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Claims Conference Holocaust Survivor Memoir Collection Access to the print and/or digital copies of memoirs in this collection is made possible by USHMM on behalf of, and with the support of, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Library respects the copyright and intellectual property rights associated with the materials in its collection. The Library holds the rights and permissions to put this material online. If you hold an active copyright to this work and would like to have your materials removed from the web please contact the USHMM Library by phone at 202-479-9717, or by email at [email protected]. i What has been said about War Orphan in San Francisco: “. . . told with clarity and a sense of history, arousing a feeling of compassion and admiration in the reader. The letters between distant family members provide an intensely personal narrative, which demonstrates this remarkable young woman’s courage, hope, and eventual self-confidence. This is a rewarding book to be savored by both teens and adults; Mattson’s ‘War Orphan in San Francisco’ should have a place on the shelf in every public library.” — Jane Botsford, Reference Coordinator, Santa Clara City Library “. . . The story of her life is most poignantly relayed through correspondence with her parents, beginning in 1940, when Mattson arrives in the United States, and ending in 1946, when her father finally comes to San Francisco after being held as a prisoner of war in Australia. …a valuable and very personal narrative of a childhood devastated by war and separation. Recommended for public and synagogue libraries .” — American Jewish Library Journal, Feb/Mar, 2005. Sheila L. Darrow, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH “. . . One of the fortunate children brought to America and out of harm’s way was Phyllis Finkel Mattson. Leaving her parents behind, she arrived in the United States in the spring of 1940. Though separated by an ocean and unspeakable perils, her parents continued to communicate by letter. Today, those letters, and Phyllis’s own recounting of those times are contained in an exceptional book entitled, ‘War Orphan in San Francisco’.” —Iris Posner, (Ed) of Don’t Wave Good-bye, The Children’s Flight from Nazi persecution to American Freedom “. . . Your talk comes from the heart, from your experience. That is what shines through. They (students) particularly like that you’re a strong, independent woman — an excellent role model for all times. They were touched that you were victimized and scared as a little girl mirroring Anne Frank’s situation… They identified with your wanting to pursue your own dreams instead of what the adults in your life wanted for you. Your story is uniquely yours, and that is what touches these young people.” — Dhar Blackwood, San Jose Middle School Teacher ii iii War Orphan in San Francisco Letters Link a Family Scattered by World War II by Phyllis Helene Mattson iv ©2006 by Phyllis Helene Mattson All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted by any means, photocopying, electronic, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Published by Stevens Creek Press P.O. Box 305 Cupertino, California 95015 [email protected] Published 2005 Second Edition 2006 Printed in the United States of America ISBN 0-9761656-1-9 Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-publication data Mattson, Phyllis Helene. War Orphan in San Francisco: Letters Link a Family Scattered by World War II / Phyllis Helene Mattson. — 1st ed. — Cupertino, Calif. : Stevens Creek Press, 2005. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references. 1. Mattson, Phyllis Helene. 2. World War, 1939-1945— Refugees — Austria. 3. World War, 1939-1945 — Personal narratives. 4. Jewish children in the Holocaust. 5. Foster children — California — San Francisco. 6. Jewish orphanages — California — San Francisco. I. Title. D811.5.M38 2005 940.54/81436/13—dc22 0501 v In Memory of My Parents Laura and Samuel Finkel Victims of the Holocaust Dedicated to My Children Laurel Davis and Jeffrey Mattson So they may know their history With Heartfelt Gratitude to My Rescuers Aunt Laura and the Jewish Charities Who cared about saving children during the World War II vi TIME LINE August 9, 1929 I enter the world March 12, 1938 Hitler takes Austria November, 1938 We have to move to a stranger’s apartment March, 1939 Father is taken to prison for being “stateless” May, 1939 He is released from prison, goes to Kitchener Camp in England ? 1939 Mother and I move to a friend’s apartment March 20, 1940 I leave for America April 6, 1940 I arrive in San Francisco, begin to live with Aunt Laura June, 1940 Father is sent to Isle of Man as Prisoner of War July, 1940 Father embarks on the Dunera September, 1940 He arrives in Australia, goes to P.O.W. camp at Hay September , 1940 Mother has to move as the friend she lived with has died November, 1940 I go to my first foster home May, 1941 Father moves from Hay Camp to Tatura Camp June 6, 1941 Mother sent to Nordhausen, Germany, to work in asparagus fields and later at a cigar factory July, 1941 My first visit to Yosemite December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor, U.S. declares war on Japan, Germany & Italy February, 1942 I move to Homewood Terrace, an orphanage, Cottage 42 April 21, 1942 Mother returns to Vienna from Nordhausen camp May 6, 1942 Mother is killed at Maly Trostinec, near Minsk, Belarus December 12, 1942 Father is released from internment, moves to Melbourne June, 1943 I move to Cottage 24, at Homewood Terrace February, 1944 I move to another foster home October, 1944 I return to Homewood Terrace, Cottage 42 again May, 1945 Father’s visa is finally approved June, 1945 Germany surrenders August, 1945 Japan surrenders, World War II is over May, 1946 I move to another foster home August, 1946 I return to Homewood Terrace, Cottage 22 this time September 13, 1946 Father arrives in San Francisco February, 1947 We begin to live together in downtown San Francisco February, 1950 I move to Berkeley to study at the University of California