Overview
- Description
- The collection consists of three wartime photographs depicting the Bieberstein family, including Kazimierz Bieberstein (later Casimir Biebers), his brother Tadeusz Bieberstein, and his mother Irena Bieberstein. The photographs were taken around the time the family was forced into the Warsaw ghetto and were intended for false identification papers that would enable the family to leave Poland, but the images were never used for that purpose.
- Date
-
creation:
circa 1942
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Casimir Biebers
- Collection Creator
- Casimir Biebers
- Biography
-
Kazimierz Bieberstein (later Casimir Biebers, 1931-2014) was born on March 16, 1931 to Szymon and Irena Bieberstein. His brother Tadeusz was born in 1925. Szymon was able to leave Poland in 1939 and arrived in the United States in 1941. Irena and her sons remained in Warsaw, and were forced into the ghetto in 1940. Kazimierz’s mother bribed a German guard with gold coins to protect him during a selection. With the help of Romuald Kaszynski, the father of one of Tadeusz's friends, the family was able to escape from the ghetto. At one point Kazimierz was staying with a Polish prostitute who catered to German officers, and he was also on a farm for which they paid a great deal of money for him to stay there. Kazimierz used the false identity of Jerzy Krasucki, Irena became Irena Lasocka, and Tadeusz became Romuald Kaouseweski. Tadeusz was hidden by the Kaszynski family along with their grandfather, and Irena was hidden by an aunt who was Volkdeutsche. Only one aunt was aware of where everyone was hidden. After their liberation by the Soviet Army, the family was reunited. They returned to their apartment in Warsaw which was still standing. The family then went to Sweden where they received visas to immigrate to the United States. After a brief stay in Canada, they arrived in the United States where they were reunited with Szymon.
Physical Details
- Genre/Form
- Photographs.
- Extent
-
1 folder
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- There are no known restrictions on access to this material.
- Conditions on Use
- Material(s) in this collection may be protected by copyright and/or related rights. You do not require further permission from the Museum to use this material. The user is solely responsible for making a determination as to if and how the material may be used.
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Jewish ghettos--Poland--Warsaw.
- Geographic Name
- Warsaw (Poland)
- Personal Name
- Biebers, Casimir. Bieberstein, Irena. Bieberstein, Tadeusz.
Administrative Notes
- Holder of Originals
-
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The photographs were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum by Casimir Biebers in 2002.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-02-24 14:04:28
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn510968
Download & Licensing
- In Copyright - Use Permitted
- Terms of Use
- This record is not digitized and cannot be downloaded online.
In-Person Research
- Request 7 Days in Advance of Visit
- Plan a Research Visit
-
Request in Shapell Center Reading Room
Bowie, MD
Contact Us
Also in Casimir Biebers collection
The collection consists of photographs and three-dimensional objects relating to Casimir Biebers' donor life in the ghetto of Warsaw, Poland, during the Holocaust
Date: approximately 1942
Wallet
Object
The wallet is rectangular and is made of brown leather. The photographs included in the Casimir Biebers collection (2002.141.1) were kept in this wallet by the donor
Shorts
Object
The shorts are constructed of off-white fabric with a drawstring closing at top (string missing). Casimir Biebers donor wore these shorts as a child while begging for food in the ghetto in Warsaw, Poland, and while in hiding during the Holocaust
Sock
Object
The sock is made of beige fabric with a vertical, geometric pattern and has a border along the top opening. The sock has been patched because of holes. Casimir Biebers donor wore this sock as a child while begging for food in the ghetto in Warsaw, Poland, and while in hiding during the Holocaust
Sock
Object
The sock is made of beige with a vertical, ribbed pattern and a ribbed border along the top opening. Gray fabric is sewn along the bottom. Casimir Biebers donor wore this sock as a child while begging for food in the ghetto in Warsaw, Poland, and while in hiding during the Holocaust