Hohner Imperial IIA accordion and case carried by a young Jewish girl on a Kindertransport 2003.352.1 b closed
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Imperial IIA small piano accordion and case belonging to Hilde Anker, 13, who took it with her on a Kindertransport from Berlin to Great Britain on June 12-14, 1939. Hilde's sisters, Eva, 17, and Dodi, 15, were also sent away by their parents, Georg and Gertrud, on the same Children's Transport. In 1933, Hitler's Nazi regime implemented policies to persecute the Jewish population. After the Kristallnacht pogrom in early November 1938, Georg decided the family must leave. The girls applied for spots on the Kindertransport and George's brother Leo in England agreed to look after them. Eva was sent to a vicarage in Sussex, and her sisters later joined her due to the constant bombing during the Blitz. In July 1939, Georg and Gertrud were warned of their impending arrest. They fled to Denmark and then joined their daughters in England. On September 20, 1940, the family left by ship for America. They settled in California where Hilde continued to play the accordion. It was later played by her niece Yvonne. In 2001, Hilda visited Sussex and a village resident recalled "the refugee child who played Run, Rabbit, Run on the accordion."
Imperial IIA small piano accordion and case belonging to Hilde Anker, 13, who took it with her on a Kindertransport from Berlin to Great Britain on June 12-14, 1939. Hilde's sisters, Eva, 17, and Dodi, 15, were also sent away by their parents, Georg and Gertrud, on the same Children's Transport. In 1933, Hitler's Nazi regime implemented policies to persecute the Jewish population. After the Kristallnacht pogrom in early November 1938, Georg decided the family must leave. The girls applied for spots on the Kindertransport and George's brother Leo in England agreed to look after them. Eva was sent to a vicarage in Sussex, and her sisters later joined her due to the constant bombing during the Blitz. In July 1939, Georg and Gertrud were warned of their impending arrest. They fled to Denmark and then joined their daughters in England. On September 20, 1940, the family left by ship for America. They settled in California where Hilde continued to play the accordion. It was later played by her niece Yvonne. In 2001, Hilda visited Sussex and a village resident recalled "the refugee child who played Run, Rabbit, Run on the accordion."
- Title: Hohner Imperial IIA accordion and case carried by a young Jewish girl on a Kindertransport 2003.352.1 b closed
- Provenance: The accordion was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by George J. Fogelson, the son of Hilda Anker Fogelson., The accordion was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by George J. Fogelson, the son of Hilda Anker Fogelson.
- Subject Keywords: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives, Jewish. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Biography. Jewish refugees--Great Britain--Biography. Kindertransports (Rescue operations)--Personal narratives, German. Refugee children--Great Britain--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, German., Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives, Jewish. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Biography. Jewish refugees--Great Britain--Biography. Kindertransports (Rescue operations)--Personal narratives, German. Refugee children--Great Britain--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, German.
- Type: Personal Equipment and Supplies, Personal Equipment and Supplies
- 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. Small, rectangular, piano accordion with a wooden body with rounded edges and a yellowed, offwhite pearlized plastic shell. The body has 2 sections connected by an expandable, light brown leather bellows framed with metal rectangles and trimmed with black and silver colored leather. The top right surface slants downward from the bellows and has a rectangular inset with 32 small push buttons arranged diagonally in the center; decorative, black painted plastic and metal trim is glued around the inset. The right side has a black painted panel with 4 metal foot studs, 1 round button, and 4 arched rows of holes in front of a brown mesh panel. A gray painted leather hand strap is attached over this side by front and back rivets. Along the left side is a keyboard with 10 black and 15 offwhite keys, attached to a diagonal bottom edge extension with black plastic trim. A large opening cut into the side is covered by a decorative metal grille over a brown mesh panel. Short, dark brown leather straps, attached to the front and back, stretch across the bellows to hold the accordion closed when not in use. Two long, narrow, gray painted, leather shoulder straps with buckles are attached to curved metal brackets on the front and back. There are 2 short, black straps with metal hooks used to connect the sides of the long strap to support the accordion's weight when in use. All hardware is silver colored metal and all buttons are black plastic. b. Small, rectangular dark brown leather covered fiberboard instrument case with a wooden frame and double flap hinged lid. The case sides angle downward and are stitched with thick, light brown thread. The bottom edge of the lid is trimmed with painted brown metal. A painted brown, molded metal handle is attached to plates on the front of the base. A lock plate with a keyhole and hasp slot is riveted to the base center; a hasp is riveted to the front lid center. The back has 4 semi-circular metal feet. The interior is covered by light brown cloth and has a cloth strap in the back right corner. The lid interior is inscribed. All hardware is silver colored metal. The lid is warped and the case is scratched and worn., a. Small, rectangular, piano accordion with a wooden body with rounded edges and a yellowed, offwhite pearlized plastic shell. The body has 2 sections connected by an expandable, light brown leather bellows framed with metal rectangles and trimmed with black and silver colored leather. The top right surface slants downward from the bellows and has a rectangular inset with 32 small push buttons arranged diagonally in the center; decorative, black painted plastic and metal trim is glued around the inset. The right side has a black painted panel with 4 metal foot studs, 1 round button, and 4 arched rows of holes in front of a brown mesh panel. A gray painted leather hand strap is attached over this side by front and back rivets. Along the left side is a keyboard with 10 black and 15 offwhite keys, attached to a diagonal bottom edge extension with black plastic trim. A large opening cut into the side is covered by a decorative metal grille over a brown mesh panel. Short, dark brown leather straps, attached to the front and back, stretch across the bellows to hold the accordion closed when not in use. Two long, narrow, gray painted, leather shoulder straps with buckles are attached to curved metal brackets on the front and back. There are 2 short, black straps with metal hooks used to connect the sides of the long strap to support the accordion's weight when in use. All hardware is silver colored metal and all buttons are black plastic. b. Small, rectangular dark brown leather covered fiberboard instrument case with a wooden frame and double flap hinged lid. The case sides angle downward and are stitched with thick, light brown thread. The bottom edge of the lid is trimmed with painted brown metal. A painted brown, molded metal handle is attached to plates on the front of the base. A lock plate with a keyhole and hasp slot is riveted to the base center; a hasp is riveted to the front lid center. The back has 4 semi-circular metal feet. The interior is covered by light brown cloth and has a cloth strap in the back right corner. The lid interior is inscribed. All hardware is silver colored metal. The lid is warped and the case is scratched and worn.
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