Meanwhile in Sweden
Summer 1940 Munkfors, Värmland
On Friday evenings, Eva and her mother celebrate the Sabbath in the maid’s chamber of the vicarage. Elsbeth now works there as a servant. Eva quickly learns Swedish and spends a lot of time playing with Ingmar, the son of the vicar and his wife.
Eva’s parents got in touch with Vicar Einar Börjessonthrough mutual acquaintances. In May 1939, Eva and her mother arrived at the vicarage in Munkfors. Since Elsbeth had a job and accommodation in the parsonage, she was able to get an entry permit to Sweden.
In the spring of 1940, Eva’s older brother Walter joined them in the vicarage. He had arrived in the country as part of the so-called Children’s transport and was initially housed in an orphanage outside Stockholm.
Eva’s father Gottfried was denied an entry permit to Sweden. He fled to Belgium at the outbreak of the war and then continued on to France. There he was interned in a transit camp, St Cyprien in southern France. Gottfried wrote letters to his family:
“Have the children grown a lot? Are they obedient, too? (…) But ideally, they should get to enjoy the joys of a carefree childhood, so I’m glad that they’re so well protected during this difficult time (…) Please write me back as soon as you can. (…) I love you all. Sending you a thousand hugs and kisses and all my love.”
Letter from Gottfried Israel, 27 July 1940, St Cyprien
Autumn 1940 Olivedalsgatan, Gothenburg
The letters from Germany arrive at irregular intervals. Lilo replies to the letters. Alfred and Gertrud worry that their daughter will catch a cold and encourage her to dress warmly.
” I so enjoyed reading your last letter – it’s clear that my dear girl is doing well, thank God. I hope this letter finds you in good health. As for us, we have only good news; we’re all happy and healthy. It has already become quite cold and our big concern is that you must dress warmly enough so that you don’t catch a cold. Wear your thickest socks and pull out your winter woolens. ”
Letter to Lilo from her father Alfred, 28 October 1940
In January 1942, Lilo received a message from the German consulate in Berlin informing her that her German citizenship had been revoked. Under a new ordinance, all German Jews living abroad had been deprived of their citizenship. Eighteen-year-old Lilo was now stateless. She applied for a so-called “alien’s passport”.
In June 1942, Lilo got a place as a sewing student at Salon Erle in Centrumhuset on Östra Hamngatan in Gothenburg. Once she started working, she was able to support herself. She moved out of the Wladislawowsky family home, and over the next few years she rented rooms at various addresses.
Autumn 1941 Bondegatan 44, Stockholm
Walter receives news from Germany. His father Aaron writes to him about how Nazi Germany’s regime is treating the country’s Jews. Aaron informs his son that he weighs 49 kilogrammes due to malnutrition. All Jews are forced to wear a yellow star.
When Walter came to Sweden, he got a job at the Fogelstad estate in Södermanland, where he worked as a gardener and servant. The owner of the estate, Elisabeth Tamm, was a left-leaning liberal member of the Swedish Parliament. She provided refugees with work and housing on her estate. In November, Lilli was also able to travel to Sweden and reunited with Walter at Fogelstad.
Walter and Lilli also received support from Amelie Posse, a Swedish countess who helped many refugees. She was one of the founders of the anti-Nazi Tuesday Club.
The Brünns moved to an apartment at Bondegatan 44 in Stockholm. Once there, they did their best to help their parents, who had stayed behind in Germany. Walter wrote to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking that his father be permitted to enter Sweden. He promised to support his father if he was allowed to come.
Walter and Lilli often overheard a young girl practicing the piano in a neighbouring apartment. Their shared love of music led them to become acquainted with their new neighbours, sparking a lifelong friendship.