Two unused Star of David badges with a J issued to a Jewish family

Star of David badges distributed to Herman and Gizela Levendel in Belgium in June 1942, but never cut out and used. Nazi Germany occupied Belgium in May 1940 and immediately enacted anti-Jewish laws. As the persecution of the Jews increased, the Levendel family was forced to go into hiding, often moving from region to region, assisted by the underground resistance. Herman and Gizela were able to obtain false identification cards, but their 3 children had to remain hidden. Anna, b. 1933, and Lea, b. 1931, were able to stay together during this period, but their brother, Zvi, b. 1929, sometimes had to be hidden separately. In September 1944, Brussels was liberated and eventually the entire country was free. The family was reunited but not long after the war, Gizela and Herman divorced. Herman and Anna, the youngest child, remained in Antwerp; Gizela and the 2 older children emigrated to Israel.