United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Herbert Gutmann papers contain primarily correspondence relating to Herbert Gutmann, a former Jewish-German banker who immigrated to the United States in 1938. The correspondence is mainly between Herbert and his mother’s cousin Edgar Stein, who wrote the affidavit of support for Herbert’s immigration. The other group of correspondence concerns Herbert’s lawsuit against the state of Bavaria for damages caused to his father’s cattle business as a result of anti-Jewish measures promulgated in Germany during the 1930s. Other documents include identification and immigration papers, such as certificates of identities, birth and death certificates, and visa applications. The Herbert Gutmann papers contain mainly correspondence concerning Herbert Gutmann’s immigration from Germany to the United States in 1938, and subsequent lawsuit against the state of Bavaria for damages to his father’s cattle business during the Nazi persecution of Jewish Germans in the 1930s. The letters are from family members, including Edgar Stern, Clara Gutmann’s cousin who assisted their immigration with his affidavit of support. The compensation records concerns relate to Herbert’s father’s cattle trading business, which suffered after boycotts and having his license revoked for being Jewish. The other materials concern identification and immigration records of both Herbert and later his mother Clara. These include birth, marriage, and death certificates, and a certificate of identity, visa application, and affidavits. Also included are photographs and a deposited inheritance check.
Herbert Gutmann papers
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Herbert Gutmann was born in 1899 to Adolf and Clara Gutmann in Autenhausen, Germany. He attended school until he was drafted for military duty in June, 1917. In World War I, he fought at the battles of Chat-Thierry, Argonne, Marne, and Verdun. He was wounded in September 1918 and hospitalized in Mainz, and was later discharged after the war had ended in December of that same year. Beginning in January of 1919, Herbert began working as a banking apprentice in Bamberg. He changed positions several times but continued his work in the banking industry, eventually managing the stock and foreign exchange department at a bank in Berlin. He served in this position until 1934, when political pressure began to be placed on companies with Jewish employees in management positions. Herbert voluntarily resigned, knowing he would be forced out soon. He moved to Coburg to assist his father in his cattle trading business. Herbert’s father passed away in October 1936, and Herbert moved to the United States in 1938. His visa was supported by Edgar Stern of New Orleans, a cousin of his mother Clara, who later immigrated to the United States as well. Herbert settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and from 1957-1965, sued the state of Bavaria for damages. Due to his Jewish faith, his father’s cattle trading license was revoked, and boycotts of the business began, resulting in the business’ failure. Herbert Gutmann died in August, 1973.
The Herbert Gutmann papers are arranged as four series: •Series 1: Correspondence, 1928-1965 •Series 2: Identification, 1938-1963 •Series 3: Immigration, 1938-1952 •Series 4: Various, 1916-1952