Framed shadow box of military medals and ribbons awarded to a US Army Captain
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Framed shadow box of awards issued to J. George Mitnick by the United States Army. Mitnick, a 27 year-old Jewish American, served as a captain in the 65th Infantry Division, European Theater and in the Chemical Warfare Service, 91st Chemical Mortar Battalion, 45th infantry division. His unit took control of the Ohrdruf concentration camp in April 1945. Nearly all the inhabitants were dead, killed by the departing German troops. This was the first concentration camp liberated by US troops and descriptions of the conditions horrified the world. Mitnick’s unit continued on into Austria and was involved with the liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp. Captain Mitnick was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service.
- Title: Framed shadow box of military medals and ribbons awarded to a US Army Captain
- Provenance: The framed insignia were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2006 by Ronne Mitnick Hess, the daughter of J. George Mitnick.
- Subject Keywords: Soldiers--United States--Biography. Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Type: Military Insignia
- Rights: Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: Rectangular wooden shadow box displaying military insignia upon a black cloth field under a glass cover. Insignia are attached to the cloth in 4 columns, with 20 separate items (far left column, top to bottom): cloth US Army 65th Division patch, Chemical Corps insignia, 3 gold-tone pins with American eagles, 2 silver-tone captain's bars; (second column, top to bottom) Bronze Star enamel lapel pin, Bronze Star ribbon, Bronze Star medal, World War II Victory ribbon, World War II Victory medal; (third column, top to bottom) Army of Occupation World War II ribbon and Army of Occupation WW II medal with bar on ribbon, "Germany", European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon with 2 bronze stars and EAME Campaign medal with 2 applied bronze stars; (fourth column, top to bottom) American Campaign ribbon, American Campaign medal, Army Good Conduct ribbon, Army Good Conduct medal.
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
