Ernst Levin lived to the ripe old age of 88. Having served in one world war and fled persecution as a result of the second, he was of a generation hit hardest by the chaos of the twentieth century. In later life, Ernst would often reflect on his life and marvel at his good luck in having survived the tumultuous periods. In the letter below, he reflects on the difficulties of emigration with a family mid-career, and the creation of their new life in Edinburgh:
27th October 1964, letter to a friend
“We are getting very old, much older than we had any reason to believe when we left Hitler’s Germany. – It was a stormy passage, with building up a new life in a strange country at the age of 46, interrupted by illness, internment at the beginning of the War, and retirement in 1954. – It was a slow way, but we are resigned to our – blessedly benign – fate, and we feel happy here.”
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Ernst lived in Edinburgh until his death, often expressing concerning for becoming reliant on his daughter Annekathrin in his old age, particularly after the death of Anicuta from bronchial cancer in November 1965.
Refusal of Pacemaker operation
In 1972, aged 85, Ernst refused the proposal of a pacemaker operation by Dr M.B. Matthews at the Western General Hospital (see below), potentially fearing the difficult recovery in old age.
Annekathrin and Ernst’s relationship wasn’t always easy in his old age:
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Invitation for Holocaust survivors, 1970:
In 1970, Ernst received a letter from the German Consulate in Berlin inviting him to attend an event in the capital for Berliners persecuted during Hitler’s time in power. Expenses were to be paid, and Annekathrin invited to accompany him.
Ernst died in June 1975, ten years after Anicuta, whose death affected him greatly. Annekathrin passed away in 1979. They are buried together.