Letter from Senator Harry S. Truman to Gus Sarachek
3/28/1939
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Senator Harry Truman sent this letter to Gus Sarachek of Kansas City, MO, in March 1939. He enclosed a letter from the American Consul General at Vienna conveying news about the emigration status of Josef Glasgall, who was being held prisoner at Dachau Concentration Camp. The consul said that Glasgall's place "on the German quota waiting list [was so low that a] quota number [would not] become available for many months." Sarachek wrote back to this letter nine days later conveying the unfortunate news that Glasgall had died in Dachau.
In January, Sarachek had sent Truman a letter asking for help getting 24-year-old Josef Glasgall out of Dachau. Glasgall had been taken prisoner in Vienna during Kristallnacht ("Crystal Night") or "Night of Broken Glass," the violent Nazi anti-Jewish pogrom of November 9-10, 1938.
Germany had taken over Austria in March 1938. During Kristallnacht, Nazis destroyed more than 8,000 Jewish shops across Germany and its recently incorporated territories. Countless synagogues were demolished or burned. Individual Jews were attacked, many severely beaten, and more than 90 killed while others committed suicide. In the aftermath, some 26,000 prominent Jews were sent off to concentration camps only to be told they would be released if they emigrated. The wave of terror was intended to force the remaining half million Jews from Germany into exile.
In his initial letter to Senator Truman, Sarachek explained that Glasgall had the necessary visa already approved by the American Consul in Vienna. He asked the senator to communicate with the American Consul in Vienna to allow Glasgall to leave Dachau and emigrate to the United States. Truman's secretary Victor R. Messall wrote to the American Consul General asking for assistance in getting Glasgall released.
In January, Sarachek had sent Truman a letter asking for help getting 24-year-old Josef Glasgall out of Dachau. Glasgall had been taken prisoner in Vienna during Kristallnacht ("Crystal Night") or "Night of Broken Glass," the violent Nazi anti-Jewish pogrom of November 9-10, 1938.
Germany had taken over Austria in March 1938. During Kristallnacht, Nazis destroyed more than 8,000 Jewish shops across Germany and its recently incorporated territories. Countless synagogues were demolished or burned. Individual Jews were attacked, many severely beaten, and more than 90 killed while others committed suicide. In the aftermath, some 26,000 prominent Jews were sent off to concentration camps only to be told they would be released if they emigrated. The wave of terror was intended to force the remaining half million Jews from Germany into exile.
In his initial letter to Senator Truman, Sarachek explained that Glasgall had the necessary visa already approved by the American Consul in Vienna. He asked the senator to communicate with the American Consul in Vienna to allow Glasgall to leave Dachau and emigrate to the United States. Truman's secretary Victor R. Messall wrote to the American Consul General asking for assistance in getting Glasgall released.
This primary source comes from the Collection HST-SVP: Harry S. Truman Papers as U.S. Senator and Vice President.
National Archives Identifier: 205741949
Full Citation: Letter from Senator Harry S. Truman to Gus Sarachek, with Attachment; 3/28/1939; Immigration Cases: Glasgall, Josef; Correspondence Files, 1934 - 1945; Collection HST-SVP: Harry S. Truman Papers as U.S. Senator and Vice President; Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/truman-sarachek, September 12, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
