Imitation leather hatbox used postwar by a young German Jewish refugee 2003.242.4 closed
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Large, brown imitation leather hatbox used by 16 year old Dorit Isaacsohn and her mother Gertrud during their November 1949 emigration from Berlin, Germany, to the United States. By the late 1930’s, Dorit’s parents had lost their livelihood because of the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazi regime. Dorit, age 6, was sent to Brussels on a Kindertransport in 1939. Germany invaded Belgium in May 1940 and Dorit was returned to her parents in Berlin in 1941. On February 27, 1943, Dorit and her family had to separate to go into hiding. Dorit stayed with a family friend, a cousin, and her father Julius in Berlin. In fall 1943, Dorit left Berlin to live with her mother at a farm in Wilkersdorf. Shortly after, her father was betrayed by his nephew Rolf and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on October 23, where he was killed. Dorit and her mother traveled around eastern Germany until January 1945, when they were liberated by Soviet forces in Wilkersdorf.
Large, brown imitation leather hatbox used by 16 year old Dorit Isaacsohn and her mother Gertrud during their November 1949 emigration from Berlin, Germany, to the United States. By the late 1930’s, Dorit’s parents had lost their livelihood because of the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazi regime. Dorit, age 6, was sent to Brussels on a Kindertransport in 1939. Germany invaded Belgium in May 1940 and Dorit was returned to her parents in Berlin in 1941. On February 27, 1943, Dorit and her family had to separate to go into hiding. Dorit stayed with a family friend, a cousin, and her father Julius in Berlin. In fall 1943, Dorit left Berlin to live with her mother at a farm in Wilkersdorf. Shortly after, her father was betrayed by his nephew Rolf and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on October 23, where he was killed. Dorit and her mother traveled around eastern Germany until January 1945, when they were liberated by Soviet forces in Wilkersdorf.
Details
- Title: Imitation leather hatbox used postwar by a young German Jewish refugee 2003.242.4 closed
- Location: Germany--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century. United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century., Germany--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century. United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century.
- Provenance: The hatbox was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Dorit Isaacsohn., The hatbox was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Dorit Isaacsohn.
- Subject Keywords: Hidden children (Holocaust)--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. Jews--Persecution--Germany--Biography., Hidden children (Holocaust)--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Biography. Jews--Persecution--Germany--Biography.
- Type: Containers, Containers
- 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: Circular cardboard hatbox with a flat back edge, covered with dark brown imitation leather made from treated paper. The shallow lid was attached with a cardboard hinge and has a long imitation leather strap with a metal buckle inserted in the top back edge. The strap crosses the top center and threads through a loop near the front. On the front is a metal tuck catch, engraved with decorative lines with a center keyhole. On the front of the base is a metal plate with a U shaped bar for the catch. An imitation leather belt loop is stitched on the bottom near the front, with faded marks from a missing strap. The interior is lined with thin cardboard covered with brown cloth, with an additional square reinforcing the back edge. There are 4 dark brown cloth straps inserted into the seam at the bottom edge. The hardware is silver colored metal. The lid is now detached from the base., Circular cardboard hatbox with a flat back edge, covered with dark brown imitation leather made from treated paper. The shallow lid was attached with a cardboard hinge and has a long imitation leather strap with a metal buckle inserted in the top back edge. The strap crosses the top center and threads through a loop near the front. On the front is a metal tuck catch, engraved with decorative lines with a center keyhole. On the front of the base is a metal plate with a U shaped bar for the catch. An imitation leather belt loop is stitched on the bottom near the front, with faded marks from a missing strap. The interior is lined with thin cardboard covered with brown cloth, with an additional square reinforcing the back edge. There are 4 dark brown cloth straps inserted into the seam at the bottom edge. The hardware is silver colored metal. The lid is now detached from the base.
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