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Some of the most famous landmarks in Berlin are the sites where desperate letters were left behind by the country's growing number of emigrants. For over a hundred years after 1815, Prussian officials posted notices telling people that they need not leave their homeland. It evidently didn't work, but for some reason many continued to do so anyway. As is often the case with human nature, what makes us one day want to break free from our family and home country becomes almost intolerable when we are no longer able to escape. The most important thing about these letters is that they provide insight into the lives of those who decided to go through with it and live somewhere else before returning home again after their fortunes improved or changed course. Most of the letters were left in Germany, but over the course of time, citizens began to move out of the country in greater numbers than ever before. As a result, one particular branch of the Berlin state archives became known as "The Berlin File" because it kept track of all emigrants who had written down their thoughts about their new country. Over time, however, copies were made and sent out to other countries (for instance Norway), which meant that even more people could make use of this useful resource. The letters are striking not only for what they reveal about their writers but also because they were written by people who would usually be considered unremarkable. The documents reveal that they were often farmers, tradesmen and members of the lower classes, not necessarily with a great deal of educational background. Some were looking for new and better opportunities and others wanted to make a fresh start with someone special. The letters reveal not only their sense of freedom but also their uncertainty and vulnerability. The people writing them were uncertain about who had received their letters, whether they would be able to find friends or relatives in their new country or even if they would be able to meet up with them again if they lived somewhere else for a while. Some of the letters have been preserved because more than 100 years later, relatives have been reunited after being separated by emigration. The letters date from 1820 and onwards and were written by all classes and social ranks. Most of them are addressed only to the person they are written to, but some include a statement that is meant to be shared with others who might also be interested in hearing about the letter writer's experiences. One letter dated October 31, 1908, is certainly of more interest than most. It is signed by "Berlin-1920" who refers to himself as a "non-national Berliner". He tells his family that he has decided to leave Germany forever because he believes he can no longer live under Prussian rule. He wants to join the thousands of other emigrants who have found their way to Canada, but intends to come back once his finances improve. Unfortunately for him, he will never get the chance to return, because he dies in action during World War I. The Berlin File is one of the places where you will find records of your ancestors. Take your time reading through them and look for these types of documents if they exist for your family: emigration records, death certificates, naturalization papers and more. Source: http://www.rz-online. cfa1e77820
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