Werner Schleyer Papers, 1930-1939 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

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This record group contains multiple legal documents and related personal correspondence produced by Werner Schleyer and by the others on his behalf. Werner Schleyer was seeking emigration from Germany to the United States. He was born in 1909 in Frankfurt am Main in Germany. In the 1930s, he resided in Wiesbaden. He was an interior decorator by trade. From 1938, he pursued emigration to the U.S. on the formal ground to be reunited with his second aunt Florence B. Klee, who resided in Brooklyn, Kings County, NY. Florence B. Klee settled in the US in 1898. She was naturalized as a US citizen in 1903 by marriage.

Schleyer, Werner (1930 --1978)
American Immigration Authorities (1930 --1960)
German immigration authorities (1930 --1938)
Judicial organizations providing legal concil and representation in the matters of immigration (1938 -- 1940)

Mr. Schleyer emigration from Germany depended on issuance of a sufficient affidavit of support on the part of Florence B. Klee. The documents below illustrate official and personal correspondence between Werner Schleyer, his brother B. Schleyer in England, and his second aunt Florence B. Klee in the United States. As we shall see a required affidavit of support had been long delayed on the part of Florence Klee that in turn delayed Mr. Schleyer’s emigration from Germany. He managed to leave Germany in 1939 for England and in 1940 he sailed from there for the U.S.  In 1941, from January to July 1941, he was on active duty military service in Fort Bowie in Texas. Eventually, he settled in California.

These papers, letters, and documents illustrate the frustration and ultimate success of Werner Schleyer, presently George W. Schuyler, in his attempt to escape from Germany to the U.S. via England between the years of 1938 and 1940. Correspondence between him and his aunt highlights the futility and disappointment many must have felt with the insecurity arising from the unresolved procedural questions that in reality may have delayed or made indefinite the obtaining of the U.S. visas.

RG-34.01.01, Werner Schleyer, Diary of his sea voyage from Liverpool, England to New York, on the Sea Lines: White Star “Britannic.” The Diary is in German, the narrative is partially translated into English.

RG-34.01.02, Werner Schleyer, a Diary. First entry dates by the 10th of February 1940, on the first day en route. The notes conclude with the arriving to New York, on 4^th of March 1940. Notes on board are made in handwriting, while the notes in Brooklyn, New York are typewritten. Al together there are five sets of notes. The partial English translation is attached.

RG-34.02.01, Affidavit for the entry to US, Visa support. Issued in the name of Florence B. Klee, residing at 8615 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, Kings County, State of New York on behalf of her cousin Werner Schleyer, residing  at 9 York Strasse, Wiesbaden, Germany. Dated 1 February 1939.  In English.

RG-34.02.02, A private note from Florence B. Klee to Werner Schleyer, dated by 2 February 1938.  In English. (Copy)

RG-34.02.03, A letter from Florence Klee to Werner Schleyer regarding the cost of Affidavit.

RG-34.02.04: A note in German to Werner Schleyer from an unidentified sender. Sent within Germany.

RG-34.02.05: A letter from Siegfried Meyer to Werner Schleyer, dated 27 February 1938, in German.

RG-34.02.06—RG-34.02.11: Five letters from B. Schleyer in London to Werner Schleyer, in German. B. Schleyer was a director in the British-German Company, A. R. Ltd. The letters are dated by 22 February, 2 March, 11 March, 17 March, 29 March 1938.

RG-34.02.12: From US Consulate in Frankfurt to Werner Schleyer, official communication, dated by 25 February 1939.

RG-34.02.13: From Swiss Consulate in Frankfurt to Ms. Susanna Schleyer in Wiesbaden, official communication, dated by 26 January 1939.

RG-34.02.14: Telegram from Werner Schleyer, residing in England, at 133 Maida Vale-W.9 to US Embassy in London regarding transferring his Stuttgart number. Dated 20 January 1940.

RG-34.02.15: Note from Florence Klee to Werner Schleyer, dated by 13 December 1939.

RG-34.02.16: Information of Material claim on the part of George Werner Sehuyler (former known as Schleyer), born on 19 July 1909 in Frankfurt am Main, currently residing in Los Angeles, CA 90057, at 412½ South Coronado Street to Wiesbaden, Federal Republic of Germany, February 1967.

RG-34.02.17: Letter to Mr. Schleyer in England from the Council of Service for Foreign Born in New York, dated 30 November 1939, signed by Merle Henoch, Bureau of International Case Work. The letter expresses regret with regard to unreliability of Mrs. Klee, who has not fulfilled her promises to support and facilitate the issuance of affidavit on behalf of Werner Schleyer.

RG-34.02.18: A Note from Florence Klee to Werner Schleyer from 2^nd November 1939.

RG-34.02.19: Official communication from American Consulate General in Stuttgart, Germany to Werner Schleyer, dated by 23 May 1939.

RG-34.02.20: Florence B. Klee: Affidavit of Support for Werner Schleyer. Mr. Schleyer at that time resided in Frankfurt am Main, Rubens Strasse, No 24.

RG-34.02.21: Official communication from American Consulate General in Frankfurt to Werner Schleyer in London, dated by 22 July 1939, in German with English translation

RG-34.02.22: Letter from Werner Schleyer in Frankfurt am Main to her distinct relative, asking for establishing a connection with regard to a possible affidavit, dated 16 January 1938.

RG-34.02.23: Official communication from American Consulate General in London to Werner Schleyer.  It is an inquiry to submit a proof of his US relative pension of $ 1,600. Upon receipt of such proof, the Consulate will review his documents on the matter of issuance of US entry visa. Dated 3 November 1939.

RG-34.02.24: Letter from Werner Schleyer to Florence Klee. Mr. Schleyer expresses his disappointment of the delay on the part of Mrs. Klee who is not transferring $ 50 to him. This amount was given to her by Mr. Schleyer’s uncle. Dated by 1 September 1939.

RG-34.02.25: Letter form Werner Schleyer in London to the American Consulate General in London with verification of Florence Klee’s New York pension. Dated by 27 December 1939.

RG-34.02.26: Letter from the American Consulate in Frankfurt am Main to Werner Schleyer in Frankfurt am Main, in German, dated by 4 November 1938.

RG-34.02.27: A letter in the form of a note from Florence Klee to Werner Schleyer dated by 13 February 1938.

RG-34.02.28: A card depicting the vessel Britannic. Werner Schleyer arrived in New York on this ship. A caption below reads: 18 February 1940, arriving in New York.

RG-34.02.29: Travel and transportation arrangements for Werner Schleyer by the Peltours Ltd. (General Passenger and Tourist Agents), dated by 30 January 1940.

RG-34.02.30: Letter from Werner Schleyer to Florence Klee with request of sending an evidence of her $1,600 New York pension, dated by 28 November 1939.

RG-34.02.31: Letter from Florence B. Klee Werner Schleyer with notification that the affidavit has been filed. Dated by 20 June 1938.

RG-34.02.33: A note from Florence Klee to Werner Schleyer, handwriting, dated by 18 November 1938.

RG-34.02.34: A letter to Werner Schleyer in German, dated by 23 February 1939.

RG-34.02.35: A handwritten letter to Werner Schleyer in German, undated.

RG-34.02.36: A handwritten letter to Werner Schleyer in German, dated by 21 July 1938.

RG-34.02.37: A handwritten letter to Werner Schleyer in German, dated by 22 March 1939.

RG-34.02.38: A handwritten letter to Werner Schleyer in German, dated by 20 January 1938.

RG-34.02.39: Extract of the US Army documentation, showing that Werner Schleyer was drafted into the US Army. He was to proceed from Dallas, Texas to Camp Bowie, Texas according to the Army directive. Dated by 14 January 1941.

RG-34.02.40: US Army document certifying honorable discharge of Private Werner Schleyer. The reason for discharge is his physical disability. Dated 12 July 1941.

RG-34.02.41: US Department of Justice, official notification issued to Werner Schleyer with regard to the hearing on his petition for citizenship. Los Angeles, 9 April 1945.

RG-34.02.42: US Department of Justice, Werner Schleyer renders the supplement showing his dates of military service in the US Army. Submitted to the petition for citizenship, dated 14 August 1944.

RG-34.02.43: US Armed Forces: a certificate of honorable discharge issued to Werner Schleyer who was on active duty from 14 January to 12 July 1941. Given at Washington, D.C. on 28 March 1960.

RG-34.02.44: Werner Schleyer, presently George W. Schuyler, donation notice to the Jewish Community Center, 6505 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, California. Mr. Schuyler donates two documents: a Kennkarte with the letter J for Ida Hofmann. The second document is a paper on the Jewish Aid for Victims of the War, published in France in August 1945. Dated by 24 August 1978. Signed.

RG-34.02.45: German Jewish Aid Committee, letter from Bloomsbury House in London to Werner Schleyer confirming receipt of card. Dated March 28^th, 1939.

RG 34.02.46: Telegram from Germany from Werner Schleyer to New York City, asking for confirmation that affidavit was sent to Stuttgart. Dated August 16 1938.

RG-34.02.47: A telegram sent from Werner Schleyer in England to Florence Klee in the USA. Mr. Schleyer requests an immediate response with an evidence of Mrs. Klee pension, because lack of such information makes the issuance of an affidavit pending.

Author: staff

Emigration from Nazi Germany
Immigration to United States
Nazi Germany, emigration rules and regulations for Jews, 1933 -- 1939
official requirements for the immigration to the United States, 1930 -- 1939

English
German