The scrapbook, a Bible, birth and christening certificates, and legal documents, tell the story of a German couple during World War II. Roderich Wolff (1897–1973) was Jewish and his wife Elisabeth (1912–2006) was Christian. They married on December 20, 1930, and moved to Erfurt, Germany. Roderich was arrested by the Gestapo during Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938, and sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He was released with payment and an exit visa.
In January 1939 the Wolffs settled in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Found in the scrapbook are letters from prominent Dutch theologians and resistance workers such as Dr. Johan Eijkman, Dr. M.C. Slotemaker de Bruine, and Hebbe Kohlbrugge. During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Roderich was a forced laborer at Camp Gijsselte and Boschplan Amstelveen. He was also briefly interned at Westerbork Transit Camp.
In 1948 the Wolffs emigrated to the United States and settled in the Palm Springs area in California. In the 1950s Elisabeth compiled legal documents in an attempt to secure restitution from the German government.
In May 2016, Jeff Barker donated the Scrapbook and Papers of Roderich & Elisabeth Wolff to the Archives at the DeWitt Library, Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa. His mother, Bette Lou Barker, was Elisabeth’s friend and her executor upon her death in San Marcos, California, in 2006. Recognizing the historical significance of the scrapbook, Bette Lou sent the materials to her son, a theater professor at Northwestern College.
The collection (MS17 in Manuscripts and Personal Papers) was processed, researched, and digitized by Sara R. Huyser, Access Services Coordinator. A special thanks goes to Dr. Johan Hegeman for the translation of Dutch documents and for providing valuable historical background. Also thanks to Dr. Michael Kensak, Glenda De Vries, and Dr. Jane Vander Kooi for translating the German documents.
(Note: Elisabeth Wolff goes by many names in the documents: she was christened Johanna Elisabeth Bachmann, but went by Elisabeth. Her nickname was Lisbeth. In America, she changed the spelling of her name to Elizabeth while Roderich also changed his spelling to Roderick.)
-
Extract from the baptismal register (Auszug aus dem Taufregister), issued August 26, 1942
This document states that Anna Franziska Knietzsch, born October 11, 1857, was baptized on October 25, 1857, in Wernau, Germany. She was the grandmother of Elisabeth Wolff.
-
Baptismal Certificate (Taufbescheinigung) of Marie Elise Müller, Issued August 5, 1943
Marie Elise Müller, Elisabeth’s mother, was born on January 25, 1884, to Johann Carl and Johanne Magdalena Müller on January 25, 1898. She was baptized in the German Evangelical Lutheran Church on March 9, 1884. (2 copies)
-
Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) of Marie Elise Müller, issued December 16, 1939
Marie Elsie Müller, Elisabeth Wolff’s mother, was born January 25, 1884 in Chemnitz, Germany to Johann Carl and Johanne Magdalena Müller. Johann’s occupation was listed as a carpenter. On the certificate both parents are listed as German Evangelical Lutheran. (2 copies: one with a church stamp and the other with a Nazi Stamp.)
-
Extract from Marriage Register (Auszug aus dem Trauregister) of Johan and Johanne Müller, issued August 7, 1943
Elisabeth’s grandparents, Johan and Johanne Müller, were married in St. Johann’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chemnitz, Germany, on October 27, 1872.
-
Diploma/Report Card of Elisabeth Bachmann from a Girl’s Vocational School in Chemnitz, Germany, 1930
From 1928 to 1930 Elisabeth Wolff attended Mädchen - Berufsschule Chemnitz, receiving her diploma with grades of 2 (good) and 3 (satisfactory). Subjects included German, computing, bookkeeping, script writing, civics, child care, and home economics.
-
Confirmation certificate of Johanna Elisabeth Bachmann, issued April 6, 1940
Johanna Elisabeth Bachmann (Wolff) was born on December 16, 1912, in Chemnitz, Germany and was baptized on March 21, 1913, in St. Peter Evangelical Church, Chemnitz, Germany.
-
Confirmation Service (Konfirmationsgottesdienst) of Elisabeth Bachmann, April 10, 1927
This bulletin has Elisabeth Bachmann’s name underlined as one of the individuals making profession of faith.
-
Certificate by Dr. Ludwig Theodore Rosenthal M.D., February 8, 1957
Rosenthal attests that Elisabeth Wolff suffers from a nervous condition due to conditions under Nazi Germany. As a result, she is only able to work 50% of the time.
-
Letter to the editor by Elizabeth Wolff, undated
Wolff appreciates the paper’s publicity about the small post office closing in the Lake San Marcos Mall.
-
Legal documents regarding restitution of Elisabeth Wolff, 1955-1960
This file of papers regard Elisabeth Wolff’s legal attempt to secure restitution for her suffering at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. In it are references to the hardships the Wolffs faced, including a description of Roderich’s arrest by the Gestapo and deportation to Buchenwald concentration camp, forced emigration to the Netherlands, and his compulsory work in forced labor camps such as Amstelveen. The documents indicate that Elisabeth developed an extreme nervous condition during this time. She also suffered from poor dental care. [Partial transcription of German original provided.]
-
Bible
The Bible has the signature of Roderich Wolff and the date 1942. On the last page of the Bible is a handwritten prayer and poem. [Transcription and translation of poem is provided.]
