Max Eisenstein, a German-born Jew, and Martin Shulze, a German-born Aryan,
are longstanding partners in a flourishing gallery in San Francisco, which
deals in paintings and art objects. Toward the end of 1932, Martin
decides to return to Germany with his wife and three children and become
established in his homeland as a non active partner in the gallery.
At this point begins the story by Kressman Taylor, “Address Unknown,”
which consists of an exchange of letters between the two partners - the
Jew who remains in San Francisco and his German partner who now lives in
the outskirts of Munich.
Two months after Martin’s return to Germany, Hitler comes to power. Martin
is appointed to a senior position in a German bank and is enthused by the
atmosphere of upheaval in the country and becomes a devoted Nazi. Max’s
sister Griselle, a young actress who in the past was the beloved of Martin
the family man, prepares for her part in a play that is to be staged in
Berlin. Max asks his friend to watch out for her.
The Nazi audience drives Griselle the Jewess from the stage, and she
escapes from Berlin with storm troopers on her trail. When she comes to
the door of Martin’s house to ask for refuge, he turns her away, and
members of the storm troopers murder her in his garden.
A letter by Max to his sister is returned to him, and on it the postal
marking: Address Unknown. Fearing for his sister’s fate, Max writes to his
longtime friend and asks him to find out what has become of Griselle. When
Max learns of the manner of Griselle’s death, he begins to send Martin
fabricated letters that are likely to raise the Gestapo’s suspicions.
Max’s last letter to Martin is returned to San Francisco, stamped with the
postal marking: Address Unknown.
Thus the Nazi curtain of blood descends
upon Martin and his family.