The Holocaust (1933-45) refers to Nazi Germany’s deliberate, progressive persecution and systematic murder of the Jews of Europe. Nazi anti-Semitism superseded traditional Judeo-Christian religious conflict by uniting a racial ideology with social Darwinism: the Jew is seen as subhuman, a disease threatening the body politic, and the cause of Germany’s problems—its economic woes, its defeat in World War I, its cultural degeneracy—and thus must be eradicated. As soon as Hitler came to power in 1933, the Nazis commenced the organized persecution of the Jews. Jewish books were burned and businesses boycotted. Jews were excluded from professions, public life, and from the arts. The Nuremberg laws of 1935 identified and defined a Jew based on immutable racial characteristics and lineage, less so his religion. Jews were stripped of their civil rights as German citizens. More than 120 decrees and ordinances were enacted subsequent to the Nuremberg laws. In 1938, Kristallnacht occurred, the planned pogrom that led to the destruction of synagogues, mass arrests, and the looting of Jewish businesses. Jews were murdered, and many more were interned in concentration camps that had been established for political prisoners. Jewish property was registered, confiscated, and ultimately arianized. Life in Nazi Germany was sufficiently intolerable that more than to 200,000 Jews emigrated. Hitler’s goal of making Germany “Judenrein” was proving successful.
With the Nazi’s ascension to power, other groups were imperiled as well, vulnerable to discriminatory treatment, persecution and death; for example, the Roma and Sinti, the developmentally and physically disabled, homosexuals, and political and social "undesirables". Slavic people were considered Untermenschen, fit only for servitude in the new and expanded Reich. During this period of time, in direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was also secretly building its military and preparing for an eventual war. Yet it was the Nazi’s growing confidence and skill in pruning the Aryan tree of its undesirables that allowed it to perfect the technical apparatus for carrying out mass murder on an industrial scale, with its ultimate goal the “final solution to the Jewish question”.
This collection features numerous examples of identification documents for Jews used during the Third Reich; a selection of mail covers and Francotyp cards which record the mail history of Jewish-owned companies or corporate entities both before and subsequent to arianization during the era of the Third Reich; Julius Streicher anti-Semitic literature, posters from der Sturmer; and a general selection of anti-Semitic literature and postcards--Michael D. Bulmash, K1966
Browse the Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection.
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Postcard Commemorating Nazi Seizure of Power
Front: Off-white postcard with an illustration of a Nazi rally near a classical-looking buildling. Includes brown printed postcard lines, an address written in black ink, black hand stamps, and black and orange postage stamps.Back: Message written in black ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Postcard sent from Dresden, Germany to Akron, Ohio on the first anniversary of Hitler's assumption of power.
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American Boycott German Goods Stamp
Small white stamp with blue illustration of the Star of David. Titled, "For Humanity's Sake, Don't Buy German Goods."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Pre-World War II German boycott stamp issued in the United States by Jewish war veterans. Probable date is 1933, as counter-measure to German boycott of Jewish stores.
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American Boycott German Goods Stamp
Small white stamp with teal illustration of the Star of David. Titled, "For Humanity's Sake, Don't Buy German Goods."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Pre-World War II German boycott stamp issued in the United States by Jewish war veterans. Probable date is 1933, as counter-measure to German boycott of Jewish stores.
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American Federation of Polish Jews Stamp
Blue stamp with illustration of immigrants and the Statue of Liberty. Titled, "America Will not Forsake You, American Federation for Polish Jews."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Stamp most likely issued in 1933 by the American Federation of Polish Jews.
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N.S.D.A.P. Member Photograph
Man in uniform with hat and glasses standing before a Nazi swastika flag. Signature and date written in pencil on mat just below bottom right of photograph.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Ominous professional photographer’s image of an unidentified S.A. officer standing before an NSDAP flag, signed and dated 1933 by the photographer.
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Wagner Commemorative Postcard
Postcard with green postage in top right corner, “Postkarte” written in green print, image of building and landscape in green ink on left side.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Official postcard with indicia showing Wagner in profile. The Festival Hall at Bayreuth is pictured along with inscription “Honor your German master.” Hitler loved Wagner’s operas, especially “Die Meistersinger.” The themes of Wagner’s operas appeared, especially to the Nazis, to glorify Germany’s ancient pagan past, its Teutonic mythology and heroic gods. Wagner himself, most notably in his writing, seemed as well to be anti-Semitic, lending further comfort to Nazi ideology. Prophetically, Hitler’s last visit to the opera was to see Wagner’s Gotterdammerung.
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Commemorative Postcard of 450th Anniversary of Birth of Martin Luther
Postcard with black postage in top right corner, marked “Postkarte” in black ink, image of Martin Luther on left side.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Luther was a Christian theologian and monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation. He also penned several screeds against Jews. When his early attempts to convert them to Christianity failed, he became more angry and advocated measures including burning their synagogues, destroying prayer books, seizing their money and property and destroying their homes: even going so far as to imitate murdering them. His 20th century fans included Heinrich Himmler, Julius Streicher, and of course, Adolf Hitler. Protestant churches in 1941 thought that Jews wearing the yellow badge was a good idea. Bishop Martin Sasse applauded the burning of synagogues on Kristallnacht. Luther’s animosity toward Jews was, strictly speaking, religious in nature.
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Contract Signed by Heinrich Himmler
White document titled "Dienstvertrag" (Service Contract). Includes printed and typewritten information. Signed in blue by "H. Himmler" on the right side.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945) was Hitler's Chief of Gestapo placed in charge of security and responsible for construction and operation of extermination camps. This document a "Dienstvertrag" or "Service Contract" between SS and SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Bruno Gesche, valid until 1951, boldly signed by Himmler and twice by Gesche. The latter would advance to rank of Obersturmbannfuhrer and become member of Hitler's entourage. He served as head of HItler's bodyguard, despite Himmler's desperate attempts to have him removed. Eventually his alcoholism saw him shipped to the eastern front and sent to a punishment battalion.
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Booklet of Frederick the Great Stamp
Postage stamp booklet, front includes “Deutsches Reich” in black print and image of two flags, inside includes a page of green postage stamps and a page of red postage stamps.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The cover of this booklet depicts both existing national flags, the “Kaiserreich” black, white, and red flag, and the new swastika flag which would soon replace the former. The back cover shows information on the new Reichstag opening. As well an interleaf that displays the slogan “All for Germany.” Hitler had been sworn in as Chancellor January 30, 1933. Hitler revered Frederick’s military genius and carried a portrait of him wherever he travelled.
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Boycott against Jews in Berlin
A black and white photograph of a man in Nazi uniform standing outside of a store with a sign telling citizens not to shop at Jewish shops.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: German government inspired boycott of Jewish businesses in April 1933.A member of the SA stands outside of a store (possibly Kaufhaus Nathan Israel) with placards reading "Germans! Defend Yourselves! Don't Buy From the Jews"
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Postcard Depicting the Garrison Church at Potsdam with Imprinted Stamp of Frederick the Great
Postcard labelled “Postkarte” at top in green. Includes green postage in upper right corner and image of church in green on left side. Back dated “19.5.33,” written in black ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Inscription on postcard commemorates the opening of the Reichstag on March 21. 1933 in Potsdam. Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor on January 30, 1933. He took his oath of allegiance- prior to the opening of the Reichstag- in this church. Frederick the Great was Hitler’s hero and he always carried Frederick’s portrait with him.
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Aryan Racial Declaration by German Citizen
Typed document, ‘Erklarung’ underlined at top center; signatures and dates handwritten at bottom half with red handstamp on left
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: This declaration, given by Mr. Claus Rass, just six months after Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany, states that there are no known circumstances which would give reason to believe that “I am not Aryan or that my parents or grandparents were members of the Jewish religion. I am aware that I will be punished in the event that my given declaration is not true.”
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Postcard from Oberhausen to Frankfort, Germany in Yiddish
Front: A postcard with an address written in black ink and a green postage stamp.Back: Message written in Yiddish in black ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Postcard written August 21, 1933, sent seven months after Hitler was appointed chancellor of the coalition government of NSDAP-DNVP Party, January 30, 1933. The first concentration camp was established at Dachau on March 22, 1933. The Enabling Act followed on March 24, 1933. April 1, 1933 saw the boycott of Jewish-owned shops and businesses in Germany. The Law for the Reestablishment of the Professional Civil Service commenced April 7, 1933. Book burning occured by university students throughout many university towns on May 10, 1933. Non-Nazi parties were outlawed July 14, 1933. And on the same date the Law for the Prevention of Progeny with Hereditary Diseases was passed.
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Donau and Monte Rosa
Postcard with black and white photograph of two steam ships on front, and message written in blue ink on the back.
Information Provdied by Michael D. Bulmash: The deportation of the Norwegian Jews followed an expectable sequence of steps involving arrest, confiscation of property, having one's ID stamped with the letter "J," as well as filling out forms detailing property and holdings. Ultimately, deportation involved the active collaboration of the Norwegian police, the Quisling government, German SS and Gestapo. With less than 2,000 Jews residing in Norway, and with shipping being scarce to send Norway's Jews to the extermination centers, one would not think that Germany would go through the effort required to send them to Poland. However, in the Autumn of 1942, shipping was made available and on November 26, 1942, 532 Jews were dported on the ships Donau and Monte Rosa. A total of 768 Jews were deported, and ultimately sent to Auschwitz. Only 28 survived the war. Quisling faced a firing squad; his name was to become a term of derision meaning traitor or collaborator.
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Rare Early Dachau Postcard From Inmate Otto Marx
Front: Off-white paper. Postcard split in half by red printed line. Right side has address written in pencil. Green stamp with a male face on it put on horizontally so that the head is looking up. Black circular Dachau stamp over with the date 22 Sep 33. Red, printed description in German: "Konzentrationslager Dachau." with purple 'Konzentrationslager Dachau gepruft' stamp over it. Back: Handwriting in pencil. Nearly rubbed off in several places. There is a fold horizontally across the postcard, as well as a vertical fold on half of it.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Postcard (type 1) from Jewish inmate Otto Marx with violet two-line censor marking (type C-1), sent to his wife Marta Marx in Weiden with 6 PF stamp tied by "Dachau/22/Sep/33" CDs .Dachau was Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp, opened on March 22, 1933, and became under Theodor Eiche a training center for SS guards and the model for other concentration camps.
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Bernile Nienau with Adolf Hitler at Obersalzberg
Front: Black and white photograph of Hitler with his arm around a young, blonde-haired girl in a floral-print dress. Behind them is a scenic background of trees and mountains. Back: Blank postcard lines. Coffee stain on bottom. Upper left has purple circular hand stamp with Nazi insignia.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Adolf Hitler with a small girl Bernile Nienau at Obersalzberg. Hitler enjoyed being photographed with children. Bernile had been chosen to visit the "Fuhrer" and it was discovered that they shared the same birthday, April 20. She was a favorite of Hitler and visited frequently. When Martin Bormann, Hitler's secretary, discovered that Bernile's grandmother was Jewish, he had her banned from all contact with Hitler. She apparently died at the end of the war in Munich, although the circumstances surrounding her death are mysterious. Nazi party stamp on reverse.
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Why the Aryan Law?
Front: Tan cover with blocky black text on top and bottom.Interior: Printed black German text.This book was published by the Racial Policy Office of the NSDAP and summarizes the anti-Jewish laws of the Third Reich with explanations of why Jews are over-represented in important parts of society. It also promised the fair treatment of Jews.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: German anti-semtiic publication "Warum Arierparagraph?" by Drs. E.H. Schultz and R. Frercks, published by the Racial Policy Office of the NSDAP, Berlin, 1934. With graphs and illustrations, the pamphlet summarizes and justifies the anti-Jewish laws enacted by the Third Reich and provides statistics "proving" how Jews are over-represented in the important parts of society. Interestingly it promises that Jews will be well treated--only their social standing is intolerable.
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Race Laws of Third Reich Pamphlet
Front: Tan cover with printed black text, lines, and Nazi seal.Interior: Black printed text in German.Back: Small printed Nazi seal.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Pamphlet by William Frick on Nazi Race Laws. 1934. 'Race Laws of Third Reich' by Wilhelm Frick, 16 pages, an early explanation of race laws, ultimately to be codified and known as the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, for the benefit of the press corps. The enactment of the anti-semitic laws facilitated enforcement of legislation restricting civil rights of German Jews.
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Bund Deutsche Mädel Identification Card for Anni Luh
Interior: Black and white photograph of a young woman in pigtails with biographical information.Exterior: Titled, "Mitglieds Ausweis für den Bund Deutsche Mädel." Includes image of a swastika in a diamond and a chart with pink tickets.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: ID with a photograph of a German Bund Deutsche Mädel. All women had to be of Aryan heritage, citizens of Germany, and free of hereditary disease. As Jutta Ruediger, a leader of the German girls, states: girls were raised to "believe in Germany and our leader and pass on these beliefs to their children." Training consisted of sports (particularly gymnastics), philosophical education, and cultural work. Girls attended lectures and participated in work groups.
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Konversionkasse (Promissory Notes) Exchanged for Jewish Property
Two konversionkasse. The first is orange and titled "Fünfzig Reichsmark" (fifty Reichsmark). The second is green and titled, "Fünf Reichsmark" (five Reichsmark).
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Konversionkasse were essentially promissory notes given to German Jews in exchange for their property and money. These Jews were fortunate enough to escape Germany in the early years of the Third Reich. The notes often contained pinholes because refugees typically pinned them to the inside of their clothes during their journey. In almost all cases when they arrived at their destination they found the notes worthless when attempting to exchange them. The 50 Reichmark note is series E from 1933/1934 and quite scarce.
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Ancestry Attestation
Tan document titled, "Abstammungsnachweis." Includes charts with information written in pen.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: An attestation about ancestry. This form is from 1934 and was completed by a woman who attests that she is of German offspring. On the reverse, she answers questions about party membership, membership in an organization for fighting antisemitism, etc. Signed by an authority of the State Office of Race (Landesamt Fur Rassewesen).
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Anti-Semitic German Sign "Juden Ist Die Benutzung der Parkbank Verboten" (Jews are Banned from Using the Park Bench
Black metal sign with "Juden Ist Die Benutzung der Parkbank Verboten" in white print.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Such signs were commonplace as an early measure in a progressive series of actions taken by the Third Reich to exclude Jews from public life, stripping away their citizenship, civil rights, and ability to earn a living.
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Early Postcard from Concentration Camp in Ettersberg, Germany
Front: Postcard split in half by a decorate, triple green line. The right side has the address written in pencil. Green postage stamp in top right. Back: Cramped pencil writing.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Postcard from Prisoner J. Taney in the concentration camp of Ettersburg which would later become infamous as the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany near Weimar. Konzentrationlager KL cover to an Elly Taney in Nuremburg. In 1934, when this cover was mailed, Ettersburg was one of the very first concentration camps established by the Nazis and was officially a "voluntary labor" camp, before being renamed Buchenwald in 1937. This is one of the very earliest concentration camp covers.
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Identification Document
Tan document titled, "Auszug aus dem Strafreifter." Includes printed text and tables with additional handwritten and stamped information.
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SS-Schutzstaffel of the NSDAP ID with ink-stamped Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler Printed Signature
White card with printed and typewritten information, as well as purple and black signatures.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Early 1934 SS ID or ausweis to SS Mann Herbert Lenk. He was born in Elbing in 1916. Ink stamped Himmler signature with early eagle and NSDAP script, with hand signature of an SS Standartenfuhrer. Yellow stamp at bottom indicating dues were paid for July/September 1934.His picture is on opposite side and embossed with a stamp. His number of the SS Ausweis is 218946.