Four child's playthings: a handkerchief, glass bear, and two seashells, and a box used by a young Jewish Polish refugee 2012.249.2 e front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Small handkerchief, glass bear, and two seashells in a box used by Edwin (Edik) Goldberg while confined to a bed with spinal tuberculosis in a labor camp in Siberia, from summer 1940 to August 1944 when he died at age 6. In 1939, Edik’s father, Emil, was called up by the Polish Army, leaving Edik and his mother, Elze, in Bielitz-Biala, Poland. Emil and Elze agreed to meet in Lvov (Lviv, Ukraine), if anything happened while he was gone. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On September 17, the Soviet Union annexed eastern Poland, including Lvov. At the end of 1939, Elze and Edik made their way to Lvov and were reunited with Emil. In June 1940, the family was transported to western Siberia. Two year old Edik and his parents, Emil and Elze, arrived at the Siberian camp in June 1940. Not long after their arrival, Edik contracted tuberculosis. No adequate treatments were available in the primitive conditions of the camp, where his father worked as a dentist and his mother as a nurse. On August 1, 1944, Edik died.The war ended in May 1945. In May 1946, Emil and Elze returned to Poland.
Small handkerchief, glass bear, and two seashells in a box used by Edwin (Edik) Goldberg while confined to a bed with spinal tuberculosis in a labor camp in Siberia, from summer 1940 to August 1944 when he died at age 6. In 1939, Edik’s father, Emil, was called up by the Polish Army, leaving Edik and his mother, Elze, in Bielitz-Biala, Poland. Emil and Elze agreed to meet in Lvov (Lviv, Ukraine), if anything happened while he was gone. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On September 17, the Soviet Union annexed eastern Poland, including Lvov. At the end of 1939, Elze and Edik made their way to Lvov and were reunited with Emil. In June 1940, the family was transported to western Siberia. Two year old Edik and his parents, Emil and Elze, arrived at the Siberian camp in June 1940. Not long after their arrival, Edik contracted tuberculosis. No adequate treatments were available in the primitive conditions of the camp, where his father worked as a dentist and his mother as a nurse. On August 1, 1944, Edik died.The war ended in May 1945. In May 1946, Emil and Elze returned to Poland.
Details
- Title: Four child's playthings: a handkerchief, glass bear, and two seashells, and a box used by a young Jewish Polish refugee 2012.249.2 e front
- Provenance: The playthings and box were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Leah Whiteman, the sister of Edwin Goldberg., The playthings and box were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Leah Whiteman, the sister of Edwin Goldberg.
- Subject Keywords: Forced labor--Soviet Union--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Soviet Union--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Soviet Union--Biography. Jews, Polish--Soviet Union--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Soviet Union--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, Soviet., Forced labor--Soviet Union--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Soviet Union--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Soviet Union--Biography. Jews, Polish--Soviet Union--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Soviet Union--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, Soviet.
- Type: Toys, Toys
- 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 square, light brown cardboard box base for lid (b.) with an extended lip on the bottom. The exterior is covered in brown paper that wraps over the top rim. A square piece of paper is glued to the underside. b. Small square, light brown cardboard telescoping lid for box (a.) The exterior is covered with discolored blue, brown, and red floral patterned light brown paper. The top and sides are joined by hand stitched seams and the corners are loose: one is detached. c. Square discolored offwhite cotton handkerchief with brown stains and green blanket stitched edges. d. Miniature, slightly opaque glass bear in a standing position. It has 2 semi-circular ears, 1 brown eye, a protruding snout, 1 arm, and 2 legs attached to a round body. A 6 inch knotted loop of twine is tied around the neck. The right eye and left arm are missing. e. Small convex, scallop shaped seashell with a ribbed mottled white and reddish brown exterior. The smooth interior is offwhite and ribbed along the rim. There is a small chip on one side. f. Small convex, scallop shaped seashell with a ribbed yellow and brown exterior. The smooth interior is offwhite and ribbed along the rim. There is a small chip on one side., a. Small square, light brown cardboard box base for lid (b.) with an extended lip on the bottom. The exterior is covered in brown paper that wraps over the top rim. A square piece of paper is glued to the underside. b. Small square, light brown cardboard telescoping lid for box (a.) The exterior is covered with discolored blue, brown, and red floral patterned light brown paper. The top and sides are joined by hand stitched seams and the corners are loose: one is detached. c. Square discolored offwhite cotton handkerchief with brown stains and green blanket stitched edges. d. Miniature, slightly opaque glass bear in a standing position. It has 2 semi-circular ears, 1 brown eye, a protruding snout, 1 arm, and 2 legs attached to a round body. A 6 inch knotted loop of twine is tied around the neck. The right eye and left arm are missing. e. Small convex, scallop shaped seashell with a ribbed mottled white and reddish brown exterior. The smooth interior is offwhite and ribbed along the rim. There is a small chip on one side. f. Small convex, scallop shaped seashell with a ribbed yellow and brown exterior. The smooth interior is offwhite and ribbed along the rim. There is a small chip on one side.
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