5 November 1916, Sunday

Vienna. Bruno Schulz checks in at Pfeilgasse 20. Bruno Schulz’s mother leaves for Drogobych.

After returning to Vienna, Schulz reported for the first time in the eighth district, and not in the ninth district as before. The choice of place does not seem to be accidental. His mother* also lived in the affluent Josefstadt district for two days1. In addition, the apartment at number 9 on the ground floor of the tenement house at Pfeilgasse 20 was owned by Wilhelm Thau, from whom Schulz had already rented accommodation at Elisabethpromenade 29 (8 March* – 2 July 1915 *)2. It is therefore possible that Thau belonged to the group of family friends3. (js) (transl. ms)

  • 1
    Bruno Schulz’s mother, Hendel Henriette Schulz (née Kuhmärker), went to Drogobych after a three-day stay in Vienna on the day of her son’s arrival. It is possible, however, that they managed to meet. She lived at Skodagasse 15, about ten minutes away from Schulz’s apartment.
  • 2
    Cf. signatures of persons with legal title to premises rented by Schulz, found on the registration forms of 8 March 1915 and 5 November 1916 filled in by him.
  • 3
    Schulz stayed in his apartment at Pfeilgasse 20 until the end of the war, with a short break. Contrary to the previous accommodation, he must have had permanent residence registration here. Moreover, in 1923, during his last visit to Vienna, after an almost five-year break, he checked in at the same place. Everything indicates that the owner of the accommodation, Wilhelm Thau, was a trusted person for Schulz.