Rover Boy Scout set of two green epaulets with a fleur-de-lis worn by a Jewish refugee in Shanghai
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Green Rover Scout epaulets worn by Ludwig Salzer when he was in the 13th (United) Boy Scouts Rover troop in Shanghai, China, during World War II. Ludwig was a Jewish refugee from Vienna, Austria. In 1938, after Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, anti-Jewish laws were enacted to persecute Jews. Ludwig's father, Hugo, was arrested during the November 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom and sent to Dachau concentration camp. He was released in 1939 and he and his wife, Theresa, decided to send 18 year old Ludwig to Shanghai. His 13 year old sister, Ilse, was placed on a kindertransport to England. They were not able to get visas to leave themselves and in 1941 were deported to the Opole ghetto in Poland where they died that same year.
- Title: Rover Boy Scout set of two green epaulets with a fleur-de-lis worn by a Jewish refugee in Shanghai
- Provenance: The Green Rover Boy Scout epaulets were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2007 by Suzan Pressler, the daughter of Les Salter, on behalf of his Estate.
- Subject Keywords: Boy Scout--China--Shanghai--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Austria--Vienna--Personal narratives. Jewish refugees--China--Shanghai. Jewish families--Austria--Vienna. Scouts (Youth organization members)--China--Shanghai--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--China--Shanghai.
- Type: Identifying Artifacts
- Rights: Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: a. Rectangular green cloth shoulder strap with a rounded tip at the button-hole end. The buttonhole is finished and there is green felt backing and a hand stitched border in green thread. Embroidered in yellow thread at the central lower end is a fleur-de-lis with an R and S on the petals. Beneath the fleur-de-lis, an outline of half circle is stitched in yellow thread with English text stitched within with yellow thread. A black ribbon is sewn to the back. The same stitch is around the border as around the button-hole. b. Rectangular green cloth shoulder strap with a rounded tip at the button-hole end. The buttonhole is finished and there is green felt backing and a hand stitched border in green thread. Embroidered in yellow thread at the central lower end is a fleur-de-lis with an R and S on the petals. Beneath the fleur-de-lis, an outline of a half circle is stitched in yellow thread with English text stitched within with yellow thread. A black ribbon is sewn to the back. The same stitch is around the border as around the button-hole.
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