English

Childhood memories. Recollections of her maternal grandparents. Family history. Her aunt Amalia got married to a brilliant student in Germany, who eventually became Professor at the University of Leipzig. Helene's father was a merchant, who owned a General store at the center of the small town. Life in the countryside. Her siblings moved to Vienna one by one and had positions in the banking world. Recollection of the death of the Empress Elisabeth. Helene was enrolled in primary school in 1899. Marriage of her older siblings. Celebration of carnival and Christmas. Her father was member of a Hunting Club. Move to Vienna, where Helene started High school. Her father started a jewelry business in Vienna. Helene was enrolled in a sewing school, where she only lasted a short time. Dance lessons and performances. Position as a bookkeeper in a leather business. Secret engagement with Oskar Beck at age 17. Difficulties to obtain his parent's consent to legalize their relationship. Summer vacations in Baden in 1914. Outbreak of World War One. Helene's fiance was drafted, and she was left to run their business by herself. Wedding of Helene and Oskar during the war. Death of her mother of meningitis. After the war Oskar took over his uncle's business. Birth of their son Gustav in 1920. Recovery in the countryside. Description of summer vacations and hiking trips with her family. Cultural life in Vienna. Their son Gustav developed a great talent for languages in Gymnasium (high school) and spent his summers in France. Hitler's takeover in Germany and increasing difficulties for Helene's siblings in Munich and Leipzig. Plans for their son Gustav to study Medicine in France after his graduation. Annexation of Austria by Nazi-Germany in 1938. Affidavit for the United States by a business colleague of Helene's husband. Arrival in New York in December 1938.
After initial difficulties Oskar Beck was able to start successfully again with a leather business in Gloversville, New York. Fervent attempts to get remaining family members out of Nazi-Germany. Despite the Jewish quota Gustav Beck was accepted at the NYU Medical school and graduated in 1944. Death of Helene's husband Oskar in 1962.