Summary of "Marianne & Jane: A Pen Pal’s Story"

Main idea

This is the story of a transatlantic pen‑pal friendship between Marianne Winter (a Jewish teenager in Vienna) and Jane Bomberger (in Pennsylvania) that helped the Winter family escape Nazi persecution and immigrate to the United States in 1939.

Context and background

After Nazi Germany annexed Austria (the Anschluss), Austrian Jews faced escalating harassment, public humiliation, restrictions, and violence. Many Austrians welcomed the annexation, while Jews were singled out for persecution. The Winter family experienced direct abuse (for example, being forced to scrub a barracks floor) and feared for their safety as conditions worsened.

The pen‑pal connection

Marianne and Jane had exchanged letters for about three years after Jane picked Marianne’s name at a Camp Fire Girls meeting. When the Winters needed help fleeing Europe, Marianne wrote to Jane asking for assistance obtaining a U.S. affidavit of support and other required paperwork.

Obstacles to U.S. immigration

Immigration to the United States at that time involved several significant barriers:

A U.S. sponsor’s affidavit of financial support was required; missing or inconsistent paperwork could restart the process.
There was a large visa backlog (nearly 140,000 people in Germany and Austria waiting).
The U.S. consulate could—and did—deny applications for technical reasons. The Winters’ initial visa application was denied by the U.S. consulate in Prague because the affidavit listed them as “friends” rather than “relatives.”
Applicants needed to gather and maintain up‑to‑date supporting documents (proof of sponsor income and other paperwork), and to respond promptly to consular questions or requests.

How the situation was resolved

Jane’s father, Joseph Bomberger, agreed to sponsor the Winters despite never having met them and despite limited means.
After the initial visa denial, Max Winter (Marianne’s father) requested Joseph send additional proof of income. Joseph provided further financial statements to demonstrate his ability to support the family.
With the new documentation, the U.S. consulate approved the visas.

Timeline

August 1938: The Winter family fled to Prague.
January 6, 1939: The Winters sailed from Italy aboard the SS Conte di Savoia.
After arrival in New York City, the Winters were greeted by Jane and Joseph Bomberger, stayed briefly in the Bombergers’ home, then moved to their own apartment.
After the family’s arrival, they sought to help other refugees, but emigration from Nazi‑occupied areas became increasingly difficult once World War II began.

Lessons and takeaways

Personal connections—even between people who had never met—could be lifesaving during political persecution.
Bureaucratic requirements (affidavits, consistent documentation) were a major barrier to escape; a single error or omission could derail a visa application.
Individual acts of generosity, such as Joseph Bomberger’s willingness to sponsor strangers, produced immediate, practical differences in rescue efforts.
The story highlights both the limits of mass public sentiment (many cheering the Anschluss) and the moral agency of individuals who resisted those currents by helping persecuted neighbors.

Process checklist (for U.S. immigration at that time)

Obtain a U.S. sponsor willing to provide an affidavit of financial support.
Gather required supporting documents (proof of sponsor’s income and other paperwork).
Submit the visa application to the appropriate U.S. consulate.
Respond promptly to consular questions or requests for additional documentation.
Be prepared for long waiting lists and the possibility of denials that require resubmission.