Inventory List, May 7, 1942

Lotte's world is rapidly shrinking. In early May '42, all the Sigmund family's belongings were listed, including Lotte's violin, music stand, her toys, books, and clothes.

All the belongings of the de Nooij family, with whom the Sigmund family was living, were also registered. This was done to make future looting easier. Sigmund had already placed valuable silver cutlery and Lotte's birth cup (see Birth Certificate) with the family where they were going to go into hiding.

The list is signed by J.J. Rutgers and J. v.d. Donker

Inventory List, May 7, 1942
In the first letter, Lotte (just barely 12 years old) writes to Agnes: We don't know yet when we have to leave. Nothing special has happened yet! Shortly afterwards, on June 23, they are forced to move to Asterdorp in Amsterdam.

The address she writes (Roomolenstraat 16/18) is her father's office.

Second letter from Lotte to Agnes
The date of this letter has been changed twice. The first date is June 26, 1942. In the letter, Lotte writes: Tuesday morning, the SS Police came to check if everything that had been inventoried was still there.

Her toys and violin are being put away and sealed so that she can no longer access them. Her bicycle is also taken away.

June 23, 1942, was the forced move to A'dorp (Asterdorp, Amsterdam); On the platform I still saw Olly, Renate, and Els, writes Lotte. Olly was her friend; Renate wrote in her poetry album.
She further writes: We had to get off at Muiderpoort. From there, we were taken by bus to the quarantine. The quarantine wasn't bad at all, you know. After this little incident, we were taken back to the city. From there, we went to the office by tram.

Lotte did everything she could to downplay the extremely drastic events. The SS Police had been to their home, all her belongings had been taken away, and she had been forced to move to a quarantine facility that she dismisses with After this little incident...

She even considers it a positive thing that she no longer has to go up a flight of stairs. That was something she always had to do in their previous house on Hooftlaan in Bussum.

Third letter from Lotte to Agnes, July 11, 1942
In this letter, Lotte describes her birthday in Asterdorp. On July 9, she turned 13. She is very happy with the many presents she received: money from her parents, a small plant from her brother Kurt, and a box of chocolates from Mrs. de Nooij from Bussum, who apparently came to visit. Esther Souget, from the class in Bussum, came over for dinner.
The different handwriting is striking.

August 10 1942 deportation to Auschwitz
Below are the full texts of Lotte's letters to Agnes Bruin.
The Collection contains the images of the letters written by Lotte.

Bussum, June 19, 1942

Dear Agnes!
How are you? I couldn't write sooner because I didn't know your address. I did call you to ask how you are doing and to hear your address at the same time. But then I forgot to ask. Do you mind? I am very happy for you that you are not in pain.

Are there nice nurses and is the doctor nice? Have you drawn and read a lot yet? I don't see Nel and Mallejan anymore these days. We don't know yet when we have to leave. Nothing special has happened yet!

Say, will you write to me when you come home? Or will you let me know through your family? Anything is fine as long as I know. All the best, Agnes! Warm regards from my parents and from Lotte.

P.S. Get well soon. Hang in there. If your letter can't arrive in Bussum before Tuesday, June 23, would you please write to this address;

Roomolenstraat 16/18

Amsterdam C.

Bye
Lotte

July 6, 1942

Dear Agnes,
How are you and your leg?

I will just tell you about our journey from the very beginning. On Tuesday morning, the SS Police came to check if everything that had been inventoried was still there.
They sealed our toy cupboard with our toys and my rented violin, which I played, inside. Our bicycle shed, my mother's, and my bicycle were also sealed. We left on the 1:07 PM train. On the platform, I saw Olly, Renate, and Els. We had to get off at Muiderpoort. From there, we were taken by bus to the quarantine. The quarantine wasn't bad at all, you know. After this little incident, we were taken back to the city. From there, we took the tram to the office. We were terribly hot. In Amsterdam, we have 3 small bedrooms and 1 large living room with a kitchen in it. Everything is on one floor. There are no stairs in Amsterdam. That is something for Miss Cohen! I haven't heard anything from school or anything like that yet. What your mother asked isn't allowed by -------------!? Please don't hold it against me that I'm only sending this letter now, because I really didn't have the opportunity.

Would you please keep me somewhat updated on everything that's going on in Bussum?
Give my regards (also from my parents) to your parents, Tus, Wieg, . . . , Jet and Nella and Marjan.

All the best and get well soon from

bye Lotte

July 11, 1942

Dear Agnes

Thank you very much for your presents and your letter. I had a very nice birthday. Esther Souget came over for dinner. I certainly have no complaints about my presents! I will list everything: 7 books, a little plant from Kurt, a rain bonnet, a headscarf, 1 box of chocolates, 3 pencils, etc.
notebooks, £2.50, everything from my parents, except for 5 of the 7 books. Furthermore, I have 3 handkerchiefs from a girl from A'dorp and a bowl of strawberries, also from a girl from A'dorp. 6 peaches and 1 box of chocolates from Mrs. de Nooij and a sleeping bag (for my pajamas) that I have to embroider myself, from a teacher who worked for my mother for one day. Nice, isn't it! In the afternoon, a few more girls (also from A'dorp) came over to eat an ice cream. It was very pleasant. I like that idea of ​​yours with the letters. Will you write next Friday and I Tuesday? I think your report is excellent, and Nel's too.
I don't quite understand the part about Antoe and Dieter yet. Couldn't you write it to me a bit more clearly?

How is your leg? I was very sorry that I didn't know where the doctor lives.

Would you also like to thank Jet for her letter? Well Agnes, I'll end by sending regards to everyone (including the teacher).
All the best and get well soon from
Lotte

Dear Nella
Thanks very much for your letter too. I don't know what else to write to you
than what I wrote to Aggie, so I would say if Agnes is okay with it.
Then read her letter. Greetings from Huis tot huis. Bye
Lotte