Westerbork transit camp scrip, 10 cent note, acquired by a former inmate 2004.216.1 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Westerbork scrip issued in 1944 and acquired by Ruth Franken, who was imprisoned at the transit camp when she was 5 years old from 1942 to 1943. The vouchers [gutschein] were distributed as an incentive for doing work. In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands. In 1942, Ruth, her parents, Irma and Max, and grandmother, Roberta, were arrested in Amsterdam and sent to Westerbork. In 1943, they were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, and in 1944, to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. Roberta died either in Westerbork or Bergen-Belsen. Max was deported to Auschwitz on September 28, 1944. Theresienstadt was liberated by the Russian Army on May 9, 1945. Ruth and Irma were sent to a convent where Irma was told by a woman that Max was killed escaping Auschwitz. When they returned to the family apartment in Amsterdam, they found Max sitting on the couch. In March 1947, the family emigrated to the United States where Irma had a sister.
Westerbork scrip issued in 1944 and acquired by Ruth Franken, who was imprisoned at the transit camp when she was 5 years old from 1942 to 1943. The vouchers [gutschein] were distributed as an incentive for doing work. In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands. In 1942, Ruth, her parents, Irma and Max, and grandmother, Roberta, were arrested in Amsterdam and sent to Westerbork. In 1943, they were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, and in 1944, to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. Roberta died either in Westerbork or Bergen-Belsen. Max was deported to Auschwitz on September 28, 1944. Theresienstadt was liberated by the Russian Army on May 9, 1945. Ruth and Irma were sent to a convent where Irma was told by a woman that Max was killed escaping Auschwitz. When they returned to the family apartment in Amsterdam, they found Max sitting on the couch. In March 1947, the family emigrated to the United States where Irma had a sister.
- Title: Westerbork transit camp scrip, 10 cent note, acquired by a former inmate 2004.216.1 front
- Provenance: The Westerbork voucher was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Ruth Levie., The Westerbork voucher was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Ruth Levie.
- Subject Keywords: Child concentration camp inmates--Biography. Deportees--Netherlands--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Netherlands--Amsterdam--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Netherlands--Biography. Jewish families--Netherlands--Biography., Child concentration camp inmates--Biography. Deportees--Netherlands--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Netherlands--Amsterdam--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Netherlands--Biography. Jewish families--Netherlands--Biography.
- Type: Exchange Media, Exchange Media
- 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: Westerbork scrip on rectangular white paper with purple text and images and a pink geometric background. The face has 4 corner squares and 2 center rectangles in purple outline with the pink geometric background. The denomination 10 CENT is in the upper left and lower right squares. The upper rectangle contains the camp logo and the lower rectangle has a drawing of the camp featuring the tall laundry chimneys. The reverse has the pink geometric background with 2 outlined squares in the upper corners. Across the upper center is a narrow silhouetted image of the camp landscape inserted through the center of a toothed gear wheel. In the center is the large numerical denomination 10 with the serial number printed across the center. In the lower left, center, and right is German text, an engraved signature, and graphic corner emblems. At the bottom edge is a very small letter and number., Westerbork scrip on rectangular white paper with purple text and images and a pink geometric background. The face has 4 corner squares and 2 center rectangles in purple outline with the pink geometric background. The denomination 10 CENT is in the upper left and lower right squares. The upper rectangle contains the camp logo and the lower rectangle has a drawing of the camp featuring the tall laundry chimneys. The reverse has the pink geometric background with 2 outlined squares in the upper corners. Across the upper center is a narrow silhouetted image of the camp landscape inserted through the center of a toothed gear wheel. In the center is the large numerical denomination 10 with the serial number printed across the center. In the lower left, center, and right is German text, an engraved signature, and graphic corner emblems. At the bottom edge is a very small letter and number.
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