National Society of Colonial Daughters essay award with case won by a Polish Jewish refugee 1989.277.18_a front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Medal and presentation case awarded in 1949 to twenty year old Nina Schuster by the National Society of Colonial Daughters "for a patriotic essay of superior merit, titled "The Contribution of Our Immigrants." Nina lived with her parents Yeshua and Masha, and siblings Yitzthak and Chana in Rokitno, Poland, which was occupied by the Soviet Union in September 1939. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Nina's mother was arrested and hanged. Nina and her family were moved to Berisov ghetto (Barysau, Belarus.) In August 1942, Nina escaped to the forest during an SS raid. Shortly after her 1942 escape, the ghetto had been surrounded by German SS and local Ukrainians who liquidated the ghetto and murdered its inhabitants. While hiding, she encountered an uncle and two cousins. They joined the Kopvak partisan group and Nina learned to be a nurse. In February 1943, the partisan commander Kopvak sent Nina to technical school in Moscow. Nina remained in Moscow until the war ended in May 1945. She went to Poland to search for survivors, but found none. Nina then went to Eschwege displaced persons camp in Germany. In February 1947, Nina left for America to join her maternal aunt.
Medal and presentation case awarded in 1949 to twenty year old Nina Schuster by the National Society of Colonial Daughters "for a patriotic essay of superior merit, titled "The Contribution of Our Immigrants." Nina lived with her parents Yeshua and Masha, and siblings Yitzthak and Chana in Rokitno, Poland, which was occupied by the Soviet Union in September 1939. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Nina's mother was arrested and hanged. Nina and her family were moved to Berisov ghetto (Barysau, Belarus.) In August 1942, Nina escaped to the forest during an SS raid. Shortly after her 1942 escape, the ghetto had been surrounded by German SS and local Ukrainians who liquidated the ghetto and murdered its inhabitants. While hiding, she encountered an uncle and two cousins. They joined the Kopvak partisan group and Nina learned to be a nurse. In February 1943, the partisan commander Kopvak sent Nina to technical school in Moscow. Nina remained in Moscow until the war ended in May 1945. She went to Poland to search for survivors, but found none. Nina then went to Eschwege displaced persons camp in Germany. In February 1947, Nina left for America to join her maternal aunt.
- Title: National Society of Colonial Daughters essay award with case won by a Polish Jewish refugee 1989.277.18_a front
- Location: United States--Emigration and immigration--Biography., United States--Emigration and immigration--Biography.
- Provenance: The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1989 by Nina Schuster Merrick., The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1989 by Nina Schuster Merrick.
- Subject Keywords: Child guerillas--Belarus--Biography. Hidden children (Holocaust)--Belarus--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Poland--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, Jewish., Child guerillas--Belarus--Biography. Hidden children (Holocaust)--Belarus--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Poland--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Type: Awards, Awards
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: a. Circular, gold colored, 1.375 diameter medal with an attached striped ribbon. The front has an embossed image of a right facing eagle with spread wings clutching balanced scales in its talons, perched on a striped shield. Across the center of the shield is an open book; the scales dangle over the pages. On each side is an unfurled scroll with embossed Latin text: LUX JUSTITIA (Light of Justice.) An unfurled scroll with embossed English text borders the rim. The reverse is embossed with 4 lines of English text. The ribbon has 3 vertical stripes: red, white, blue. It is looped around a bail and ring on top of the medal, with a C clasp bar pin sewn at the top. b. Rectangular, cardboard box covered in dark purple velvet, which also covers the lid hinge. Dark purple leather is glued to the underside. A yellow, leather trimmed cardboard box is fitted into the base, with a removable cardboard insert covered in dark purple velvet with a dark purple ribbon loop at the top. The recessed lid interior is lined with yellow satin, which also covers the hinge., a. Circular, gold colored, 1.375 diameter medal with an attached striped ribbon. The front has an embossed image of a right facing eagle with spread wings clutching balanced scales in its talons, perched on a striped shield. Across the center of the shield is an open book; the scales dangle over the pages. On each side is an unfurled scroll with embossed Latin text: LUX JUSTITIA (Light of Justice.) An unfurled scroll with embossed English text borders the rim. The reverse is embossed with 4 lines of English text. The ribbon has 3 vertical stripes: red, white, blue. It is looped around a bail and ring on top of the medal, with a C clasp bar pin sewn at the top. b. Rectangular, cardboard box covered in dark purple velvet, which also covers the lid hinge. Dark purple leather is glued to the underside. A yellow, leather trimmed cardboard box is fitted into the base, with a removable cardboard insert covered in dark purple velvet with a dark purple ribbon loop at the top. The recessed lid interior is lined with yellow satin, which also covers the hinge.
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