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Concentration camp uniform striped trousers worn by a Polish Jewish prisoner in several concentration camps 1995.57.1 detail

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Blue and gray striped concentration camp uniform pants issued to 21 year old Jakob Lewkowicz in Blechhammer concentration camp in spring 1944. The pants have a patch with his Auschwitz prisoner number, A-17488, and an inverted red triangle usually used to identify a political prisoner. On September 5, 1939, the German army entered Jakob’s town, Bedzin, Poland. Jakob was sent to Annaberg labor camp and later transported to Auschwitz. In spring 1944, he was transferred to Blechhammer, a subcamp of Auschwitz III-Monowitz. On January 21, 1945, as Soviet forces approached, Jakob was sent on a death march to Gross-Rosen. He was soon transported to Buchenwald in Germany, where he was assigned prisoner number 130322. On March 11, he was sent to Schörzingen. It was evacuated April 18 and the inmates sent by death march to Dachau. On April 22, before reaching Dachau, Jakob was liberated by US soldiers. In October 1949, Jakob emigrated to the United States.

Blue and gray striped concentration camp uniform pants issued to 21 year old Jakob Lewkowicz in Blechhammer concentration camp in spring 1944. The pants have a patch with his Auschwitz prisoner number, A-17488, and an inverted red triangle usually used to identify a political prisoner. On September 5, 1939, the German army entered Jakob’s town, Bedzin, Poland. Jakob was sent to Annaberg labor camp and later transported to Auschwitz. In spring 1944, he was transferred to Blechhammer, a subcamp of Auschwitz III-Monowitz. On January 21, 1945, as Soviet forces approached, Jakob was sent on a death march to Gross-Rosen. He was soon transported to Buchenwald in Germany, where he was assigned prisoner number 130322. On March 11, he was sent to Schörzingen. It was evacuated April 18 and the inmates sent by death march to Dachau. On April 22, before reaching Dachau, Jakob was liberated by US soldiers. In October 1949, Jakob emigrated to the United States.

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  • Title: Concentration camp uniform striped trousers worn by a Polish Jewish prisoner in several concentration camps 1995.57.1 detail
  • Provenance: The concentration camp uniform trousers were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995 by Jakob Lewkowicz., The concentration camp uniform trousers were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995 by Jakob Lewkowicz.
  • Subject Keywords: Concentration camp inmates--Poland--Biography. Death marches--Germany--Biography. Deportees--Poland--Bedzin--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Slave labor--Poland--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Personal narratives., Concentration camp inmates--Poland--Biography. Death marches--Germany--Biography. Deportees--Poland--Bedzin--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Slave labor--Poland--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Personal narratives.
  • Type: Clothing and Dress, Clothing and Dress
  • 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: Blue and gray vertically striped heavyweight coarse cotton pants with a 4 button hidden front fly with 2 silver-colored metal buttons, 4 finished buttonholes, and a lined placket. They have a fishtail waistband, an extension that rises in a split triangle in the back, and 5 belt loops. The waistband is lined with light brown cloth which extends to form the pocket pouches for each side slot pocket. A rectangular white nylon patch with a red cotton inverted triangle patch followed by a handwritten prisoner number A-17488 is machine sewn to the upper right thigh with black cotton thread. The seams and hems are finished. There is a stamped number and a small gray cloth loop sewn inside the waistband back. The cloth is faded, with many stains and repairs., Blue and gray vertically striped heavyweight coarse cotton pants with a 4 button hidden front fly with 2 silver-colored metal buttons, 4 finished buttonholes, and a lined placket. They have a fishtail waistband, an extension that rises in a split triangle in the back, and 5 belt loops. The waistband is lined with light brown cloth which extends to form the pocket pouches for each side slot pocket. A rectangular white nylon patch with a red cotton inverted triangle patch followed by a handwritten prisoner number A-17488 is machine sewn to the upper right thigh with black cotton thread. The seams and hems are finished. There is a stamped number and a small gray cloth loop sewn inside the waistband back. The cloth is faded, with many stains and repairs.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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