Erna Rettberg Bauer papers

Copyright Holder: Erna R. Bauer Erna Rettberg Bauer (1914-2007) was born in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to German-born parents, Julius (1864-1945) and Anna Rettberg (1876-1935). In 1927 the family returned to Germany for what was meant to be a three-month visit to check in on an investment property belonging to Julius and Anna. The property, a 21-unit apartment building in Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany had been under the management of a family friend but through an investigation, the Rettbergs learned their friend was embezzling money from the property for his own gains. Because of the legal situation that ensued, the Rettberg family stayed in Germany, eventually becoming trapped by the Nazi regime. Three years after their arrival in Germany in 1930, Anna suffered stroke and was bedridden for the remainder of her life. In 1934, Julius was hit by a car. Left in compromised health, the family was coerced by members of the Nazi party to turn over ownership of the property. Both Anna and Julius died in Germany. Erna eventually returned to the United States. Despite multiple legal pursuits, she was never able to regain ownership of her family’s property. The Erna Rettberg Bauer papers comprise documents assembled by Erna in pursuit of legal action to regain her family’s property. Many of the documents focus on Julius Rettberg and his relationship with Friedel Bredderman, the wife of Sturmabteilung Trooper, Paul Bredderman who was allegedly responsible for taking advantage of Julius and the Rettberg family. These documents include correspondence with members of the United States House of Representatives, copies of Julius’ will, citizenship papers, and identification papers, paperwork relating to the deed of the property, testimony from friends and family members, and correspondence from Friedel to Julius. Also included in this collection is a series of family papers consisting of photographs of the Rettberg family in the United States and Germany, including images of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, correspondence between Anna and Julius and their son in the United States, and newspaper clippings.