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Unused parcel admission stamp for Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Unused parcel admission stamp for Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp, depicting the surrounding landscape of Bohemia. The camp was established by the Germans in November 1941 about 40 miles north of Prague in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia created after Nazi Germany occupied the western region of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. It was a multi-use camp, acting as a settlement, transit camp, and propaganda tool. The stamp, which was printed in Prague, was issued by the Prague Jewish Council beginning in July 1943. Inmates at Theresienstadt could receive inspected packages of food and clothing from people outside the camp if the packages had this stamp. An inmate could request a package every two months. The Jewish Council in Prague would notify the sender to come pick up the stamp if they lived in Prague; if they lived outside of Prague, the stamp would be attached to the notice. Living conditions in the camp were horrible and about 33,000 inmates died there. On May 2, 1945, as the end of the war approached, the International Red Cross took over administration of the camp. The German staff fled on May 5 and 6, and on May 9, Soviet troops arrived and assumed responsibility.

Details

  • Title: Unused parcel admission stamp for Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp
  • Location: Czechoslovakia--postal service--History--1938-1945.
  • Provenance: The postal stamp was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Hal and Robyn Klein.
  • Subject Keywords: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj) Postal service--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj)--History--1938-1945. Postage stamps-Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj)--History--1938-1945. World War, 1939-1945--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj)--Postal service--1938-1945.
  • Type: Exchange Media
  • Rights: Permanent Collection
  • External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Medium: Unused rectangular white paper stamp with 3 perforated edges, an attached margin on the right edge, and a pastoral landscape printed in dark green ink. In the left foreground are two large trees, with initials on the ground under the left tree. A winding road and a river cross through the center. In the background under a cloud filled sky are 2 mountains with a building with a tower at the foot, surrounded by trees. The image is enclosed in a green border with the place name across the bottom. On the back, there is adhesive and 2 words written sideways in the bottom left corner.

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