May 23rd 1938

Dear Miss Brandes,

Allow me to propose for a scholarship the following men.

1) Ernst Krenek, c/o Querido Verlag, Amsterdam, 333 Keizersgracht.

Krenek is one of the most gifted modern composers. He wrote several operas, symphonies, concertos a.s.o. His opera JONNY SPIELT AUF has been produced by the Metropolitan Opera. Through the conquest of Austria by Hitler, he lost all his belongings as he was an Austrian.

2) Alfred Kantorowicz. 11, Square Albin Cachot, Paris.

Kantorowicz belongs to those young German writers of whom Thomas Mann spoke at the Annual Dinner at the Guild. He was fighting in Spain and has just returned to Paris. He is preparing a literary book on Spain. His financial situation is a very bad one.

3) Karl Paetel. 87, rue du Chanteau, Paris 14.

Paetel belongs to that group of young conservative German writers who originally were affected by nationalistic ideas but was hostile to Naziism. He fought courageously inside Germany until he had to emigrate to Paris. He has published a serial of booklets titled: SCHRIFTEN DER JUNGEN NATION. These booklets are brought into Germany under great danger. He has prepared a number of new booklets which are of literary value and important for the German opposition.

4) Hans Sochaczewer. c/o Querido Verlag, 333 Keizersgracht, Amsterdam.

Sochaczewer is a gifted young novelist who has published several books before Hitler came into power and is working now on a novel.

5) Georg Kaiser.

The Problem concerning Kaiser is a peculiar one. Kaiser was doubtless one of the outstanding playwrights of our epoch. His plays have been translated into many languages and had a great influence on authors like Elmer Rice, Clifford Odets, O’Casey and others. Several plays by him have been produced in America. He never could leave Germany. The Nazis took away his passport. In these days a letter reached the Querido-Verlag, Amsterdam, that he at last has an opportunity to emigrate. It would be necessary to support him in the first month of his exile. I am convinced that he will find soon an opportunity of establishing himself outside of Germany.

Besides of that I want to inform you that the directors of the two Dutch publishing houses for German émigrés, DR. FRITZ LANDSHOFF, Querido Verlag, and Mr. LANDAUER, Allert de Lange Verlag, are willing to give whenever they are asked reports about the material situation of applicants for a scholarship. Both who have been publishers in Germany and are since five years in contact with the German émigré literature are well informed, objective and trustworthy.

Their help can be of great use for the Guild

Yours sincerely,

Ernst Toller