8 - Kristallnacht
from Part Two
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2019
Summary
The league had been the center of a new home for Landau. Her parents had moved to Berlin from Halle in the spring of 1935 after the Nazis had seized her father's business. At Dahlmannstrasse 24, they all lived together, Anneliese and her parents. Her sister, Grete, lived nearby with her husband on Nassauischestrasse. In 1924 Grete had married a lawyer with the same name as her late brother Kurt, Curt Paechter, with piercing blue eyes and a blond mustache. He had fought for Germany during World War I. When they married, in a ceremony at the B'nai B'rith lodge in Halle, he was working as head of the law department of Berlin's leading bank. But, like Grete, he was also musical. On one of their early dates (one of the few—they were engaged quite quickly), Curt sang in a concert of Verdi's Requiem. He was a baritone in one of Berlin's best choral societies, the Kittelscher Chor. A year after their wedding, their first son, Hans, was born, followed by a second son, Gerd, and four years later a daughter, Lisel. Landau was always close to Hans, for whom she helped care in the hospital after the delivery. At an early age he began to respond to her as an equal, always calling her Anneliese rather than Auntie. During their years together in Berlin, he attended Anneliese's league performances. He was the only one of Grete's children old enough to do so. After the curtain closed, he would slip backstage and offer her his notes, including feedback on her clothes. Landau carefully considered these outfits for the stage, thanks in part to reminders from her mother. For one appearance Landau had thoughtfully selected a light blue, lace dress. But Hans didn't hesitate: “Anneliese, you cannot wear this dress, it looks awful.” The insult had to sting a bit, but she seemed to enjoy his uninhibited honesty. He was a lot like her in that way.
Landau's parents attended her lectures as well, and, as a family, they frequented concerts and theatrical events. They would then all head next door to a small café and discuss the night's presentation with other league members. In public league members often came together in this way, drew close.
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- Information
- Anneliese Landau's Life in MusicNazi Germany to Émigré California, pp. 53 - 63Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2019