Philosophy of Life, Van Pels couple
Hermann and Auguste van Pels were registered as belonging to the Jewish religion.
Hermann van Pels was registered with the Synagogen-Gemeinde Osnabrück with his wife Auguste and son Peter. On 26 June 1937, all three were deregistered there in the context of their departure for Amsterdam.[1]
His son Peter attended the Israelitische Elementairschule in Osnabrück, attached to the Synagoge-Gemeinde of Osnabrück. There he was taught by Abraham Trepp, who in addition to being a teacher also held the position of preacher, cantor and teacher of religion in the synagogue.[2]
On Hermann van Pels' archive card in the Amsterdam population register, the section on religion reads: NI (New Israelite).[3]
In the instructions Otto Frank gave to Goodrich and Hackett, the writers of the play, he wrote that the Van Pels family participated in Hanukkah celebrations during the period in hiding.[4]
Footnotes
- ^ Niedersächsiches Landesarchiv - Standort Osnabrück, Dep.3bIV inv. nr. 2166: Kartotheek Synagogengemeinde Osnabrück (Anne Frank Stichting (AFS), Anne Frank Collectie, reg. code A_vPels_I_003-006).
- ^ Peter Junk & Martina Sellmeyer, Stationen auf dem Weg nach Auschwitz. Entrechtung, Vertreibung, Vernichtung Juden in Osnabrück 1900-1945. Ein Gedenkbuch, Osnabrück: Rasch Verlag Bramsche, 1988, p. 174-178.
- ^ Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Dienst Bevolkingsregister, Archiefkaarten (toegangsnummer 30238): Archiefkaart Hermann van Pels.
- ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI: Goodrich/Hackett papers: box 2 correspondence 1953-1956, brief Otto Frank aan Frances Goodrich en Albert Hackett, 6 februari 1954.