Stein marching compass in a hinged case acquired by a British officer 2003.465.7 open
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
German marching compass in a hinged Bakelite case acquired by Lt. D.P. Grehan, a Royal Irish Fusilier in the British Army who served as a commanding officer in a Karaolos detention camp on Cyprus from March 1947 to June 1948. This compass was manufactured by the German company Carl von Stein around 1939, and often used by the German military. It is likely a variation of the TYP 39, although it does not have a sighting slot cut into the lid or inner disk. The internees were Ma'apilim, illegal immigrants, most Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, captured while trying to reach Eretz Israel without permission from the British. Great Britain controlled Palestine under a United Nations mandate and enforced very restrictive immigration policies. The huge number of postwar displaced persons led the British to set up the camps in 1946 as a deterrent. Ships attempting to bring unauthorized refugees were stopped by the British Navy and the passengers were interned on Cyprus. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established. Within six months, most of the refugees interned on Cyprus were welcomed into the Jewish homeland.
German marching compass in a hinged Bakelite case acquired by Lt. D.P. Grehan, a Royal Irish Fusilier in the British Army who served as a commanding officer in a Karaolos detention camp on Cyprus from March 1947 to June 1948. This compass was manufactured by the German company Carl von Stein around 1939, and often used by the German military. It is likely a variation of the TYP 39, although it does not have a sighting slot cut into the lid or inner disk. The internees were Ma'apilim, illegal immigrants, most Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, captured while trying to reach Eretz Israel without permission from the British. Great Britain controlled Palestine under a United Nations mandate and enforced very restrictive immigration policies. The huge number of postwar displaced persons led the British to set up the camps in 1946 as a deterrent. Ships attempting to bring unauthorized refugees were stopped by the British Navy and the passengers were interned on Cyprus. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established. Within six months, most of the refugees interned on Cyprus were welcomed into the Jewish homeland.
- Title: Stein marching compass in a hinged case acquired by a British officer 2003.465.7 open
- Location: Great Britain--Emigration and immigration--Government policy--History--20th century. Palestine--Emigration and immigration., Great Britain--Emigration and immigration--Government policy--History--20th century. Palestine--Emigration and immigration.
- Provenance: The marching compass was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003., The marching compass was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003.
- Subject Keywords: Holocaust survivors--Cyprus. Jewish refugees--Cyprus. Jews--Cyprus--History--20th century. Prisoners as artists--Cyprus. Refugee camps--Cyprus. Military camps--Cyprus. Soldiers--Great Britain--Biography., Holocaust survivors--Cyprus. Jewish refugees--Cyprus. Jews--Cyprus--History--20th century. Prisoners as artists--Cyprus. Refugee camps--Cyprus. Military camps--Cyprus. Soldiers--Great Britain--Biography.
- Type: Tools and Equipment, Tools and Equipment
- 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: Hinged, black Bakelite case, with a circular lid with a front clasp, enclosing a compass set into the rectangular base. The base has a 70 mm ruler engraved on the beveled left edge, an embossed arrow in the top left corner, a curved right side, and a cut-out center. Within the lid and attached to the hinge is a movable, thin, flat, shiny, silver colored metal disc, that acts as a protective cover for the compass below. The compass, which has a cracked, clear glass bezel, is anchored to the center of a clear plastic disc set into the base. The disc has embedded black gridlines and the edge is engraved with Arabic numerals and lines to mark angular mils, 2 to 64, and the letter N. The compass face is printed with a ring of directional letters and angular mils in black ink. The central needle and some marks have radioluminescent paint. There are loose circles of paint within. The needle can be locked into place by sliding a small, side knob, which pushes up a lever beneath the needle. A 17 inch long loop of braided black cord is attached to the case front., Hinged, black Bakelite case, with a circular lid with a front clasp, enclosing a compass set into the rectangular base. The base has a 70 mm ruler engraved on the beveled left edge, an embossed arrow in the top left corner, a curved right side, and a cut-out center. Within the lid and attached to the hinge is a movable, thin, flat, shiny, silver colored metal disc, that acts as a protective cover for the compass below. The compass, which has a cracked, clear glass bezel, is anchored to the center of a clear plastic disc set into the base. The disc has embedded black gridlines and the edge is engraved with Arabic numerals and lines to mark angular mils, 2 to 64, and the letter N. The compass face is printed with a ring of directional letters and angular mils in black ink. The central needle and some marks have radioluminescent paint. There are loose circles of paint within. The needle can be locked into place by sliding a small, side knob, which pushes up a lever beneath the needle. A 17 inch long loop of braided black cord is attached to the case front.
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