Yellow Star of David badge with Jude worn by a young German Jewish boy

Star of David badge issued to 9 year old Klaus Zwilsky in 1941 in Berlin where he lived with his parents, Erich and Ruth. In September 1941, Jews in Germany were ordered to wear a Judenstern [Jewish star] badge on their clothing at all times. In October 1943, the family was forced to live in the Jewish Hospital because Erich was the only remaining pharmacist. Ruth was a forced laborer and then worked in the hospital as a pharmacist. The hospital was liberated by the Soviet Army in April 1945. Erich was appointed Director and the family continued to live in the hospital until, at Ruth's insistence, they decided to leave Germany. Her only surviving sister arranged through the Red Cross to get them to Sweden, where they received visas for the United States. They emigrated to the US in January 1947. The majority of both Erich's and Ruth's families were deported and killed in death camps.