Episode 4
It’s 1914. And WW1. Two of the family’s men are on the front. With her new husband, Albert, gone to war, Franze moves back upstairs to her parent’s apartment. She has her young brother Gerhard for company. Franze told him she didn’t need to have children because she had him to mother. Their parents were busy adapting M & S Cohn’s, to the changing times.
However, Franze discovers she is expecting her first child. Life back in her parent’s apartment is partly as it was before, but she misses her brother Hans, also away at war. With them so close in age, she was used to him always being there.
Hans Bucky, 15.
News arrives that Hans has fallen on the battlefield. Amidst the family devastation, Franze vows to name her baby Hans, if it’s a boy.
And a boy it is. Hans junior arrives in his grandmother’s bed. Every time Franze refers to her baby as Hans, grief overwhelms her for her brother. She decides, calling him by a nickname, would be easier. Baby Hans becomes Henner, a name which sticks for life.
Franze with baby Henner, February 1915
Marianne with her first grandchild, Henner, and her youngest son, Gerhard
In time, Henner, and his uncle Gerhard, become more like brothers, establishing themselves as a team of pranksters.
Albert surviving the war, had his bravery distinguished by an Iron Cross. The couple resume married life, once again, back in their apartment.
Franze’s parents celebrate their silver wedding anniversary in 1919. The first person on the right, in the first adult row, must be tante Bienchen. She’s next to Franze, who sits next to her parents, with Albert on their other side.
Albert now partners his in- laws in the business, who did well to keep it afloat during the war. As money was short, they joined together with other stores in the region, and bought goods in bulk, to keep prices low.
Six days a week, Albert walked to work from Bismarck Strasse to M&S Cohn’s. He liked to be the first to arrive in the morning, and the last to leave at night. The neighbours could set their watch by him, as he strode by each morning. Even when he employed a driver for the business, who resided above his in-laws, Albert still walked to work. If the distance was less than 3 kilometres, he believed you should walk. This was a rule he set for all members of his household. Even if he needed the car later in the day, Albert still walked to the store, while his driver, Herr Ula followed behind in the car.
In the years after the war, the Store grew, so that in 1920, they employed 65 staff. M & S Cohn’s was a firm favourite with Altenburgers, both in the town and surrounding district. Their customers valued their consistency and in turn, were rewarded for their loyalty by special offers and gifts.
During this period, the Levy household also grew. Henner now had a sister Ruth.
Franze and Albert with Henner and Ruth
And in 1920, twins Lore and Lotte were born. Followed by Renata, their last child, in 1923.
With Albert away long hours at the Store, Franze was free to develop her own interests. They could afford help in the house, giving Franze time to develop her love of literature. She, herself said, that she lived for her children, books and music. Her younger brother, Gerhard,a gifted musician, played piano duets with her. As soon as Henner was old enough, she taught him the piano, and they too played duets.
Franze had a circle of friends from her school days in Altenburg. Some were now teachers themselves, including her friend Kuno Fiedler, a theologian. They gathered in Franze’s sitting room to discuss ideas, and share literature.
Franze’s salon set became renowned. Authors from outside the area corresponded with her, and, on occasion, visited her sitting room. Stefan Zweig, known for his novellas, became a firm friend.
Before he was old enough for school, Henner hated it, when his mother’s salon set were visiting. One day, when conversation was in full flow, he went to the kitchen, taking a pot from the wall. Going back into the living room, he hurled it at some guests, damaging a painting behind them on the wall.
Albert was furious when he returned later that night for dinner. His son must be punished, he insisted, while Franze pleaded leniency for her child. In the coming years, Franze would often try to mitigate her husband’s harsh punishments.
A few years later, Henner and Gerhard delighted in mocking Franze’s visitors from Berlin. They walked round the house imitating their accents and gestures, donned their fur shawls and waved unlit cigarettes in the air. Both Marianne and Franze spoiled the boys, more so than they were inclined to discipline them. Which perhaps is understandable, because of their loss of Hans.
1925: Franze, Henner, Ruth, Lore, Lotte, Renata
Franze taught each child a musical instrument, in order they could play as an ensemble. Henner played the viola. The Ensemble played for a party in town. Henner caught one of the audience say:
“That Levy boy is terrible.”
On the way home, Henner took the instrument out of its case, put it on the pavement, and jumped up and down on it. This was the end of his musical career!
Neither Marianne or Sally were religious Jews. Franze went to the local school where her friends were Christian, and she was used to celebrating Christmas.
Each year, Henner went to the market on Christmas Eve to pick a tree, which he would pull home through the snow on his sledge. Franze got the children to help decorate the Christmas tree, and she laid out the presents.
Albert was the only observant Jew at Bismarck Strasse. One year, when Chanukah fell at the same time as Christmas, Albert sat alone with his Chanukah candles, while the rest of the family were around the tree in the next room.
Albert insisted that his son have a bar mitzvah. Henner by this time, lived only for sport, particularly football and played for the local team. It’s a credit to Albert that his will prevailed.
A hundred relatives came for the ceremony, from all over Germany. Sally did not know Hebrew, and wrote his words on his hand. The male guests wore black top hats. Two of Henner’s favourite cousins from Hannover, sat at the back, and brought out their slingshots once the bar mitzvah had started. They aimed their missiles at the tall hats, felling several during the proceedings.
More guests arrived for a big party at a local hotel. Henner left early, because he hated staying up late.
As we approach 1930, the family is an appreciated part of Altenburg life. Albert is patron of the local theatre, and organises charity events. Franze’s salon set straddles Germany’s literature scene, and her associates include German writers, Thomas Mann and Herman Hesse. Associations which later influence the course of her life.
But before that story unfolds, we reach 1930, which is a special year for the family and for the town.
Continued next week……
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