During this period emigration of Jews from Germany and Austria was closed down even as anti-Semitism became more extreme. With the advent of World War II on September 1, 1939, Jews fell increasingly under Nazi control as more European territory was conquered. Jews were placed in ghettos under brutal and appalling living conditions: slave labor, starvation and disease were rife, and many Jews perished, or were eventually sent to killing centers. Major ghettos included Warsaw, Lodz, and Lublin, but there were as many as 1000 ghettos in all. The Gestapo and the SS became organs of terror. Opponents of the Nazis were sent to concentration camps, and many never emerged. The Nazis utilized the Einsatzgruppen, mobile killing units following the Wehrmacht into the Soviet Union, murdering Jews and other groups targeted for elimination. The Einsatzgruppen, along with their local minions, ultimately murdered 1,500,000 Jews.
--Michael D. Bulmash, K1966
This collection features: correspondence and representative covers from many ghettos—including smaller ones-- established under the Nazis; a rare stamp from the ghetto of Czestochowa (Tschenstochau) in Poland; ghetto scrip; a selection of undercover mail covers; and the passport of a woman who had been a passenger on the St.Louis in 1939.
Browse the Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection.
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Jewish Snakes Anti-Semitic Postcard
2012.1.440
Blank postcard with an illustration of shirtless German men pulling a plow over snakes with the Star of David on their heads.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Anti-Semitic German postcard from 1940, depicting German soldiers killing snakes in a field. The heads of the snakes have Stars of David.
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Letter from Haavara Limited, Tel-Aviv
2015.2.73
Tan page with Haavara title in printed green English and Hebrew at top. Numbered 12101. Typewritten message with black ink signature in bottom right.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Haavara was a company established in 1933 as the result of an agreement between the Jewish Agency (the official Jewish executive in Palestine) and the Nazi regime. The Trust and Transfer Office Haavara Ltd. was established in Tel Aviv to facilitate Jewish emigration to Palestine. Though the Nazis had ordered Jewish emigrants to surrender most of their proerty before leaving Germany, the Haavara agreement let them retain some of their assets by transferring them to Palestine as German export goods. Approximately 50,000 Jews emigrated to Palestine under this arrangement.
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Ukrainian Affidavit of Non-Jewish Ancestry
2014.1.33
Front & back: Document with columns of printed text in German, Russian, and Polish. Further information: This Ukranian document lists the specific items that identify a person as Jewish. The final paragraph is a statement to be given denying Jewish ancestry.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Sworn affadavit of non-Jewish ancestry. Ukrainian. July 7, 1940. Typed document printed in German, Ukrainian and Polish, listing the specific items which identify a person as Jewish. Beneath is a statement to be given denying Jewish ancestry according to aforementioned Paragraphs 1 and 2. The affidavit concludes: The "provisions of Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply accordingly."
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Execution Witness Admittance Card
2012.1.80
Index card with typewritten message in German, red stamp, and blue signature.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A card permitting the bearer to witness the execution of Maria Decker. It accompanied a large red execution notice that had been posted in July, 1940.
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Envelope from Warsaw during German Occupation to American Consul in Berlin
2014.1.258
Front: Tan envelope with writing in black ink. Includes a red postage stamp and black hand stamps.Back: Writing in black ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: This is a provisional issue of German stamps overprinted with "Deutsche Post Osten" for use in the General Government, where overprinting was valid until September 30, 1940. The General Government was ruled by Hans Frank, and included Cracow, Lvov, Radom, Warsaw and Lublin districts. After war with Russia began in June 1941, the General Government became a province of the greater German Empire, which already included Danzig and northern and western areas of Poland.
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Late Passport Issued to Betty “Sara” London, with Visa Markings, Tracing Her Journey to Freedom From Germany to Portugal
2015.2.10
Front: Green cover. Nazi eagle and Swastika in black above title. Interior: Photograph, biographical, and travel information for Betty "Sara" London (nee Cohen).
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Late passport issued to Betty "Sara" London (nee Cohen) on July 29, 1940. London was a resident of Berlin, born in 1870. Her passport bears the red "J" and the middle name "Sara" marking her as a Jew. On March 6, 1941, she receives a "Quota Immigration visa" at the American embassy in Berlin. On May 19, the Portuguese Consul in Berlin issues her a transit visa for travel to America from Lisbon, and three days later the Spanish Consul allows her passage through Spain. On May 26, London's passport is stamped by German police at Hendaye railway station on the French-Spanish border. Two days later she arrives in Portugal. While there is no U.S. entry stamp, she most likely received new travel documents. Portugal was known to be generous in granting visas to those hoping to escape persecution in Nazi Germany.
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"Personal=Bericht" (Staff Report) from Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski
2012.1.392
Tan document titled "Personal=Bericht" (Staff Report). Includes printed and typewritten information with signature on back side.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: This document is Erich Von Dem Bach-Zelewski's assessment of a soldier. Bach-Zelewski was highly regarded by Hitler for his brutality and his improvisational skills. As SS general and general of the Waffen-SS assigned to the Russian front, Bach-Zelewski was a leader of the Einsatzgruppen, and was thus responsible for many atrocities on the eastern front in which he took a personal role. In October 1941, after 35,000 people had been executed in Riga, he proudly wrote "there is not a Jew left in Estonia." He actively participated in massacres of Jews in Minsk and Mogilev in Russia. Bach-Zelewski claimed to have lectured Himmler after the Minsk executions, telling him that the men of the firing squad were now ruined for life, that they were destined to become nervous wrecks or ruffians. Himmler asked Arthur Nebe to end the suffering of these murderers as soon as possible by considering other killing methods more humane than shooting. In July 1943, Bach-Zalewski received command of all anti-Partisan actions in Belgium, Belarus, France, the General Government, the Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, and parts of Bialystok. In practice, his activities remained confined to Belarus and contiguous Russia.
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"Israel" Postcard
2012.1.295
A tan postcard addressed to Fred Hess with red postcard lines and a message handwritten in black ink.
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 is an "Israel" postcard from Frankfurt to Tjornarp, Sweden.
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Feldpost Postcard from SS Organization Managing Resettlement of Ethnic Germans
2012.1.283
Front: Black and white photograph of a busy street with a trolly and doubledecker bus.Back: Message handwritten in pencil and addressed to Marie Jenner.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Feldpost card with hand stamp from Volkdeutsche Mittelstelle Ausseldung Galizien, the Ethnic Germans' Welfare Office in Galicia, Poland. This postcard includes a hand stamp from this SS Organization responsible for the resettlement of Volkdeutsch (ethnic Germans) in occupied territories and also involved in the confiscation of Jewish properties.
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Postcard from Lithuania, Censored in Palestine
2014.1.230
Front: A tan postcard with orange printed postcard lines and text. Includes writing in black ink, blue and pink postage stamps, as well as purple and black hand stamps.Back: Message written in black ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Postcard written in Yiddish, censored in Palestine, dated 1940, approximately nine months before the Nazi occupation of Kovno, Lithuania.
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Censored Envelope from Denmark
2014.1.217 &.218
Envelope Front: White envelope with a typewritten address, four purple postage stamps, a red and a black hand stamp, and several pencil markings.Envelope Back: Typewritten return address, red hand stamp and tan censor tape.Letter: Typewritten letter in English on white paper. Includes a signature in black ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A letter mailed just weeks before the mobilization to ferry the Jews of Denmark to Sweden, eight days before Hitler approves of planned deportation.
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Postcard to the Red Cross in Krakow Regarding Search for Someone
2012.1.88
Green postcard lines with message written into pre-printed blanks.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A censored postcard written to the Red Cross in Cracow from R.Gutman in Litzmannstadt searching for someone.
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Members of the Nazi SS SIPO -Headed by Heydrich -Stationed in the East
2012.1.103
Front: A black and white photograph of three men in Nazi uniforms with pencil writing around the photograph.Back: Printed postcard lines and message written in pencil.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Real photo postcard from 1940 with picture of members of a commando unit of Heydrich's SIPO stationed in the East.
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"Israel" Envelope
2012.1.294
Grey envelope with typewritten address to Miss Anneliese Galliner. Back flap includes a stamped return address from Dr. Moritz Israel Galliner 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 is an "Israel" envelope from a Berlin doctor sent to New York City.
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French Deportation Order, Using Pretext of Presenting to Obtain New ID’s
2014.1.186
An order posted in the French city Champgny Sur Marne, which dictates that all "Israelites" present themselves to the mayor with identification in order to receive a new identity card.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: French Deportation Order. Broadside dated 26 September 1940 for City of Champgny Sur Marne. The French text orders all "Israelites" (i.e. Jews) to present themselves with identification to the mayor in order to get a new identity card, doubtless a pretext for deportation.
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Correspondence to Salome Goldstein, New York, New York (German Family Escapes the Holocaust)
2015.2.205abc
Envelope front: White envelope with rip on right side. Includes address written in black cursive ink, two circular black hand stamp and white censor tape.Envelope back: Return address written in ink on top flap with white censor tape and several pencil markings.Letter: Message written in English on write paper.Paper front: Ripped piece of paper with an address written in black ink with additional writing in pencil.Paper back: Printed black British Manufacture title with writing in pencil beneath.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Group of items pertaining to the timely escape of a Jewish family from persecution in Hitler's Germany. Includes: (2015.2.202) a legalized copy of a letter from Chase National Bank to the American Consul in Vienna, Nov. 19, 1938, stating that the American Louis Cohen wishes to be responsible for the entrance of Salome Goldstein to the U.S., and further states that he maintains accounts at the bank and has been etended credit; (2015.2.201) a British National Identity card issued to Goldstein and signed by her on May 23, 1940; (2015.2.203) a Jan. 25, 1939 notice that the German Jewish Aid Committee in London has retained Goldstein's passport which presumably will remain in their possession until her future status is determined; (2015.2.204ab) a May 5, 1939 letter from a Jewish dressmaker in London stating that business conditions do not permit her to hire Goldstein; (2015.2.205a-c) a letter from a Mrs. Hoffman in London to Goldstein's parents in the U.S. who had just made the crossing, with Mrs. Hoffman relieved that they had arrived alive; (2015.2.206) a May 3, 1939 postcard from a Jewish friend or relative mentioning Budapest; (2015.2.207) an envelope to Goldstein from Victoria Woolen Co. in New York.
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Censored Envelope sent from Central Council for Jewish Refugees in London to New York
2014.1.373
Front: Typed address to 'Hotel Marcy, 720, West End Avenue, New York'. Back: Reverse type stamp, side label, 'Opened by Examiner 4811'.
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Treuhandstelle Letter
2015.2.74
Tan paper with printed return address in upper left corner, with a little typewritten and handwriting added in ink. A word in a box beneath the address is underlined in red. Typewritten message in German. Black ink signature in lower righthand corner with purple hand stamp with Nazi eagle.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The Haupttrehandstelle Ost (HTO) was established in 1939 by Hermann Goering as a department of his Four Year Plan to confiscate Polish and Jewish property and assets in German-occupied Poland. There were branch offices in a number of cities. This document letterhead reads Main Trust Office East, Trust office Poznan, branch Litzmannstadt. This letter, typed in German, is addressed to a Mr. Alfred Prenzlau, the Commissarial Trustee of the Josef Sas Company in Litzmannstadt (formerly the Polish city of Lodz). He is being recalled from the administration of the iron foundry Ksawera Trabczynski and is requested to return his certificate of appointment. As well he must hand over his final report and invoice. One Mr. Alexander von Gunther is to take over the factory. The letter is stamped with the HTO Litzmannstadt handstamp.
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Palestinian Citizenship Application from Polish Refugee
2014.1.451
Front: Tan form titled, "Particulars Relating to Applicant" with text in English, Hebrew and Arabic. Includes a black and white photograph of a man.Back: Information in English, Hebrew and Arabic from the Government of Palestine.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The 30 year-old applicant from Bialystock applies for citizenship in Palestine under a British Mandate. He eventually becomes a naturalized citizen of Palestine.
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Postcard from "Sara"
2015.2.94
Message written vertically in black cursive ink. Back: Pink printed postcard lines. Return address in upper left corner written in ink. Beneath it is vertical message written in ink. Address printed on written lines on right side. Blue Mit Luftpost stick beneath address. Two pasted stamps in upper right: purple of man in profile facing left, and red of man in profile facing left. Each has a black circular stamp with Swastika in it. To the left of them is an Examiner stamp with a crown in blue.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Sara Cover
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“Sara” Envelope to International Committee of the Red Cross, Central Agency for Prisoners of War in Switzerland
2012.1.290
Tan envelope with typewritten address to the "Comité International de la Croix Rouge, Agence Centrale Des Prisonniers de Guerre" (International Committee of the Red Cross, Central Agency for Prisoners of War). Includes typewritten return address on back flap to Erna Sara Kahn 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.
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Postcard in Yiddish
2012.1.357
Tan postcard with green printed postcard lines and decorative border. Addressed to "Herrn Oberrall" and Natahn Grünbürg. Includes a message written in Yiddish.
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Free French Forces in Great Britain Cover to Hardwood Terrace in Dublin, Ireland
2019.2.130
Envelope with red postage stamp marked “POSTAGE REVENUE,” addressed to Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Stephens. Back stamped with “FORCES FRANCAISES LIBRES” in purple ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The Free French were led by Charles de Gaulle in England subsequent to the French loss in the Battle of France with Germany. Double ring Forces Francaises Libres censor hand stamp verso.
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Photograph of Peysya Farberman
2019.2.17
Black and white photograph of young man in a collared, dark shirt.
[Related items: 2019.2.16, 2019.2.18, 2019.2.19]
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: A photo marked “Moscow” verso” with date March 22, 1941, tucked inside passport.
Farberman was a young Ukrainian Jew living in Kamianets Podilskyi during the early German occupation of the town. Farberman’s fate is unknown, but Kamianets Podilskyi was the site of an early massacre by the Nazis shortly after the commencement of Operation Barbarossa in 1941. Jeckeln’s Einsatzgruppen and Police Battalion 320, along with Ukrainian Auxiliaries, slaughtered in two days close to 24,000 Jews from the town along with 16,000 Jews removed from Hungary. The killing of Jews continued through 1942, and in November of that year they murdered 500 children by burying them alive in the cemetery. The last of the Jews were murdered in the winter of 1942 and 1943.
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Fragebogen for Jewish Physician Izrael Helman in Warsaw, Poland
2019.2.219
Form titled “Fragebogen zur erstmaligen Meldung der Heilberufe,” stamped with “JUDE” between two Stars of David at top, photograph of man on right side, three pages.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Ink stamped “Jude” between two Stars of David, the hand written answers to the questionnaire can be discerned under the typewritten response. His wife is listed as well, as are the grandparents of each. Along with his photo, his signature appears at bottom of page 3.