Munich, January 14, [year] Dear Kriegs family! [New Year's greetings and wishes]... dear sister... children... and from mother... [discussing] birthday — [hoping that] the journey [will happen]... greetings... My dear ones, through your dear [letters] we always [hear] from you and are glad that you have settled in. But you are already a young lady — for it has been almost [several] good years since you left here. Mina is now no longer in New York but has been in Baltimore for several weeks. How are your dear wife [and] Mr. [?]. From my loved ones in Holland, we regularly receive news and they are, thank God, healthy... Please do let us hear from you sometime. All most warmly greeted by your Elsa. [Bottom note — address:] To Siegfried Kriege, Horace Harding Road 15, East [?] Plain, N.J.
Handwritten letter
Handwritten letter on blue/green paper
München den 14. Jan. [?] Liebe Familie Kriegs! Hoffen und dürfen Neues Jahr's [?] Grüsse über liebe Schwester u. Hallo [?] Kinder [?] und von der Mutter [?] Last u. glauben [?] wurde [?] ein gewisse [?] der Normalene u. Geburtstag — und [?] ganz nur [?] die Reise wieder [?] auslassen! [?] ich [?] uns war, und nicht etwas die lieben u. [?] empfangen alle liebt. [?] Grüsse u. U. Meine lieben, über [?] lieben Seelen wir immer von Euch u. freuen uns, dass Du und [?] eingebehlt habt. Aber aber wir schon eine junge Dame — [?] denn es wird doch schon beinahe gute Jahre, dass Ihr von hier fort seid. Mina ist [?] ja nun nicht mehr in New York sondern seit einigen Wochen in Baltimore. Wie geht es Deinen lb. Frau [?] Herr [?]. Von meinen Lieben in Holland haben wir regelmässig Nachrichte sind u. sie ist Gottseidank gesund. [?] Dein [?] Kleiner auch die [?] u. [?] Habt bitte auch mal etwas von Euch hören für sie. Alle herzlichst gegrüsst von Eurem Elsa. [Bottom note:] An Siegfried Kriege, Horace Hardling [?] Road 15 East Plain, N.J. [?]
This letter to the Kriegs family (apparently also emigrated relatives, living in New Jersey) provides a snapshot of the scattered Oppenheimer family network. Elsa mentions that Mina has recently moved from New York to Baltimore, and notes that relatives in Holland are still well (the Netherlands had been occupied by Germany since May 1940). The mention of Holland is poignant, as Dutch Jews would soon face deportation to extermination camps beginning in mid-1942.