Arthur Baer

Location Trail

1. Rochussenstrasse 57a, Rotterdam Resided (1940) · 1940
2. Rotterdam, Netherlands Letter · 1940
3. [New York or Rotterdam] Letter · 04.1940
4. rotterdam Arthur Baer ships Oppenheimer possessions from Rotterdam · 01.04.1940
5. [Rotterdam, Netherlands, despite Mannheim letterhead] Letter · 01.04.1940
6. Rotterdam, Netherlands Letter · 04.04.1940
7. New York, New York, USA Letter · 17.04.1940
8. Mannheim Born

Timeline

• 01.04.1940 Arthur Baer ships Oppenheimer possessions from Rotterdam

Correspondence

Envelope reverse with return address stamp (Arthur Baer, Rotterdam) 1940 Handwritten inventory/checklist of shipped crates and suitcases 1940 Handwritten letter from Arthur Baer to Mina Kaufmann (page 1 of 2), on "Arthu... 1940 Holland America Line excess baggage receipt (No. 621), bilingual (English/Ger... 1940 U.S. Customs Entry Record / Receipt / Missing Documents form (Customs Form 5101) 1940

Notes

Jewish refugee from Mannheim, living in Rotterdam by early 1940

Address: Rochussenstrasse 57a, Rotterdam (per return address stamp on envelope to Mina Kaufmann, Feb 1940)

Telephone: 84240 Rotterdam

Telegram address: 'Colbois R'dam'

Coordinated shipping of Oppenheimer family possessions (5 suitcases + 4 crates) from Munich to New York via Holland America Line at reduced freight rate, April 1940

Paid $70 freight cost himself

Used subterfuge: listed 'Max O.' (Max Marx Oppenheimer?) as recipient to avoid customs duties

Wrote to Mina Kaufmann in New York using old 'ARTHUR BAER MANNHEIM' letterhead

Connected the Gröschel family (Bernhard Gröschel from Forchheim, Bavaria) to personally accompany the shipment

Emotional note: 'If we could now finally get the people themselves out, those are the great worries' (April 1940)

Fate after German invasion of Netherlands (May 10, 1940) unknown — Rotterdam was heavily bombed May 14, 1940

Relationship to the Gemmingen Oppenheimers unclear — possibly connected through marriage or business; distinct from Richard Baer (husband of Annie née Oppenheimer, Otto's daughter, Bruchsal branch)