From Holocaust to Rebirth commemorative bronze medal acquired by a Polish Jewish survivor of several concentration camps 2012.313.3 back

From Holocaust to Rebirth bronze medal acquired by Herbert Lichtenstein, while at the first meeting of the World Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors held in June 1981 in Jerusalem. The medal was issued that year to commemorate the convention and as a symbol of the historic connection between the Holocaust and the rebirth of the Jewish State, represented in the design by a blank Star of David rising above a Star of David etched Jude sunk behind prison bars. In January 1939, 22 year old Herbert was arrested in Oberwesel, Germany, and sent to a forced labor camp. In August 1941, he was transferred to Bielefeld forced labor camp. In January 1943, he was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp and marked with prisoner number 105483. In January 1945, as the Soviet Army approached, Herbert was transported to Buchenwald and given prisoner number 117482. In April 1945, he was transferred to Theresienstadt which was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 9, 1945. Herbert was hospitalized with typhus until July. While in Theresienstadt, Herbert had met and fallen in love with Ursula Cohn, another inmate. Ursula, age 21, had been deported to Terezin in July 1942 from Berlin, Germany. The couple lost touch after liberation, but met again later and married. They emigrated separately to the United States: Ursula in 1946 with her mother Ruth and sister Klara; Herbert in 1947 with his grandfather Karl, his only surviving family member.

From Holocaust to Rebirth bronze medal acquired by Herbert Lichtenstein, while at the first meeting of the World Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors held in June 1981 in Jerusalem. The medal was issued that year to commemorate the convention and as a symbol of the historic connection between the Holocaust and the rebirth of the Jewish State, represented in the design by a blank Star of David rising above a Star of David etched Jude sunk behind prison bars. In January 1939, 22 year old Herbert was arrested in Oberwesel, Germany, and sent to a forced labor camp. In August 1941, he was transferred to Bielefeld forced labor camp. In January 1943, he was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp and marked with prisoner number 105483. In January 1945, as the Soviet Army approached, Herbert was transported to Buchenwald and given prisoner number 117482. In April 1945, he was transferred to Theresienstadt which was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 9, 1945. Herbert was hospitalized with typhus until July. While in Theresienstadt, Herbert had met and fallen in love with Ursula Cohn, another inmate. Ursula, age 21, had been deported to Terezin in July 1942 from Berlin, Germany. The couple lost touch after liberation, but met again later and married. They emigrated separately to the United States: Ursula in 1946 with her mother Ruth and sister Klara; Herbert in 1947 with his grandfather Karl, his only surviving family member.