Erna Rettberg Bauer papers

Identifier
irn501024
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1995.A.0962
Dates
1 Jan 1903 - 31 Dec 1995, 1 Jan 1991 - 31 Dec 1995
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

box

oversize folder

1

1

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Erna Rettberg Bauer (1914-2007) was born in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to German-born parents, Julius (1864-1945) and Anna Rettberg (1876-1935). In 1927 the family returned to Germany for what was meant to be a three-month visit to check in on an investment property belonging to Julius and Anna. The property, a 21-unit apartment building in Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany had been under the management of a family friend but through an investigation, the Rettbergs learned their friend was embezzling money from the property for his own gains. Because of the legal situation that ensued, the Rettberg family stayed in Germany, eventually becoming trapped by the Nazi regime. Three years after their arrival in Germany in 1930, Anna suffered stroke and was bedridden for the remainder of her life. In 1934, Julius was hit by a car. Left in compromised health, the family was coerced by members of the Nazi party to turn over ownership of the property. Both Anna and Julius died in Germany. Erna eventually returned to the United States. Despite multiple legal pursuits, she was never able to regain ownership of her family’s property.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

Funding Note: The cataloging of this collection has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

The Erna Rettberg Bauer papers were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995 by Erna Rettberg Bauer.

Scope and Content

The Erna Rettberg Bauer papers comprise documents assembled by Erna in pursuit of legal action to regain her family’s property. Many of the documents focus on Julius Rettberg and his relationship with Friedel Bredderman, the wife of Sturmabteilung Trooper, Paul Bredderman who was allegedly responsible for taking advantage of Julius and the Rettberg family. These documents include correspondence with members of the United States House of Representatives, copies of Julius’ will, citizenship papers, and identification papers, paperwork relating to the deed of the property, testimony from friends and family members, and correspondence from Friedel to Julius. Also included in this collection is a series of family papers consisting of photographs of the Rettberg family in the United States and Germany, including images of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, correspondence between Anna and Julius and their son in the United States, and newspaper clippings.

System of Arrangement

The Erna Rettberg Bauer papers are arranged as two series: • Series 1: Legal Action, 1991-1995 • Series 2: Family papers, 1903-1995

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Copyright Holder: Erna R. Bauer

People

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.