Straight razor in a black plastic cover brought to Shanghai by an Austrian Jewish refugee 2010.240.5 open
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Straight razor kept by Viktor Stummer when he fled from Vienna, Austria, to Shanghai, China, circa December 1938, following his release from Dachau concentration camp. He was imprisoned during Kristallnacht that November 9-10 and released after his sister secured him a ticket to Shanghai. He lived in the Hongkew ghetto and worked as a welder. Shanghai was liberated by the US Army on September 3, 1945. In 1949, Viktor emigrated to Canada and the next year he moved to the US where he married a fellow Shanghai refugee, Gerda Harpuder. They met in Hongkew in 1941 when Gerda asked Viktor to repair a candlestick. Gerda escaped Berlin, Germany, in early 1939 with her husband, Hans, and children, Ursula, age 14, and Ralf, age 4. Hans died of malnutrition in October 1945. Gerda and her family emigrated to the US in March 1947.
Straight razor kept by Viktor Stummer when he fled from Vienna, Austria, to Shanghai, China, circa December 1938, following his release from Dachau concentration camp. He was imprisoned during Kristallnacht that November 9-10 and released after his sister secured him a ticket to Shanghai. He lived in the Hongkew ghetto and worked as a welder. Shanghai was liberated by the US Army on September 3, 1945. In 1949, Viktor emigrated to Canada and the next year he moved to the US where he married a fellow Shanghai refugee, Gerda Harpuder. They met in Hongkew in 1941 when Gerda asked Viktor to repair a candlestick. Gerda escaped Berlin, Germany, in early 1939 with her husband, Hans, and children, Ursula, age 14, and Ralf, age 4. Hans died of malnutrition in October 1945. Gerda and her family emigrated to the US in March 1947.
- Title: Straight razor in a black plastic cover brought to Shanghai by an Austrian Jewish refugee 2010.240.5 open
- Provenance: The razor was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2010 by Yvonne Harpuder, the widow of Ralph Harpuder., The razor was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2010 by Yvonne Harpuder, the widow of Ralph Harpuder.
- Subject Keywords: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives, Jewish. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--China--Shanghai--Biography. Jews, Austrian--China--Shanghai--Biography. Jews--Persecutions--Austria--Vienna--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--China--Shanghai., Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives, Jewish. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--China--Shanghai--Biography. Jews, Austrian--China--Shanghai--Biography. Jews--Persecutions--Austria--Vienna--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--China--Shanghai.
- 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: Straight steel razor blade enclosed in a slightly curved, black plastic handle attached by a pivot on one end that serves as a hinge; there is a rivet on the other end. The handle is in 2 parts with a slot in between into which the blade folds with a piece of wood near the rivet. The blade has a curved finger tab at one end to unfold. There is engraved text on both sides of the handle, near the pivot., Straight steel razor blade enclosed in a slightly curved, black plastic handle attached by a pivot on one end that serves as a hinge; there is a rivet on the other end. The handle is in 2 parts with a slot in between into which the blade folds with a piece of wood near the rivet. The blade has a curved finger tab at one end to unfold. There is engraved text on both sides of the handle, near the pivot.
Additional Items
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
