The surviving members of the Strauss family
1951 in New York - Alfred had joined the US-Army from October 1950 to May 1952.
Creation of a new existence in New York
My mother always was paid more than my
father just because she was so dexterous.
As long as my father worked in this country, he
never made more than $ 100.00. It was very
difficult for him to find work at all. First of all
he spoke very little English, and secondly he
couldn’t show any real professional training.
Although he had managed the parental business
in Huenfeld, he had not gone through an
apprenticeship in commerce. There was no
special subject (or special skills), no certificate
of proficiency, he just couldn’t show any
papers. Those people who had real professional
training, e.g. a butcher etc., they all had a good
life over here. Finally my father found his first
job in a lighter factory. There he was taught how
to repair lighters. Yet basically he always
remained an unskilled laborer, and so his
paycheck was accordingly. Later on he worked
for a company by the name of Speier in the
packaging department. This company
manufactured belts.
