Greta (Margarethe Batzke) gets papers to leave

Greta (Marie Helene Margarethe Batzke), Hermann Fechenbach's wife, gets her papers on December 4th 1938 so she can travel to England and escape Nazi persecution due to her marriage to a Jew. Greta who was a photographer lost all her camera and studio equipment which disappeared during shipment from Germany.

 

 

 

Greta and Hermann

Hutchinson Internment Camp exhibition November 1940

In November 1940 Captain Hubert Daniel who was the Commander in charge of the Hutchinson Internment Camp in Douglas, Isle of Man, opened an exhibition of work by the artists interned there. Artists included Paul Hamann, Kurt Schwitters, Fritz Kraemer, Georg Ehrlich, Siegfried Charoux, Fritz Solomonski, Fred Uhlman, Carlo Pietzner, Erich Kahn, Ernst M. Blcnsdorf, Hellmuth Weissenborn and Hugo 'Puck' Dachinger (the inventor of patented adhesive lettering system “Letraset”).

 

Captain Hubert Daniel contributed to the tangible heritage of the Hutchinson Camp as he kept a photographic record of the artists work, one of which is ‘Interned’ a linocut by Hermann Fechenbach.

 

The image 'Interned' is mistakenly seen as the Isle of Man, while it was cut there in 1940 it is not of the Isle of Man, but of a disused factory that was converted into a prison in Bury. This was before Hermann was sent on to Liverpool prison and finally on to the Hutchinson Camp.

 

Recent email error

Hi, Due to an error any recent emails have accidentally been delated. If you have email in the last few days and have gotten no reply please re-email. Regards Pat Mooney

Synagogue at Bad Mergentheim & Dr. Moses Kahn

During the events of November 9th and 10th, 1938 called the “Kristallnacht” or “Night of Broken Glass” the Nazis destroyed almost all Jewish synagogues in Germany. The only synagogue believed to have escaped the destroying rage of the Nazis is at Bad Mergentheim, in southern Germany, Hermann Fechenbach’s family home town. The Bad Mergentheim synagogue was shut down on the 9th of November, 1939, it was not burned down for fear that the fire would destroy the other building attached to it. Also on that night the very respected rabbi Dr. Moses Kahn, then 67 years old, was almost beaten to death by the Nazi SA at his home.

Hermann finally gets to Art College

It took the lose of Hermann's leg during World War 1 for his parents to let him finally go to art college. From November 1918 to the fall of 1921, Hermann Fechenbach attended the School of Applied Arts in Stuttgart.

 

October 1926

In October 1926, Hermann Fechenbach moves into his new small house, in the Württemberg district.

 

Pictured here is Hermann gardening outside his house.

 

Eastman Kodak No. 2 Camera

This photograph is most likely taken by a Kadak No.2 Camera which wehre masked to a round image. It was advertised that this was to avoid the necessity of holding the camera level but a more important consideration must have been the fact that the lens used did not have an image that was sharp to the edges. The photographs were mounted on buff or dark brown cards.

 

Thirty-two years ago tomorrow

Thirty-two years ago tomorrow on 23th October 1982, Margarethe (Greta) Fechenbach died after a long illness. On leaving Germany in December 1939 Greta abandoned her career as a photographer to set up a new life for herself and Hermann in England.

 

28th of June 1914 the event that triggered WW1

On this day one hundred years ago the double assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, shot by the nineteen-year-old Gavrilo Princip on in Sarajevo's Franz Josef Strasse. This event has gone down in history as the incident that triggered the First World War.

 

Below, I believe is a photo of M Max Fechenbach, Hermann’s father, in uniform. Hermann, his father, his brother Siegfried and cousin Julius all fought in World War One.

 

 

Your Ocean Blue Eyes, Song June 1949

Song written 65 years ago, dated June 1949 called “Your Ocean Blue Eyes” by Margarethe (Greta Batzke) Fechenbach. Also a wonderful photograph of Hermann and Grete, taken by Grete in she studio in Stuttgart before they had to flee Nazi Germany in 1939.

 

Your Ocean Blue Eyes

 

Deep are the seas
and deep are the skies
but how deep, how deep
are your ocean blue eyes.
Ahoi, ahoi, ahoi.

 

Will dive into seas
and fly into skies
for a smile, a smile
of your ocean blue eyes.
Ahoi, ahoi, ahoi.

 

I have sailed the seas
and conquered the skies
but I drown, I drown
in your ocean blue eyes.
Ahoi, ahoi, ahoi.

 

Will leave the seas
and forsake the skies
will love till I die
your ocean blue eyes.
Ahoi, ahoi, ahoi.

 

 

You can see the reflection of Hermann and Grete, also the camera to the right.

One Word from You by Grete Batzke

 

It strange to feel that I have become the guardian of the writings of Margarethe (Greta Batzke) Fechenbach. I will have to make a complete part of the www.hermannfechenbach.com dedicated to Grete’s work.

 

Here is a song from the archive that has been placed in my care, it’s called ‘One Word From You’ and dated August 1949.

 

One Word From You.

 

One word from you
that will work wonder
one word from you
that will go far
will make the roses blush
in pride and wonder
one word from you
will light the
newborn star.

 

My darling say it
do not delay it
the Sweetest word.

 

I am so lonely
you are my only
affinity.

 

Sweetheart I love you
do make my dream come true
our dream come true.

 

One word from you
that will work wonder
one word from you
that will go far
will make the roses blush
in pride and wonder
one word from you
will light the
newborn star.

Poem 'Hagadja' by Margarethe (Greta Batzke) Fechenbach dated 1947

Hagadja.

 

A little lamb
my father bought
of a jolly heart
and a snow white coat
at man and maker
bloom and bee
it smiled and danced
by the blossom tree.

 

The cat was out
on its evil way
sneaking around
for an easy prey
with envy and spite
quite in a fit
it killed the defenceless
the innocent kid.

 

The dog a stouthearted
fellow and strong
who jumped at wherever
was something wrong
not sparing itself
it never was slow
to aim at the culprit
the deadly blow.

 

The stick is not
so wooden at heart
to look at a murder
without a start
its task is to knock
and knock it did
the reckless received
a final hit.

 

The fire fenced up
spends bliss and charm
but out of control
does terrible harm
the flames are greedy
the leap and lick
burned up the wood
burned up the stick.

 

The rain can be fruitful
can be good
as long as it falls
in a gentle mood
but provoked as now
by the fires glut
it poured down wildly
the infamous flood.

 

The ox who saw
its pasture and hay
become a sea
and float away
got very angry
and indeed
tried to drink up
the water with speed.

 

The butcher watched
and found it odd
he sensed and didn’t
like the plot
and sharpened
cautiously his knife
he caught the ox
and took its life.

 

The death who always
quick at hand
after the butchers
soul he went
as you have killed
you must die too
judgement is mine
not unto you.

 

The angel of light
who forsakes us never
annihilated the death
for ever
the circle is round
enough of the killing
and peace is yours
if you are willing.

Postcard 1915

Looking through the writings of Grete (Margarete Fechenbach) I found this postcard from 1915. If anyone can translate or shed any information on this I would be very grateful.

Obituary from AJR Information Feb. 1987 by Alice Schwab

AJR INFORMATION FEBRUARY 1987 (Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain)

 

HERMANN FECHENBACH by Alice Schwab

 

The death in December last of my former teacher (in Stuttgart) breaks another link in the chain of German-Jewish artists who found refuge from Nazi tyranny in this country. Hermann Fechenbach was born in 1897 in Bad Mergentheim, Wiirttemberg, where his father ran a family Gasthof und Metzgerei which was also the social centre of a venerable but now defunct Jewish community. Fechenbach described and beautifully illustrated the history of his family and of the Mergentheim community in Die Letzten Mergentheimer Juden (Stuttgart, 1972).

 

From an early age Fechenbach showed promise as an artist, but his family did not consider this to be a suitable career for a good Jewish boy. So he went into commerce and quickly attained recognition as a window-dresser. Then came the War and he was badly wounded with the loss of his left leg. His father now relented and allowed him to adopt an artistic career. After studying in Stuttgart and Munich, he eventually established himself in Stuttgart where he painted in the Neue Sachlichkeit style.

 

In 1933 his name was removed from the official register of artists and he was forbidden to exhibit publicly. Eventually he and his wife Grete Batze, a professional photographer, settled in Palestine. But the new environment did not agree with them. Grete came to England on a domestic permit in 1939 and he followed a few months later. He resumed his painting and engraving and managed to arrange for his parents to emigrate to South America, though his twin sister died in a concentration camp.

 

On release from internment in 1941 Fechenbach, sponsored by Dr. Bela Horowitz, had his first English exhibition in Oxford in 1942. This was followed by numerous exhibitions at the Anglo-Palestine Club, the Ben Uri Art Society and on the Embankment. Although these exhibitions were well received, his style was not to the popular taste. He was a cripple, shy, retiring and had great difficulty with English. Nevertheless, in 1969 he published Genesis, the First Book of Moses with 137 of his own wood engravings. Copies of this most interesting work are still available for sale at the Ben Uri Art Society. His wife who had been ill for many years died in 1983; he remarried in 1984.

 

After years of silence, his work once again received public acclaim at the end of his life. A major exhibition was held at Blond Fine Art in 1985, of which the Times wrote 'his powerful graphic style comes from the same roots as those of Käthe Kollwitz and is often fired by the same anger ... He is clearly an artist to be reckoned with'.

 

We would like to thank Dr. Frank-Michael Lange who kindly sent us a number of documents which I am now in process of translating and then will build a better picture of the events in Hermann's life.

 

Here is a rough translation:

 

10/01/1950

 

Dr. Rosenthal,

 

Dear Dr. Rosenthal Your recommendation Mr Court Judge Dr. Koehler, thank you. I would be very grateful if you would take over the representation of my claims for redress. It is primarily about my 75% heavy war-disabled pension, which already according Dr. Koehler, the regulated compensation was set by 16/08/1949.

 

A copy of the Regional District office, Stuttgart, as well as the letter of Dr. Koehler I enclose.

 

Next relates to the redress my bank balance, and the losses that we had, after my wife Grete Batzke, was forced to give up our photo studio, Stuttgart, Schlossstr. 27. Through the photographic studio, we had a month after deductions of our expenses, an income of Mk 200 -, the resolution was made on the first of April, 1936, and we had no opportunity to sell the studio.

 

1939 after we sent our photo devices, my studio equipment and our furniture to Heifa, Palestine, in a container, as we were promised a certificate which, however, was not true, and so, with nothing as refugees arrived in England in May 1939.

 

To cover the expenses and storage, we have lost the greatest part of our possessions in Haifa.

 

My brother Julius Fechenbach, Bad Mergentheim, which is in possession of a general power of attorney from me, I'll be using the same mail instruct you to send the necessary powers.

 

Thank you in advance, greets you with all due respect

 

Hermann Fechenbach

Letter while interned on the Isle of Man

This is a letter send by Hermann Fechenbach to Greta, as you can see opened by censor, while he was interned on the Isle of Man

 

 

Margarethe (Greta Batzke) Fechenbach's Certificate of Death

Marie Helene Margarethe (Batzke) Fechenbach's Certificate of Death. Margarethe died on 23 October 1982. Born 20th Feb. 1894. She was 3 years older than Hermann. All part of our archive.

 

Inside of the synagogue Bad Mergentheim before 1933

 

Photo of the inside of the synagogue.

 

During the events of November 9th and 10th, 1938 called the “Kristallnacht” or “Night of Broken Glass” the Nazis destroyed almost all Jewish synagogues in Germany. The only synagogue believed to have escaped the destroying rage of the Nazis is at Bad Mergentheim, in southern Germany, Hermann Fechenbach’s family home town.

 

See earlier post.

Hermann's parents

Photo taken some time in the 1930's of Hermann's parents Sophie (Flegenheimer) Fechenbach and M. Max Fechenbach.

Margaret Batzke Postcard Stuttgart

From our archive of Hermann Fechenbach this postcard to promote Margaret Batzke (later Fechenbach) Photographic Studio in Stuttgart during the 1930's.

 

February and May 1938 in Palestine

Another of wonderful photographs we have in our archive of Hermann Fechenbach take by Margaret (Batzke) Fechenbach between February and May 1938 in Palestine (now Israel).

 

Bad Mergentheim Synagogue

During the events of November 9th and 10th, 1938 called the “Kristallnacht” or “Night of Broken Glass” the Nazis destroyed almost all Jewish synagogues in Germany. The only synagogue believed to have escaped the destroying rage of the Nazis is at Bad Mergentheim, in southern Germany, Hermann Fechenbach’s family home town.

 

Here is a copy of the text from the letter from the new Mayor of Bad Mergentheim, Dr. Karl Herz to Chaplain Aaron Kahan, dated 4th May 1945.

 

To the Honorable Rabbi, Bad Mergentheim:

Sir: As Mayor of the Municipality of Bad Mergentheim, I have the honor to present to you the keys of the Synagogue of the former Jewish Community. By a particular chance, this synagogue was "prevented" from being demolished like all others in Germany because a setting on fire of this building would have caused great danger to the whole town. But I still feel a much greater joy that I am able to present to you the Holy of the Holies of the Jewish Community which the last head handed over to a faithful Catholic, giving him the instruction to hide it until Jews would be again in Bad Mergentheim. Unfortunately the Jews who resided formerly here are scattered in all directions of the world or dead. I can assure you that the greater part of the population of Bad Mergentheim did not take part in this terrible misdeeds and that they saw with inward wrath this crime which dishonors our German people for all times. I hope that many of our Jewish residents might come back and that they, as far as they are still living, might collaborate with us in order to rebuild a free and better Germany, delivered from the nazi-plague and from racial and national hatred. I am greeting you in the name of the Municipality of Bad Mergentheim and I remain with the greatest respect, yours.

Signature Dr. Karl Herz

 

Amongst the Jewish American GI’s who helped put back the synagogue at the end of April and beginning of May 1945, and took part in the first services was Bernard Beckman of the 254th Infantry who's daughter Sharon Beckman contact us, she is putting together a history of her family and father Bernard Beckman. We are most thankful to her for this information. As are we also most grateful to Matt Selig, son of August Selig who was a merchant in groceries in Bad Mergentheimin the 1930’s and a friend of Hermann, for additional information that he sent us. All of which are helping us build a more complete history of the time.

 

The synagogue was demolished in 1970 and currently a school sits on the site.

 

 

This photo was taken in 1946 and is part of our collection.

 

I will be posting pictures of our recent visit to Bad Mergentheim.

Germany's Propaganda Minister Goebbels

Germany's Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels during the years 1933-1945. We can learn a lot from how the propaganda machine works.

This is one of my favourite lino prints from the War Criminals of Goebbels done in 1944 and cut while interned on the Isle of man. Who said, “We must govern well, and to govern well you need food propaganda. The two things go hand in hand. Good government without propaganda is unthinkable, as is good propaganda without good government”. Sounds just like today's government.

Yael Hersonski's powerful documentary ‘A Film Unfinished’

Watched Yael Hersonski's powerful documentary ‘A Film Unfinished’ which is about a Nazi-produced film about the Warsaw Ghetto that set out to show the jewish people as a mix of uncaring and wealthy, poor and uncivilised. Discovered after the war this unfinished work had no soundtrack. But it is an authentic record, despite its elaborate propagandistic construction. The later discovery of a long-missing reel showing the manipulations of camera crews in these "everyday" scenes. Well-heeled Jews attending elegant dinners and theatricals (while callously stepping over the dead bodies of compatriots) now appeared as unwilling, but complicit, actors, alternately fearful and in denial of their looming fate. The film has reconstruction of the interrogation of Willy Wist one of the camera men who at first tries to deny his input but later starts to open up to describe what he saw as we watch the actual film. A shocking, hard to watch because it’s real footage but should be watch movie.

National Holocaust Merorial Day commemorations

The National Holocaust Merorial Day commemorations took place in Dublin on Sunday, 26th January 2014. I would like to send my thanks and appreciation to Yanky Fachler who put so much work and dedication into this solemn and dignified event, and to all who took part.