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Horvex light meter, case, and notes used by a Jewish German emigre and US soldier 2003.149.43_b front

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Horvex selenium light meter, case, and note owned by 30 year old Rudolph Sichel, a Jewish refugee from Frankfurt, Germany, who served as an officer in the US Army in Europe during World War II. In May 1936, unable to return to Germany from England because of anti-Jewish regulations, Sichel went to the United States. His parents, Ernst and Frieda, joined him in 1940. In April 1943, Sichel enlisted in the army and was sent to Camp Ritchie for military intelligence training in interrogation techniques. In July 1944, Sichel, now Chief Interrogator, Interrogation of Prisoners of War Team 13, landed on Utah Beach in France, where his unit was attached to the 104th Infantry, the Timberwolf Division. As the unit advanced through France, Belgium, and into Germany, Sichel interrogated those captured. On April 11, 1945, the unit liberated Dora-Mittelbau/Nordhausen concentration camp and Rudolph witnessed the horrific conditions. A skilled photographer, he took snapshots of the camp and other events of his military tour. Following Germany’s surrender in May, 2nd Lt. Sichel was attached to the 9th Army. He interrogated prisoners of war and civilian witnesses, and participated in fact finding missions to document and prepare evidence for war crimes trials. In June 1946, 1st Lt. Sichel returned to the US. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.

Horvex selenium light meter, case, and note owned by 30 year old Rudolph Sichel, a Jewish refugee from Frankfurt, Germany, who served as an officer in the US Army in Europe during World War II. In May 1936, unable to return to Germany from England because of anti-Jewish regulations, Sichel went to the United States. His parents, Ernst and Frieda, joined him in 1940. In April 1943, Sichel enlisted in the army and was sent to Camp Ritchie for military intelligence training in interrogation techniques. In July 1944, Sichel, now Chief Interrogator, Interrogation of Prisoners of War Team 13, landed on Utah Beach in France, where his unit was attached to the 104th Infantry, the Timberwolf Division. As the unit advanced through France, Belgium, and into Germany, Sichel interrogated those captured. On April 11, 1945, the unit liberated Dora-Mittelbau/Nordhausen concentration camp and Rudolph witnessed the horrific conditions. A skilled photographer, he took snapshots of the camp and other events of his military tour. Following Germany’s surrender in May, 2nd Lt. Sichel was attached to the 9th Army. He interrogated prisoners of war and civilian witnesses, and participated in fact finding missions to document and prepare evidence for war crimes trials. In June 1946, 1st Lt. Sichel returned to the US. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.

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  • Title: Horvex light meter, case, and notes used by a Jewish German emigre and US soldier 2003.149.43_b front
  • Provenance: The light meter, case, and note were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Howard S. Sichel and Linda Strohmenger, the children of Rudolph Daniel Sichel., The light meter, case, and note were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Howard S. Sichel and Linda Strohmenger, the children of Rudolph Daniel Sichel.
  • Subject Keywords: German American soldiers--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography. Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Military intelligence--United States--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American., German American soldiers--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography. Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Military intelligence--United States--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
  • Type: Tools and Equipment, Tools and Equipment
  • 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. Stiff, rectangular, shiny, dark brown leather case with a back flap and snap closure designed to remain on a light meter (b) while in use. The front panel is attached only along the bottom edge and the flap along the top edge. A rectangular cut out extends from the top to the back. b. Rectangular, black plastic light meter case with a reflective selenium light sensor strip set into a recessed space on the top back. The face has a circular recess with a domed glass window at the top with a yellow indicator needle and a flat, rotating, metal gauge with printed numbers to indicate light exposure. Below the window are 2 thin, wedge shaped, sliding black metal gauges with engraved, painted numbers to set aperture size on a camera. The bottom gauge is visible through a window in the top gauge. At the top back of the case is a hinged, mirrored panel that covers the light sensor and extends out on a 45 degree angle when open. c. Handwritten note in blue ink on torn paper about camera settings, with 3 lines of German cursive and symbols., a. Stiff, rectangular, shiny, dark brown leather case with a back flap and snap closure designed to remain on a light meter (b) while in use. The front panel is attached only along the bottom edge and the flap along the top edge. A rectangular cut out extends from the top to the back. b. Rectangular, black plastic light meter case with a reflective selenium light sensor strip set into a recessed space on the top back. The face has a circular recess with a domed glass window at the top with a yellow indicator needle and a flat, rotating, metal gauge with printed numbers to indicate light exposure. Below the window are 2 thin, wedge shaped, sliding black metal gauges with engraved, painted numbers to set aperture size on a camera. The bottom gauge is visible through a window in the top gauge. At the top back of the case is a hinged, mirrored panel that covers the light sensor and extends out on a 45 degree angle when open. c. Handwritten note in blue ink on torn paper about camera settings, with 3 lines of German cursive and symbols.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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