During the interwar period Dr. Susanne Engelmann served as the principal of a large public high school for girls in Berlin. This letter notified her of her dismissal, as a "non-Aryan," from her teaching position. The dismissal was in compliance with the Civil Service Law of April 7, 1933.
On April 7, the German government issued the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service (Gesetz zur Wiederherstellung des Berufsbeamtentums), which excluded Jews and political opponents from all civil service positions.
According to § 4 of the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service of April 7th 1933, you are hereby dismissed from public school teaching.
Regarding the regulation of your emoluments[earnings or income are better], the Oberpräsident [Senior President of Chief (of the state administration) in Berlin will make further rulings.
Berlin, September 9th 1933
The Prussian Minister for Science, Art and National Education
Per pro. (Signature)
To: principal Dr. Susanne Engelmann in Berlin
A IV Engelmann 1a
C 2.
What can documents such as this one tell us about life in Berlin in the months following the Nazi rise to power?
Why are artifacts, documents, and photographs important historical evidence?
What questions does this letter raise for you?
Use the Museum's website and Collections to learn more about anti-Jewish legislation from 1933–1939.
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