Chrome Leica II 35mm camera used by a Yugoslav refugee to document his family's life in hiding 2005.331.2 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Chrome Leica 35mm camera used by Ivo Herlinger while he was living in hiding in Italy from 1941-1944. After Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia in June 1941, Ivo and his wife, Elsa, fled Zagreb to avoid internment in a German labor camp. They had to leave their 2 year old daughter, Lea, with an aunt. A few months later, using jewels they had sewn into the lining of their clothes, they paid a student to bring Lea to them in Trieste, Italy. The family spent the next three years hiding under false identities in Rome and other towns in Italy, where Ivo used his camera to document their daily life. When the family emigrated to the United States in October 1950, US customs officials purposely scratched the top of the camera to prevent resale.
Chrome Leica 35mm camera used by Ivo Herlinger while he was living in hiding in Italy from 1941-1944. After Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia in June 1941, Ivo and his wife, Elsa, fled Zagreb to avoid internment in a German labor camp. They had to leave their 2 year old daughter, Lea, with an aunt. A few months later, using jewels they had sewn into the lining of their clothes, they paid a student to bring Lea to them in Trieste, Italy. The family spent the next three years hiding under false identities in Rome and other towns in Italy, where Ivo used his camera to document their daily life. When the family emigrated to the United States in October 1950, US customs officials purposely scratched the top of the camera to prevent resale.
- Title: Chrome Leica II 35mm camera used by a Yugoslav refugee to document his family's life in hiding 2005.331.2 front
- Provenance: The camera was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005 by Allan and Lea Kaluzna, the son-in-law and daughter of Elsa and Ivo Herlinger., The camera was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005 by Allan and Lea Kaluzna, the son-in-law and daughter of Elsa and Ivo Herlinger.
- Subject Keywords: Hidden children (Holocaust)--Italy--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Croatia--Zagreb--Personal narratives. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Italy--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Italy--Biography. Jewish refugees--Italy--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--Italy--Personal narratives., Hidden children (Holocaust)--Italy--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Croatia--Zagreb--Personal narratives. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Italy--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Italy--Biography. Jewish refugees--Italy--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--Italy--Personal narratives.
- Type: Audiovisual and Photographic Materials, Audiovisual and Photographic Materials
- 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: Small, rectangular chrome steel alloy camera, encased in black, textured plastic. Attached to the front of the camera is a circular adjustable lens with a finger knob. The lens has a glass center set in threaded black plastic, surrounded with metal. There are numbers on 3 sides of the lens casing. Above the lens are 2 glass viewfinders and 1 glass for the flash. The top has a winder dial on the left, then a dock for a flash, a film speed dial, the shutter, the film advancer, and a re-winder lock. Attached to the back are 2 viewfinders and, at the bottom center, a square metal tag. The bottom has a threaded catch for a tripod and the re-winder handle with 2 arrows and text., Small, rectangular chrome steel alloy camera, encased in black, textured plastic. Attached to the front of the camera is a circular adjustable lens with a finger knob. The lens has a glass center set in threaded black plastic, surrounded with metal. There are numbers on 3 sides of the lens casing. Above the lens are 2 glass viewfinders and 1 glass for the flash. The top has a winder dial on the left, then a dock for a flash, a film speed dial, the shutter, the film advancer, and a re-winder lock. Attached to the back are 2 viewfinders and, at the bottom center, a square metal tag. The bottom has a threaded catch for a tripod and the re-winder handle with 2 arrows and text.
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