- Description
- The William and Lily Steen papers documents the prewar, wartime, and postwar experiences of William Steen (born Willi Sternschus) and his wife Lily Steen (née Eisler) including William’s immigration to England and the United States, his service with the United States Army during World War II, and his postwar military career as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials. The collection primarily consists of biographical material, correspondence, and records related to William Steen’s military career.
Biographical material includes prewar identification papers, documents regarding William’s immigration to England and the United States, and printouts of prewar photographs depicting the Eisler family in Cologne.
The bulk of the correspondence consists of wartime letters written by William to Lily while he was in England, the United States, and Europe. Letters from 1942-1945 were written while he served with the U.S. Army, and include copies of V-mail letters. Other correspondence includes wartime letters sent to William from his sister Rosa Sternschus in Cologne prior to her deportation and probable murder at the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943. Other correspondence includes wartime letters received by Lily from her parents in Perth, Australia.
William’s U.S. Army records include documents related to his enlistment in 1942, wartime duties and experiences, and discharge in 1945. Other material includes memorandums and reports, and captured Nazi documents. Postwar army records pertain to his work as an interpreter at the Nuremberg trials, specifically The United States of America vs. Alfried Krupp, et al (known as the Krupp Trial). This material includes a report by Wiliam, copies of the opening statement documents, and a related diary by an unknown author.
- Date
-
inclusive:
1910-1953
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Franklin and Paula Steen, Barbara Steen Tang and Sunny Conrad Tang
- Collection Creator
- William Steen
Lily Steen
- Biography
-
William J. Steen (1907-1957) was born Willi Sternschus on July 4, 1907 in Cologne, Germany to Joseph Sternschus (1869-1950, later Chaim Joseph Sternschus) and Blima Sternschus (1872-1947, née Strahl). He had three siblings: Eric Sternschus (1909-1981), Leo Sternschus (1901-1976), and Rosa Sternschus (1896-1943?). As antisemitism increased in Nazi Germany, William and his family began to look for ways to emigrate. Through a family connection in the United States, William received an affidavit of support, but was unable to secure a visa at the time and went to England in 1939. He was sent to the Kitchener Camp in Kent for several months with other Jewish refugees. While in England, William reconnected with Lily Eisler, whom he knew previously from Cologne. The couple married in London in February 1940. In April 1940 William immigrated to the United States aboard the SS Samaria. Lily remained in England until May 1943 when she immigrated to the United States.
William was drafted into the United States Army in 1942, and he was trained in military intelligence at Camp Ritchie (now Fort Ritchie) in Maryland. He was sent overseas in 1944 and honorably discharged in 1945. William and Lily then returned to Germany to work at the Nuremberg Trials. He worked as an interpreter for The United States of America vs. Alfried Krupp, et al (known as the Krupp Trial). In 1952 the couple returned to the United States and settled in California. They had two children, Frank and Barbara.
William’s parents and brothers all survived the Holocaust. His sister Rosa was likely murdered in the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943.
Lily Steen (1908-1996) was born Lily Eisler on October 26, 1908 in Cologne, Germany to Leo Eisler (1882-1954) and Jenny Marx (1883-1961). She grew up in a Jewish family and had three siblings: Otto Eisler (1911-1999), Henriette Eisler (1914-1990), and Ernst Eisler (1918-2004). Lily likely emigrated from Cologne to England in 1938. She married William Steen (born Willi Sternschus) in London in February 1940. William, whom Lily knew previously from Cologne, immigrated to the United States in April 1940 and was drafted into the United States Army in 1942. Lily immigrated to the United States in May 1943 aboard the SS Esperance Bay, and settled in Chicago. William was discharged in 1945 and returned to the United States. Lily and William then moved to Nuremberg, Germany where William worked as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials. In 1952 the couple returned to the United States and settled in California. They had two children, Frank and Barbara. Lily’s parents and siblings all survived the Holocaust.
