in the hospital in the materials section of my thesis.

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