![Gold Krzyzem Zaslugi [Cross of Merit] with ribbon, certificate, and box awarded to a Polish midwife for postwar service 2005.260.5_c open](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ci/AL18g_RntRqhUVdEwWZh27UV8K9o_OJ6Gbw12wWH8r5o4nj6bl3UQkt5NRJrQ44uRkzB7niCkFYFCw)
Gold Krzyzem Zaslugi [Cross of Merit] with ribbon, certificate, and box awarded to a Polish midwife for postwar service 2005.260.5_c open
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Gold Cross of Merit medal with attached ribbon ribbon, case, and certificate presented to Anna Toronczyk in 1964 by Poland for her exemplary service as a midwife. Anna was living in Lodz, Poland, when the Germans invaded in September 1939. She worked as a midwife in the hospital in the Jewish ghetto until September 1940, when she escaped to the Soviet Union. Her twin sister, Roza Herszenberg, assumed her position in the hospital. Anna was in the Soviet Union until 1946-47, when she was repatriated and able to return to Lodz to be with her family. Roza, her husband Calel, and daughter Salomea escaped the destruction of the ghetto by the Germans in spring 1944 by going into hiding, then obtaining jobs on the crew assigned to stay behind to salvage materials. Following the cleanup, they hid until the city was liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945.
Gold Cross of Merit medal with attached ribbon ribbon, case, and certificate presented to Anna Toronczyk in 1964 by Poland for her exemplary service as a midwife. Anna was living in Lodz, Poland, when the Germans invaded in September 1939. She worked as a midwife in the hospital in the Jewish ghetto until September 1940, when she escaped to the Soviet Union. Her twin sister, Roza Herszenberg, assumed her position in the hospital. Anna was in the Soviet Union until 1946-47, when she was repatriated and able to return to Lodz to be with her family. Roza, her husband Calel, and daughter Salomea escaped the destruction of the ghetto by the Germans in spring 1944 by going into hiding, then obtaining jobs on the crew assigned to stay behind to salvage materials. Following the cleanup, they hid until the city was liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945.
- Title: Gold Krzyzem Zaslugi [Cross of Merit] with ribbon, certificate, and box awarded to a Polish midwife for postwar service 2005.260.5_c open
- Provenance: The medal with ribbon, box, and certificate were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005 by Dr. Salomea Kape, the niece of Anna Toronczyk., The medal with ribbon, box, and certificate were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005 by Dr. Salomea Kape, the niece of Anna Toronczyk.
- Subject Keywords: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Łódź--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Poland--Łódź--Biography. Jewish families--Poland--Łódź--Biography. Jews--Poland--Łódź--Biography. Midwives--Poland--Biography., Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Łódź--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Poland--Łódź--Biography. Jewish families--Poland--Łódź--Biography. Jews--Poland--Łódź--Biography. Midwives--Poland--Biography.
- 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: These are temporary component designations that will be amended when the numbering issues are clarified. a-b. Gold and red colored medal with a suspension ring and a jump ring attached to a ribbon; a-b are not detachable. a. Gold colored metal cross pattée medal with ball tipped points and textured red enameled arms with rays in between. In the center is a white enamel circle with a red border, a gold wreath, and initials in gold paint in the middle. At the top is a suspension ring and a wreath shaped jump ring through which the ribbon is threaded. The reverse is blank. b. Red ribbon with 2 white stripes near each edge with a red stripe on the outer edge. c. Rectangular, clamshell case with a textured, red plastic exterior and a wide lip. Stamped on the lid in gold is a Polish eagle. The top attaches to the base by a red plastic hinge. The lid interior has a cushion with a white plastic cover and is edged with red metal. The base has a white velvet insert with cut out to fit the medal. d. Rectangular, bi-fold, flat red plastic case with a stamped border. Stamped on the front in gold is a Polish eagle. Inside is a piece of paper folded in half to create 4 pages. The 1st page has a black Polish eagle and 2 red diagonal lines in the right corner. On the inside left and right pages is a thin black outline of a box with text within. The certificate is a preprinted form that has been completed. A white string is attached in the middle of the binding to hold the paper., These are temporary component designations that will be amended when the numbering issues are clarified. a-b. Gold and red colored medal with a suspension ring and a jump ring attached to a ribbon; a-b are not detachable. a. Gold colored metal cross pattée medal with ball tipped points and textured red enameled arms with rays in between. In the center is a white enamel circle with a red border, a gold wreath, and initials in gold paint in the middle. At the top is a suspension ring and a wreath shaped jump ring through which the ribbon is threaded. The reverse is blank. b. Red ribbon with 2 white stripes near each edge with a red stripe on the outer edge. c. Rectangular, clamshell case with a textured, red plastic exterior and a wide lip. Stamped on the lid in gold is a Polish eagle. The top attaches to the base by a red plastic hinge. The lid interior has a cushion with a white plastic cover and is edged with red metal. The base has a white velvet insert with cut out to fit the medal. d. Rectangular, bi-fold, flat red plastic case with a stamped border. Stamped on the front in gold is a Polish eagle. Inside is a piece of paper folded in half to create 4 pages. The 1st page has a black Polish eagle and 2 red diagonal lines in the right corner. On the inside left and right pages is a thin black outline of a box with text within. The certificate is a preprinted form that has been completed. A white string is attached in the middle of the binding to hold the paper.
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