Letters of Berta von Schiltberg,

Sixty-seven letters, 1912-1939, nearly all in German, mostly from Berta von Schiltberg, Munich, to the sisters Lilian and Violet Reeks at Appleton Manor, Berkshire, and Oxford, and later to Violet at Bristol and Monmouth. Schiltberg ran a pension (boarding house) for young ladies in Munich and the correspondence follows the two girls' stay with her.
The letters reflect Schiltberg's active and happy life before 1914 with many references to Munich high society and the music scene. There are numerous references to acquaintances such as the pianist Anna Hirzel-Langenhan (items 3-66 passim) and the composer and conductor Ludwig Berberich (items 8, 38, 43, 45-66 passim). Schiltberg writes on the social and economic misery in Germany during the First World War, the financial crisis of the 1920s and 1930s and her own increasing poverty. The post-war political upheavals and the disappointments and confusion of the time are also described (item 53). A frequent social guest at this time was a Herr Drexler (items 43-53 passim), possibly to be identified as Anton Drexler, founder of the German Workers' Party (DAP). Among Schiltberg's tenants from 1918 to 1923 was Leutnant Rudolf Hess, the future Nazi Party deputy leader, who is mentioned in two letters, dated 16 May 1919 (item 54) and 29 December 1935 (item 63); his future wife also lived at the pension. Six group and individual photographs, 1915-1919, mostly identifiable, are also included (items 38, 41, 44, 54).

Arranged chronologically at NLW.

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Mrs F. J. Griffin (née Violet Reeks) (per Major Herbert J. Lloyd-Johnes, Coates, near Cirencester); Monmouth; Donation; July 1962

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 18122C.

August 2008.

Description compiled by Rebekka Schmich, Alexander Diethard and Rhys Morgan Jones;

Usual copyright laws apply.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales