German Luftwaffe M1935 helmet 1988.70.2 left side
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Luftwaffe M1935 combat helmet of the type used by German paratroopers circa 1939. The helmet was acquired by Nina Merrick many years after the war in the United States. Nina lived with her parents Yeshua and Masha, and siblings Yitzthak and Chana in Rokitno, Poland, which was occupied by the Soviet Union in September 1939. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Nina's mother was arrested and hanged. Nina and her family were moved to Berisov ghetto (Barysau, Belarus.) In August 1942, Nina escaped to the forest during an SS raid. Shortly after her 1942 escape, the ghetto had been surrounded by German SS and local Ukrainians who liquidated the ghetto and murdered its inhabitants. While hiding, she encountered an uncle and two cousins. They joined the Kopvak partisan group and Nina learned to be a nurse. In February 1943, the partisan commander Kopvak sent Nina to technical school in Moscow. Nina remained in Moscow until the war ended in May 1945. She went to Poland to search for survivors, but found none. Nina then went to Eschwege displaced persons camp in Germany. In February 1947, Nina left for America to join her maternal aunt.
Luftwaffe M1935 combat helmet of the type used by German paratroopers circa 1939. The helmet was acquired by Nina Merrick many years after the war in the United States. Nina lived with her parents Yeshua and Masha, and siblings Yitzthak and Chana in Rokitno, Poland, which was occupied by the Soviet Union in September 1939. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Nina's mother was arrested and hanged. Nina and her family were moved to Berisov ghetto (Barysau, Belarus.) In August 1942, Nina escaped to the forest during an SS raid. Shortly after her 1942 escape, the ghetto had been surrounded by German SS and local Ukrainians who liquidated the ghetto and murdered its inhabitants. While hiding, she encountered an uncle and two cousins. They joined the Kopvak partisan group and Nina learned to be a nurse. In February 1943, the partisan commander Kopvak sent Nina to technical school in Moscow. Nina remained in Moscow until the war ended in May 1945. She went to Poland to search for survivors, but found none. Nina then went to Eschwege displaced persons camp in Germany. In February 1947, Nina left for America to join her maternal aunt.
- Title: German Luftwaffe M1935 helmet 1988.70.2 left side
- Location: United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century., United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century.
- Provenance: The helmet was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by Nina Schuster Merrick., The helmet was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by Nina Schuster Merrick.
- Subject Keywords: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, Jewish., Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Type: Dress Accessories, Dress Accessories
- 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: Dark gray painted, domed, pressed molybdenum steel helmet with a rolled rim, short front visor, and flared neck apron, with a ventilation rivet on each side. Near the bottom edge are 3 rivets to attach the interior liner band, a 1st pattern, aluminum alloy, M1931 style band. The leather liner is missing. The dark brown leather, right chin strap is looped by D rings to metal strips on the liner band. It has a single prong buckle; the left strap has broken off. There is a lacquered ink decal on each side: a 2nd pattern, black and white Luftwaffe eagle, diving with outstretched wings, on the right and a shield with the German national colors: black, white, and red, on the left., Dark gray painted, domed, pressed molybdenum steel helmet with a rolled rim, short front visor, and flared neck apron, with a ventilation rivet on each side. Near the bottom edge are 3 rivets to attach the interior liner band, a 1st pattern, aluminum alloy, M1931 style band. The leather liner is missing. The dark brown leather, right chin strap is looped by D rings to metal strips on the liner band. It has a single prong buckle; the left strap has broken off. There is a lacquered ink decal on each side: a 2nd pattern, black and white Luftwaffe eagle, diving with outstretched wings, on the right and a shield with the German national colors: black, white, and red, on the left.
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