EN

Charlotte Kaletta visits Brussels

In an attempt to still be able to marry Fritz Pfeffer, Charlotte Kaletta left for Brussels at the end of June 1939. But because Pfeffer's passport had expired, he was unable to cross the border into Belgium.

Event

June 21, 1939 - June 25, 1939

50.856374 N 4.358358 E

2 Rue des Croisades

Brussel

België

After divorcing Vera Bythiner, Fritz Pfeffer got into a relationship with the Catholic Charlotte Kaletta. Because of the 1935 Nuremberg laws, which prohibited marriages between Jews and non-Jews, they could not marry. The Netherlands had signed a treaty with Germany and twelve other European countries in 1902, in which they agreed to respect each other's marriage laws.[1] As a result, German citizens who were not allowed to marry Jews could not do so in the Netherlands either. However, it was possible in Belgium, because the country had denounced the treaty shortly after World War I. Like so many others, Fritz and Charlotte wanted to give it a try. And so, Charlotte Kaletta spent some time at Hotel Siru in Brussels at the end of June 1939.[2] In her absence, Pfeffer wrote her three letters that have been preserved.[3] Since Pfeffer's passport had expired in January 1939 and the German consulate in Amsterdam refused to renew it,[4] he was unable to cross the Belgian border and the plan came to nothing.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Verslag der Handelingen van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, vergaderjaar 1902-1903, kamerstuknr. 111, ondernummers 1 en 2.
  2. ^ Zie Nanda van der Zee, De kamergenoot van Anne Frank, Soesterberg: Aspekt, 2001, p. 30-33.
  3. ^ Anne Frank Stichting, Anne Frank Collectie, reg. code A_Pfeffer_I_005: Brief van Fritz Pfeffer aan Charlotte Kaletta, 21 juni 1939; A_Pfeffer_I_006: 23 juni 1939; A_Pfeffer_I_007: 24 juni 1939.
  4. ^ Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Ministerie van Justitie: Rijksvreemdelingendienst en Taakvoorgangers, toegang 2.09.45, inv. nr. 1031: Vreemdelingendienst aan procureur-generaal, 6 juni 1939.