As the Einsatzgruppen continued to blaze a trail of murder through the Baltic states, Ukraine and the Soviet Union, Reinhard Heydrich officiated at the Wannsee Conference in January, 1942, where plans were discussed for the systematic extermination of all the Jews of Europe in all of the countries conquered by Germany. Entire Jewish communities were to be liquidated. Concentration camps, initially used to incarcerate political prisoners, became extermination centers for mass murder in gas chambers, especially after Heydrich’s assassination. While there were many concentration camps, the major extermination centers were Auschwitz, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor, Bergen-Belsen and Treblinka. Thus Jews were to be methodically killed with poison gas, or utilized as slave labor to be worked to death in war- related industries for the Reich.
This collection includes many examples of concentration and internment camp mail (including Romanian and Croatian camps as well as French internment camps) used during the Third Reich; several Auschwitz Briefaktion Postcards; and a program of the Bermuda Conference with a copy of a letter written by Rabbi Stephen Wise.
--Michael D. Bulmash, K1966
Browse the Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection.
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Official Document with W. Filderman Signature Stamp Regarding Official Dispoistions from War
2012.1.66ab
Typewritten documents on onionskin paper in Romanian.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Note from November 1941 regarding the Official Dispositions from War Department for requisition of all Synagogues, Temples, Association Houses. There will be a so called "Read Estate Census" between 1942-1946.
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Official Document with W. Filderman Signature Stamp Regarding Jewish Work Requirements
2012.1.68
Typewritten documents on onionskin paper in Romanian.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Regarding the General Headquarter Order No. 55874 Nov. 20, 1941. The chairman informs all Jewish organisations how to proceed after the end of the "National Labour Activities," in which the Jewish qualified workers are forced to integrate. It includes rules about what is allowed and what isn't allowed to do: "The Jews must be present on the State Work Department from every District, every month. They must not travel out of the District limits. They must inform the Internal Ministry authorities about their presence at home. They will be taken on every moment at Prahova Oil & Gas Distilleries."
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Official Document with W. Filderman Signature Stamp Regarding Property Documents
2012.1.71
Typewritten document on onionskin paper in Romanian.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A note regarding all the judicial requirements and property documents for the Jewish organizations to combat the requisitions of their houses and religious temples.
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"Sara" Envelope
2012.1.297
A greyish envelope with a handwritten address to Mr. and Mrs. P.M. Goldsmith-Krilb. Includes writing in red pencil over the address. Back flap includes a return address to Betty Sara Saalberg and censor tape.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A law enacted August 17, 1938 required Jews with non-Jewish forenames to assume the name "Sara" if a woman and "Israel" if a man. This law became effective January 1, 1939. These names were to be used on all correspondence -- private or official -- including return addresses on mail. This "Sara" envelope was sent to the United States just six days before Pearl Harbor. It was returned with the notation "return no service." Interestingly, it was returned sealed and without contents. It was handled by Berlin rather than the Frankfort censors.
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Official Document with W. Filderman Handwritten Initials Regarding Property Documents
2012.1.70
Half page with short message typewritten in Romanian.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A note regarding all the judicial requirements and property documents for the Jewish organizations to combat the requisitions of their houses and religious temples.
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Envelope to Zagreb,Croatia with 'Borba' Stamp
2014.1.278
A white envelope with blue writing, as well as a blue postage stamp and two black hand stamps.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A 1941 Croatian "Borba" stamp depicting the Legionnaires holding shields with the national emblems of Germany, Croatia, and Italy. The first Legionnaire holds a sword, symbol of the defense of Europe against Communism. The upper side of the stamp bears the inscription "Borba Udruzene Europa na lsoku" ["The struggle of a United Europe in the East"].
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Christmas Postcard from Latvia, Ostland, Stende to Riga
2014.1.228
Front: A tan postcard with brown printed postcard lines. Includes a green postage stamp, a black hand stamp, and pencil writing.Back: A photograph of trees in winter with gold text reading "Priecigus ziemas svetkus!" ["Merry Christmas!"]
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Nuremberg Laws: Jewish Lawyers Representing Jews
2014.1.84
Front: An envelope with black and red postage stamps across the top. Addressed to Fritz Treidel, and includes a purple handstamp which reads, "Dr. Isidor Joseph Treidel, Consultant, Licensed only for legal advice and representation of Jews." Back: Black and white Nazi censorship tape and red Nazi stamp.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In September 1938, a Nuremberg law was issued that banned Jewish attorneys from practicing law. Only a few Jewish attorneys were allowed to continue practicing law under the professional title of "Konsulent" or Legal Consultant, but only with Jewish clients. This cover is an example of the Nuremberg Laws applied to Jewish attorneys. The cover was mailed from Koblenz 24-9-42 to the sender's brother in Switzerland. The ink stamp in the lower right quarter reads in part: "Dr. Isidor Joseph Treidel, "Konsulent", Licensed only for legal advice and representation of Jews."
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Gestapo Document Regarding Seizing Jewish Assets
2014.1.99
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Typewritten document from Berlin Gestapo office to Jewish lawyer ("Konsulent" under Nuremberg laws)Dr. Hans Israel Gumpert, in 1942, citing the 1939 Berlin decision to seize Jewish assets, signed by a representative of the office. According to this document, the assets of "Jew" Wilhelm Israel Gryzb were confiscated.
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Ukrainian Forced Labor Tag with Slip Case for Jews
2012.1.13ab
Aluminum identity tag marked Zs.Musz. From Ukrainian forced labor camp with green fabric slip case.
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Holocaust in Ukraine: Soldiers Prepare to Shoot Civilians
2015.2.193
Front: Black and white photograph showing seven soldiers next fo a field of corn using rifles to shoot at a group of men with their backs turned.Back: Includes pencil markings, blue hand stamps, orange writing.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Photograph of civilians before firing squad from Ukranian Archives.It is not clear from this photo if these "soldiers" are Germans, German Order Police, or possibly "Schutzmannschaften", or collaborationist auxiliary police working under the Germans; e.g., Lithuanian, Ukrainian, etc. auxiliary police. Nor is it clear from this photo who the civilians are: Jews, partisans, etc.
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German Soldiers Checking Papers of Jewish man (Holocaust in Ukraine)
2015.2.194
Front: Black and white photograph of a Jewish man with a dark beard, wearing a cap, and holding items in his left hand next to two soldiers. The soldier closest to the Jewish man goes through what the Jewish man is holding. The man to the right wears glasses and looks on.Back: Includes blue hand stamps as well as writing in pencil and orange ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Photograph from Ukrainian Archives of Jewish man having papers searched.
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German Soldier Giving a Command (Holocaust in Ukraine)
2015.2.195
Front: Black and white photograph of a man in Nazi uniform with glasses giving a Nazi salute as a group of Jewish people looking on.Back: Includes blue hand stamps as well as writing in pencil and orange ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: German soldier giving a command to a group of Jews.
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German soldiers speaking to Jewish man (Holocaust in Ukraine)
2015.2.196
Front: Black and white photograph of a Jewish man to the left facing the camera wearing a dark coat with fur collar. To the right of him are two soldiers, one who appears to be speaking to the man, and one behind wearing glasses with his hands on his hips. A crowd stands behind the three figures.Back: Includes blue hand stamps as well as writing in pencil and orange ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Bulmash Provided: Photograph of soldiers-possibly collaborationist auxiliary police- addressing a Jewish man. Note the self-satisfied pose of the soldier with hands on hips.
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Soldiers and Jewish men smiling for camera (Holocaust in Ukraine)
2015.2.197
Front: Black and white photograph depicting a group of people, including two soldiers on the right side, a woman smiling at the camera, and a man wearing glasses and a vest.Back: Includes blue hand stamps as well as writing in pencil and orange ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: It would appear from this photo of a mix of soldiers and auxiliary police and smiling Jewish men that everyone is having a good time. The Jews, however, are the only ones wielding shovels.
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Jewish Man Searched by German Soldier (Holocaust in Ukraine)
2015.2.198
Front:Black and white photograph of a Jewish man with both arms raised. He wears a long coat, hat and boots, and has a bushy black beard. To the right of him is a German soldier pointing at the Jewish man in a hat and long coat.Back: Includes blue hand stamps as well as writing in pencil and orange ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Photo of Jewish man, arms in air, about to be searched by German soldier.
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Envelope Addressed to Philipp Bouhler
2014.1.62
Back: White envelope with typewritten address and black stamp.Front: Typewritten address with four Spanish postage stamps and several hand stamps.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Philipp Bouhler (1899-1945) was a Nazi leader who was both a Reichsleiter and Chief of the Chancellery of the Fuhrer of the Nazi Party. He was also the SS officer responsible for the Aktion T4 euthanasia program, developed with Karl Brandt, that murdered more than 70,000 disabled German adults and children. Arrested with his wife in 1945, he committed suicide. The knowledge gained from Aktion T4 was eventually applied to the industrialized murder of other groups of people.
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Deutsches Reich Arbeitsbuch
2014.1.107
Cover reads 'Deutches Reich' at top, an eagle with swastika within a wreath symbol at center, and 'Arbeitsbuch' at bottom. Interior includes 38 pages and a last, unnumbered page. Pages 1-7 include many handstamps and handwriting. There are no markings from page 8-31. Text begins on page 32 and continues to end.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The Arbeitsbuch grew out of a 1935 law requiring registration of work, and documentation of work history for German citizens-and only German citizens. Foreigners who worked in Germany carried an Arbeitsbuch fur Auslander which had a picture of the owner.
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Romanian Forced Labor Identification for Jewish Worker
2014.1.163
Front: Tan cover with black printed text and symbol. Includes a purple hand stamp as well as the backs of several staples.Interior: Includes a photograph and biographical information for the worker, as well as calendars with various writing and stamps on them.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Issued to Rudolf Psalt with his photo and more than 200 handstamps in all probability for each day of work between April and December 1942.
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Postcard of Students from School in Oradour-Sur-Glane
2014.1.188
Front: A black and white photograph of school children with caption in French.Back: Black printed postcard lines and text with several pencil markings.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Oradour-sur-Glane was a small farming village of around 350 inhabitants, located approximately 15 miles from Limoges. During World War II, it was located in the German-occupied zone of France. On June 10, 1944, troops of the 2nd Waffen-SS Panzer Division Das Reich massacred 642 people, almost the entire population of the village at that time, including a number of Jewish refugees. Women and children were locked up in the village church and grenades were thrown in the windows. The village was then burned to the ground. After the war, Oradour-sur-Glane rivaled Lidice as an iconic symbol of German crimes against civilians in occupied Europe. The ruins of the original village remain as a memorial to the dead.
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Envelope from German Occupied Bila Tserkva, Ukraine
2014.1.213
Front: A yellowish envelope with writing in black cursive ink. Includes a large X in blue pencil across the envelope, as well as three blue postage stamps of Adolf Hitler, two black and two purple hand stamps and a box written in orange pencil.Back: Includes writing in black cursive ink and two pieces of white tape.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Registered cover from German-occupied Bila Tserkva, 1942. Soon after the German occupation of Bila Tserkva in August 1941, General Walther von Reichenau, commander of the 6th Army of the Wehrmacht, ordered his men to assist the Einzatzgruppen and the Ukrainian auxiliaries in murdering the Jews. Over the next few days most of the adult Jews of Bila Tserkva were liquidated. The difficult task of killing the remaining children fell to the Ukrainians as the Germans found the job too emotionally taxing. Despite attempts on the part of several chaplains to free the frightened and hungry children, von Reichenau insisted that the executions proceed. According to the report of one SS man present at the scene of the murders, even the Ukrainians were trembling at the prospect of shooting children over the pit that had been prepared for them. "The wailing was indescribable. I shall never forget the scene throughout my life. I find it hard to bear." The chaplains did not protest the murder of the adults.
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Der Untermensch
2012.1.389
A booklet titled, "Der Untermensch." Cover includes title in red, and black and white photograph of a man in close-up, with people in uniform holding guns behind him.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Untermensch is one of the most revolting pieces of anti-Semitic and anti-Bolshevist racist literature, 50 pages of photos presenting Jews, Slavs, Bolshevists,etc., as morally degenerate, uncivilized, subhuman monsters, consistent with Hitler’s and Himmler’s belief in the necessity of the war of man against the subhuman, and ultimately rationalizing Nazi genocidal policies in the East.
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Reinhard Heydrich Stamp
2012.1.421
Black stamp with photograph of a death mask. Titled, "Deutsches Recih.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: On May 27, 1942, an assassination attempt was made on Reinhard Heydrich, the protector of Bohemia and Moravia. Heydrich died June 4 from infections caused by the failed assassination attempt. In reprisal, on the morning of June 7, the Nazis completely destroyed the Czech village of Lidice, twenty miles northwest of Prague. The male inhabitants of the village were killed, and women and children were sent to concentration camps. The stamp below was issued by the Nazis in honor of Heydrich -- it is an image of his death mask.
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Anti-Semitic Wooden Sign: "Judenfrei" [Free of Jews]
2012.1.509
Wooden sign with text in German and Ukranian "Judenfrei", meaning that this area, or establishment, is free of Jews, a favorite Nazi epithet.
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"Rassenpolitik" Manual Published by the SS
2016.1.20
Cover image of nude male statue, 72 pages plus many full page images.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Manual issued by the SS under Heinrich Himmler’s name: ”Rassenpolitik” (Race Politics), issued by the SS Hauptamt, 1942. The cover bears a statue of an “Aryan” man, while the contents expound upon the Jewish danger, non-Aryan blood in general, and the SS man’s role in guaranteeing pure Nordic blood lines and values. Chapters include the importance of SS men having racially pure children, the influence of blacks on race, and special attention is given to the Jews. The book also contains many illustrations and photographs, including images of Nordic ideal types compared with unflattering images of Jews, Russians and blacks. A library stamp remains on the cover.