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 Nazi anti-Semitism superseded traditional Judeo-Christian religious conflict by uniting a racial ideology with social Darwinism: the Jew is seen as subhuman, a disease threatening the body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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Envelope Celebrating Return of the Saar
2014.1.30
Envelope with music note ink stamp and blue postage stamp.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Saar music notes slogan cover.
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![Der Schulingsbrief [The Training Letter]](https://digital.kenyon.edu/bulmash/1263/thumbnail.jpg "Der Schulingsbrief [The Training Letter]")
Der Schulingsbrief [The Training Letter]
2015.2.178
Tan cover with brown ink. Stylized Nazi eagle and Swastika in upper left. Brown printed text to the right of it. Title in brown and alternating to white on brown background. Middle shows a man in a crown, holding ceremonial objects on a brown background with white text circling him. More brown text on bottom.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Example of a primer on German history, race and so forth published by Robert Ley circa 1934-36. This edition is an example of the official monthly educational publication of the Nazi Party.
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Arthur Greiser's Autograph
2015.2.175
Tan paper with black signature.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Greiser was an SS-Obergruppenfuhrer and Reich Governor of the German-occupied territory of Wartheland. He was instrumental in organizing the Holocaust in Poland, ordering mass deportations and gassing of mental patients. He asked permission from Himmler to kill 100,000 Jews in his area. Utilizing gas vans, he established an extermination unit which killed more than 150,000 Jews. After the war he was tried by the Polish government for war crimes and sentenced to death. Here his signature appears on an album page along with his title, "President of the Senate of the Free City of Danzig." 1936.
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![Der Schulingsbrief [The Training Letter]](https://digital.kenyon.edu/bulmash/1262/thumbnail.jpg "Der Schulingsbrief [The Training Letter]")
Der Schulingsbrief [The Training Letter]
2015.2.177a
Tan cover with brown ink. Stylized Nazi eagle and Swastika in upper left. Brown printed text to the right of it. Title in brown and alternating to white on brown background. Middle shows two swords with a flaming Swastika between them. More brown text on bottom.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Example of a primer on German history, race and so forth published by Robert Ley circa 1934-36. This edition is an example of the official monthly educational publication of the Nazi Party.
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Hitler Stamp
2015.2.151
Purple stamp on white serrated paper depicting Adolf Hitler in profile facing right.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Both the Allies and Axis powers produced forgeries of their enemies' postage stamps. Among these were postal forgeries, which were intended to cause economic disruption by defrauding the adversaries' postal services, and propaganda forgeries, clandestinely distributed to increase dissent and weaken the morale of the enemy population. Propaganda forgeries created by the Nazis included stamps with anti-Semitic messages. Notable forgeries include spoofs of Great Britain's 1935 Silver Jubilee stamp, with the slogan "This War is a Jewish War," and the 1937 Coronation issue, noting the alliance between Stalin's U.S.S.R. and Great Britain. Equating Stalinism with Judaism and claiming Nazism was a bulwark against Communism was a major theme of Nazi ideology. The Nazis also issued a set with overprints proclaiming the liquidation of the British Empire. The OSS (Office of Strategic Services), the forerunner of the C.I.A., ran a mission from Switzerland called "Operation Cornflakes" which involved bombing German mail trains and air-dropping bags of false, but properly addressed mail, containing Allied propaganda, including propaganda forgeries. The intent was that the false mail would be mixed in with the real mail and delivered by the German postal service. The most striking O.S.S. forgeries mock German Hitler-head stamps, and picture Hitler's face as a partly exposed skull. (from Stampselector)
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German Anti-British Propaganda Stamp: King George With Crown Surmounted by Star of David
2015.2.156
Orange stamp depicting King George of England in profile facing left with a crown hovering above his head, with a black rectangular stamp promising the liquidation of empire. Forged stamps like these were common during the war, with enemies hoping to defraud their opponents' postal service, and to increase dissent and weaken the morale of the enemy population.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Both the Allies and Axis powers produced forgeries of their enemies' postage stamps. Among these were postal forgeries, which were intended to cause conomic disruption by defrauding the adversaries' postal services, and propaganda forgeries, clandestinely distrubted to increase dissent and weaken the morale of the enemy population. Propaganda forgeries created by the Nazis included stamps with anti-Semitic messages. Notable forgeries include spoofs of Great Britain's 1935 Silver Jubilee stamp, with the slogan "This War is a Jewish War," and the 1937 Coronation issue, noting the alliance between Stalin's U.S.S.R. and Great Britain. Equating Stalinism with Judaism and claiming Nazism was a bulwark aginst Communism was a major theme of Nazi ideology. The Nazis also issued a set with overprints proclaiming the liquidation of the British Empire. The OSS (Office of Strategic Services), the forerunner of the C.I.A., ran a mission from Switerland called "Operation Cornflakes" which involved bombing German mail trains and air-dropping bags of false, but properly addressed mail, containing Allied propaganda, including propaganda forgeries. The intent was that the false mail would be mixed in with the real mail and delivered by the German postal service. The most striking O.S.S. forgeries mock German Hitler-head stamps, and picture Hitler's face as a partly exposed skull. (from Stampselector)
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Abraham Lincoln Battalion
2014.1.450
Front: Artistic rendition of a green mounted gun on wheels. Above and below is text in pink. Back: Ten punchable coupons. Each for a different product. Geometric design with several different fonts. The corners of each are pink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Provided: (green Maxim Gun with red 3-pointed star). This poster was issued by the only largely U.S. battalion in the International Brigade. Its members came from the U.S., Canada, the Irish Free State, Chileans who were part of the Chilean Workers Club of New York and others. The Connolly Column was composed of Irish Republican Army members and fought as part of the Lincoln Brigade.
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Attestation that Woman does not have Jewish Parents or Grandparents
2012.1.57
Half sheet with printed black text with several pencil cross-outs. Includes several signatures.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: This document was an attestation. This woman attested that she was not the offspring of Jewish parents or grandparents. She scratched out the statement that she was an offspring of Jews. It was signed in Nuremburg.
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Envelope with Cancel for "The Eternal Jew" Anti-Semitic Exhibition, Munich, 1937
2012.1.482
Envelope with diagonal texture. Addressed in pen to dr. Georfant Miller. Includes two black "Der ewige Jude" hand stamps.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The Munchen (Munich) Exhibition of "The Eternal Jew" opened November 9, 1937. This cancel applied to the third day of the exhibit.
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La Persecution du Peuple Juif
2012.1.31
A reproduction of a painting of a woman with child being attacked by a double-headed eagle. Titled, "La Persécution du Peuple Juif. Information printed on back.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A postcard sold to raise funds for refugees and development in Palestine. The image on the front depicts a mother protecting her child from a double-headed eagle (a symbol with both Germanic and Russian roots). The child is lying on flags bearing the Star of David. The reverse side containsa quote from Bernard Lazare, French Jewish literary critic: "Nous sommes toujours le vieux peupl a la nuque dure, l'indocile et rebelle nation; nous voulons etre nous-memes, ce que nous ont fait nos aieux, notre histoire, nos traditions, notre culture et nos souvenirs, et nous saurons bien conquerir ce droit que est le notre d'etre non seulement des hommes, mais aussi des Juifs." The quote translates to English as "We are still the old hard-necked people, the stubborn and rebellious nation, we want to be ourselves, what we have done for our ancestors, our history, our traditions, our culture and our memories, and we know we will conquer this right that is ours to be not only men, but also Jews."
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Anti-Semitic Postcard Commemorating Anschuss
2012.1.470
Front: An illustration of a golden German map with a photograph of Hitler's face in profile pasted onto it. Caption reads: "13 Marz 1938. Ein Volk Ein Reich Ein Führer."Back: Green printed postcard lines and a painted red, black and white sticker depicting a muscular man with a swastika hammer ready to strike a snake with the head of A Jewish man. The caption reads, "Tod dem Marxismus. Her zu uns!"
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Annexation of Austria commemorative postcard with sticker verso depicting a muscular man with a swastika hammer ready to strike a snake with the head of a Jew. The caption reads, "Tod dem Marxismus. Her zu uns!" ("Death to Marxism. Join us!") In Nazi ideology, Marxism and Judaism are indistinguishable foes.
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Weimar Dienstpass for Ernst and Freda Borchardt with Forged Third Reich Anachronisms
2012.1.96
Green cover with Weimar Eagle and large blue stamp of the Star of David. Titled, "Deutsches Reich Dientstpass. Interior includes various biographical information about and black and white photographs of Ernst and Freda Borhardt.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A Dienstpass, or Service Passport, doctored with Third Reich embellishments to make it appear to be of the era. The informed eye will note the following: a) a Jewish Star of David on the cover and a red “J” on p.1, the latter required only after October,1938; b) the cover itself with the Weimar Republic eagle rather than the Third Reich Eagle and swastika; c) “Sara”, the required name for a Jew after 1938, also on page 1; d) the obvious date changes from 1928 to 1938 on p.2 and p.4; e)Hebrew script stamp p.3; f)Hungarian and Belgian visas and stamp, and the “Prussian Department of the Interior” stamp are from Weimar era, not from that of Third Reich; g) “SS” stamps incorrect. All made to appear like a Nazi era passport to dupe the unsuspecting collector, an example of what Alex Tulkoff calls “counterfeiting the Holocaust”; i.e., profiting from the anguish of this period of history. One hopes the Borchardts did not return to Germany after 1928.
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Envelope with Die for "The Eternal Jew" Anti-Semitic Exhibition, Vienna, 1938
2012.1.485
Tan envelope with two pasted green stamps and two hand stamps, each for "Der Ewige Jude."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The Vienna Exhibition of "The Eternal Jew" was open from August 2 - October 23, 1938. Apparently at least two different dies were used for canceling during this period.
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![Der ewige Jude [The Eternal Jew] Postcard](https://digital.kenyon.edu/bulmash/1352/thumbnail.jpg "Der ewige Jude [The Eternal Jew] Postcard")
Der ewige Jude [The Eternal Jew] Postcard
2014.1.37
Front: A caricature of a Jewish man with his right hand full of gold coins and a cane in his left. Includes a picture of Germany with communist symbols at his right and a yellow background.Back: Includes a message written in pencil and a green stamp.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: To further promote Nazi anti-Semitic objectives, a travelling exhibition named “Der Ewige Jude” ("The Eternal Jew") was created in 1937. It appeared in five cities during the following eighteen months. The exhibition depicted Jews—their clothes, facial characteristics, cultural items and art- in every conceivable negative and unfavorable way, and markedly “degenerate” in contrast to the Nazi Aryan ideal. This postcard advertising the exhibition-in this case in Vienna- depicts a caricatured, unattractive image of a disheveled Jewish man against a yellow background clutching a knotted whip in his left hand with an inset map of the Soviet Union with red Communist hammer and sickle. In his outstretched right hand are gold coins. His eyes are closed against a secret he is hiding: the composite image represents a putative Jewish conspiracy for world domination. The two special cancellations on the back of the postcard commemorate the event.
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Envelope with Cancel for "The Eternal Jew" Anti-Semitic Exhibition, Vienna, 1938
2012.1.483
Tan envelope with many stamps. Addressed with black ink. Includes two rectangular and two circular black stamps for "Der Ewige Jude."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Registered envelope with mixed franking used last day of "Der Ewige Jude" (The Eternal Jew) exhibit in Vienna.
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Postcard with Die for "The Eternal Jew" Anti-Semitic Exhibition, Vienna, 1938
2012.1.484
Tan postcard with green printed postcard lines. Includes one rectangular and one circular black stamp for "Der Ewige Jude."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The Vienna Exhibition of "The Eternal Jew" was open from August 2 - October 23, 1938. Apparently at least two different dies were used for cancelling during this period. Note that the September 6 circular dial (seen on 2012.1.485) has ".WIEN." on the bottom whereas the October 23 (last day of the show) has an "a WIEN."
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Kassel Synagogue Postcard
2012.1.444a
Illustration of a Kassel street with a synagogue and group of people.
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Berlin Synagogue Postcard
2012.1.445b
Sepia colored photograph of a synagogue with a large Star of David window.
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Envelope with Cancel for "The Eternal Jew" Anti-Semitic Exhibition, Berlin-Reichstag, 1938-1939
2012.1.486
Tan postcard with green printed postcard lines. Includes two circular black hand stamps mentioning, "Der ewige Jude."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Following the Munich and Vienna Exhibitions, "The Eternal Jew" exhibition moved to the Reichstag Buildling in Berlin where it remained from November 12, 1938 through January 13, 1939. The postmark for the occasion reads: "Berlin-Reichstag Exhibition - The Eternal Jew." Three different type cancels were used. The differences are an "a", "b" or "c" which appeared over the date box.
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International Brigades Censored Envelope from Valencia to Czechoslovakia
2014.1.293
Front: Two red stamps with image of man in profile on right side; worth 25 cts. A circular black stamp covers them. The return address is printed with a purple oval censorship stamp over it. Address is typewritten. Back: Tan tape on the top with a oval purple censorship stamp.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Communists, socialists, and anarchists from many nations converged to support the Republican forces in the fight against the Fascist Franco Nationalist army. This International Brigades Cover has the "Communicaciones" censor of the Brigades.
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Most Important News Pictures of '38
2014.1.52
Front: A street scene in Berlin, showing the shattered fronts of Jewish-owned stores, the result of Anti-Jewish demonstrations following the slaying of Ernst Vom Rath in Germany's Paris Embassy. Vom Rath's slayer was a Jewish youth.Back: Typewritten information about the image, Credit Line (Acme) Bers No.1 Spl 12-13-38.
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Hermann Goering Reichswerke Letter
2019.2.201
Letter titled “REICHSWERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT FÜR ERZBERGBAU UND EISENHÜTTEN “HERMANN GÖRING” in bold, black print, two holes punched in left side, signed in blue ink. [Related item: 2019.2.202]
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:Letter written to an employee, Franz Fried, of the Reichswerke in 1940, one requesting that he provide certain specific documents; and the other informing him that his employment contract has been assumed by the private company nominally under Goering.
Hermann Goering Reichswerke was an industrial conglomerate controlling iron, coal, mines, and steel mills expropriated from German-occupied countries: Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, etc. It likewise involved the exploitation of forced laborers, prisoners of war, and prisoners of concentration camps.
