Coffee cup, 1920s
The Dewosch family arrives in New York on February 18, 1952, with a total of eleven suitcases. Among Renate’s luggage is a delicate coffee cup. It is a gift from her beloved Aunt Martha – every time Renate visited her in Berlin-Tempelhof, she was allowed to drink from the small cup. Renate Hills, born Dewosch, is born on October 12, 1936, in Berlin. The family lives in Berlin-Adlershof, which belongs to the Soviet sector after World War II. In 1947, Renate’s parents decide to emigrate to the USA. However, the authorities put up barriers. The American authorities require a move from East to West Berlin before processing the emigration application. The Soviet authorities demand an apartment exchange. Months pass before they find the right family and gather all the necessary documents. Finally, on February 7, 1952, it is time: Renate and her parents board the SS ‘Homeland’ in Cuxhaven to New York. The 15-year-old student quickly adapts to her new life. After high school, Renate first works as a secretary at an insurance company in Manhattan before moving to the New York Telephone Company in Queens. There, she also meets her husband Don, with whom she has been married for over 30 years. Now retired, she still lives in New York.
