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30.09.1949 Application naturalization and family clash
Application for naturalisation
Unlike his father, Alfred had Czech nationality but no passport, his father did, and so Alfred was stateless. Father was a born and raised Czech where Alfred was born in Germany and as far as I know he has never been to the Czech Republic. As a stateless person he had a special travel passport and he had to have his passport stamped on the Belgian and Dutch side of the border to visit his sister in Eindhoven for example. When he returned home again. He also had to report regularly to the immigration police in Hemiksem. Anyway, there was always some formality to be accomplished. To map out his life this is of course a gift to me because when he notes something, without a date, about a visit or movement, I can easily find it in his passport. For himself it was always quite a hassle. When he is going to set up an oven in the Netherlands with a client and friend, the latter has to apply for a series of visas or he can't enter the country. For all these reasons it is interesting enough to become a Belgian and he wouldn't have to do military service because he is too old. Only later, on 9 April 1952, does the approval appear in the official Bulletin of Acts and Decrees after his file has been dealt with. The only condition to become Belgian is to have his place of residence in Belgium. At that time, he settled in Grevenmacher and consequently did not receive a Belgian passport. As a result, his separated wife remains stateless even though she was originally German. They therefore have no national passport for the rest of their lives.
Family clash
Alfred's wife's jealousy doesn't diminish, nor do the arguments. The explosion was his daughter's announcement that she wanted to marry her lover and Alfred didn't like that at all. He had already tried to link her to the son of the car builder Renault or Citroën but she categorically refused. When she wouldn't let my father-in-law down, he promptly put her at the door without anything. When he came to his senses, he rang the doorbell of her parents-in-law where she was staying. However, he had forgotten that his daughter had half of her genes coming from him, and injustice did not endure either. So her answer was no, I'm staying here. You must also remember that she had to walk regularly throughout her young life and her mother when he lost his temper. Often she could not go to school because she was full of bruises. Even his father had to suffer from it but much less often than his wife and especially his daughter. My mother-in-law married my father-in-law in all simplicity. No pictures were even taken. Only the handwritten menu is left. Minny was born in Hemiksem but not Belgian. She was stateless like her father and mother. Her marriage to my father-in-law automatically made her Belgian.
A while later, his daughter tries to glue the pieces together by writing a letter. However, her husband also writes a letter to Alfred in which he praises his wife for her good intentions, but he says his thoughts. Alfred reacts to this in his familiar style, and then things calm down.
Translation:
I have now been long enough, but before closing with the first and last words which ye shall receive from me, I wish you well; even in your old days, with those persons who are now at your side in this matter as long as they find their wealth with you, and whom you now prefer to your own child. But if they shall remain?… and then… never count on us! I salute you. With one, goodbye!
Translation:
Had you been a man you could have avoided the cause of the quarrel but you and my daughter are not independent enough for that. We close with the hope that we won't have to waste our precious time with moral lessons since you're not susceptible to it. Give my regards.