Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Shana Tova (New Year's) card received by Ber and Mirka Miklin at Rosh Hashanah while they were living Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany. The card has an image of a sailing ship and a building with palm tree. Ber and Mirka married in the DP camp on September 14, 1946. Rosh Hashanah was on September 26. Ber was from Latvia which was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. The German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 deployed mobile killing units which, assisted by Latvian and Lithuanian auxiliaries, slaughtered nearly all Latvian Jews. Those with skills useful to the Germans were put in work camps. Ber and his family were tailors and shoemakers, and they were imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto in Riga. In summer 1943, his father and two married sisters were sent to nearby Kaiserwald concentration camp and killed. Ber and his brothers Philip and Dawid were sent to Stuffhof where his brothers perished. Ber was transferred to Burggraben and then Lauenburg subcamp. He escaped when it was evacuated in January 1945 by death march. The war ended in May 1945 and Ber left Soviet controlled Warsaw for Germany. Mirka Kestenberg was from Nowa Slupia, Poland. She was sent to Starochowice labor camp with her two sisters in October 1942. In December 1944, she was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In February 1945, she escaped during a train transport to Mauthausen. Both her sisters survived, but the rest of her family were killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Ber, Mirka, and their two year old son left for America in November 1949.
- Date
-
received:
approximately 1946 September
- Geography
-
received:
Neu Freimann (Displaced persons camp);
Neufreimann (Munich, Germany)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Marian Miklin
- Markings
- front, left, black ink : Hebrew text [Shana Tova; A Good Year]
front, bottom right, black ink : NACHDRUK VERBOTEN [Reprint forbidden]
reverse, repeating pattern, gray ink : Agfa-Lupex
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Information Forms
- Category
-
Greeting cards
- Object Type
-
New Year cards (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Small greeting card on rectangular photographic paper with an image of an ink drawing of a 3-masted sailing ship on jagged waves in the lower left. There is an image of modern, multistory buildings with a palm tree and a flag within a white circle in the upper right. The background is stippled gray. There is Hebrew text in the upper left and German text in the lower right.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm) | Width: 3.625 inches (9.208 cm)
- Materials
- overall : photographic paper, ink
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Concentration camp inmates--Poland--Biography. Death marches--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--Germany--Biography. Women concentration camp inmates--Poland--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The greeting card was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Marian Miklin, the wife of Beryl Miklin.
- Funding Note
- The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-07-28 18:28:28
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn513164
Also in Beryl and Marian Miklin collection
The collection consists of a blanket, a concentration camp uniform cap, four greeting cards, two pattern books, and photographs relating to the experiences of Beryl Miklin in Stutthof concentration camp in Poland during the Holocaust, and to the experiences of Beryl and Marian Miklin in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany after the Holocaust.
Date: 1944-1947
Wool blanket found by a Jewish Latvian concentration camp prisoner after escaping a death march
Object
One of two wool blankets found by Ber (later Beryl) Miklin, and used during and after a death march from Stutthof concentration camp in January 1945. Originally green, Ber dyed this blanket blue and used the other to make a pair of pants. Ber, his wife, parents, two sisters, and two brothers were forced into the Riga ghetto in Latvia in September 1941 by the German occupying forces. Ber’s mother and wife died, and his youngest brother fled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Ber and his elder brother were transported to the Riga-Kaiserwald concentration camp in August 1943, and were assigned to forced labor. Ber’s father, sisters, and his sisters’ families were also sent to Kaiserwald, but later killed. The camp was evacuated in the summer of 1944, and most of the prisoners were deported to Stutthof concentration camp in German-occupied Poland. Ber and his brother David were in Stutthof for about six months, and David likely died during this time. On January 25, 1945, the SS began evacuating Stutthof, and Ber was among the prisoners sent on a death march. Ber escaped the march, and hid in the nearby forest. He traveled to Poznań, where local farmers allowed him to work in exchange for food. After the war, Ber moved multiple times before landing in the displaced persons (DP) camps near Munich. In the Neu Freimann DP camp, Ber met and married fellow-survivor Mirka (later Marian) Kestenberg. They had their first son in 1947, and immigrated to the United States in the fall of 1949. After a year in El Paso, Texas, the family relocated to Denver, Colorado, and had two more children.
Concentration camp uniform cap worn by a Jewish Latvian prisoner
Object
Blue and gray striped prisoner uniform cap worn by Ber (later Beryl) Miklin in Stutthof concentration camp from the fall of 1944 to early 1945. Ber, his wife, parents, two sisters, and two brothers were forced into the Riga ghetto in Latvia in September 1941 by the German occupying forces. Ber’s mother and wife died, and his youngest brother fled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Ber and his elder brother were transported to the Riga-Kaiserwald concentration camp in August 1943, and were assigned to forced labor. Ber’s father, sisters, and his sisters’ families were also sent to Kaiserwald, but later killed. The camp was evacuated in the summer of 1944, and most of the prisoners were deported to Stutthof concentration camp in German-occupied Poland. Ber and his brother David were in Stutthof for about six months, and David likely died during this time. On January 25, 1945, the SS began evacuating Stutthof, and Ber was among the prisoners sent on a death march. Ber escaped the march, and hid in the nearby forest. He traveled to Poznań, where local farmers allowed him to work in exchange for food. After the war, Ber moved multiple times before landing in the displaced persons (DP) camps near Munich. In the Neu Freimann DP camp, Ber met and married fellow-survivor Mirka (later Marian) Kestenberg. They had their first son in 1947, and immigrated to the United States in the fall of 1949. After a year in El Paso, Texas, the family relocated to Denver, Colorado, and had two more children.
Rosh Hashanah card with a photo of a young couple received by a Jewish couple in Neu Freimann dp camp
Object
Shana Tova (New Year's) card received by Ber and Mirka Miklin in 1947 from Ber's friend Zsi Nisan and his wife while they were living in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany. The card has a photograph of a young, smiling couple. Ber and Mirka married in the DP camp on September 14, 1946. Ber and his family lived in Latvia which was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. After the German invasion of Latvia in June 1941, Ber and his family were imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto in Riga. In summer 1943, his father Motel and two married sisters, Lena and Zippora, were sent to nearby Kaiserwald concentration camp and killed. Ber and his brothers Philip and Dawid were sent to Stuffhof where his brothers perished. Ber was transferred to Burggraben and then Lauenburg subcamp. He escaped when it was evacuated in January 1945 by death march. The war ended in May 1945 and Ber left Soviet controlled Warsaw for Germany. He settled in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp where he married 20 year old Mirka Kestenberg in September 1946. Mirka was deported from Nowa Slupia, Poland, to Starochowice labor camp with her two sisters in October 1942. In December 1944, she was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In February 1945, she escaped during a train transport to Mauthausen. Both her sisters survived, but the rest of her family were killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Ber, Mirka, and their two year old son left for America in November 1949.
Rosh Hashanah card with their photo made by newlyweds in Neu Freimann dp camp
Object
Shana Tova (New Year's) card with their photo made by Ber and Mirka Miklin in 1946 while they were living in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany. Ber and Mirka married in the DP camp on September 14, 1946. Rosh Hashanah was on September 26. Ber and his family lived in Latvia which was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. After the German invasion of Latvia in June 1941, Ber and his family were imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto in Riga. In summer 1943, his father Motel and two married sisters, Lena and Zippora, were sent to nearby Kaiserwald concentration camp and killed. Ber and his brothers Philip and Dawid were sent to Stuffhof where his brothers perished. Ber was transferred to Burggraben and then Lauenburg subcamp. He escaped when it was evacuated in January 1945 by death march. The war ended in May 1945 and Ber left Soviet controlled Warsaw for Germany. He settled in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp where he married 20 year old Mirka Kestenberg in September 1946. Mirka was deported from Nowa Slupia, Poland, to Starochowice labor camp with her two sisters in October 1942. In December 1944, she was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In February 1945, she escaped during a train transport to Mauthausen. Both her sisters survived, but the rest of her family were killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Ber, Mirka, and their two year old son left for America in November 1949.
Rosh Hashanah card with a photo of an Italian seaport received by newlyweds in Neu Freimann dp camp
Object
New Year's card received by Ber and Mirka Miklin in 1946 while they were living in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany. The card is from Mirka's sister Syma and her husband Heniek Gutsztejn and has an image of the seaside village, S. Maria di Bagni. Sima and Heniek, both concnetration camp survivors, had met and married in Janaury 1946 in a DP camp in Italy. Ber and Mirka met and married in the DP camp on September 14, 1946. Rosh Hashanah was on September 26. Ber and his family lived in Latvia which was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. After the German invasion of Latvia in June 1941, Ber and his family were imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto in Riga. In summer 1943, his father Motel and two married sisters, Lena and Zippora, were sent to nearby Kaiserwald concentration camp and killed. Ber and his brothers Philip and Dawid were sent to Stuffhof where his brothers perished. Ber was transferred to Burggraben and then Lauenburg subcamp. He escaped when it was evacuated in January 1945 by death march. The war ended in May 1945 and Ber left Soviet controlled Warsaw for Germany. He settled in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp where he married 20 year old Mirka Kestenberg in September 1946. Mirka was deported from Nowa Slupia, Poland, to Starochowice labor camp with her two sisters in October 1942. In December 1944, she was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In February 1945, she escaped during a train transport to Mauthausen. Both her sisters survived, but the rest of her family were killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Ber, Mirka, and their two year old son left for America in November 1949.
Workbook of clothing patterns drawn by a Jewish refugee for an ORT class
Object
Pattern book made by Ber Miklin during his tailoring course with the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT). He took the course in 1946-47 while living in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany with his wife, Mirka. Ber and his family lived in Latvia which was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. After the German invasion of Latvia in June 1941, Ber and his family were imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto in Riga. In summer 1943, his father Motel and two married sisters, Lena and Zippora, were sent to nearby Kaiserwald concentration camp and killed. Ber and his brothers Philip and Dawid were sent to Stuffhof where his brothers perished. Ber was transferred to Burggraben and then Lauenburg subcamp. He escaped when it was evacuated in January 1945 by death march. The war ended in May 1945 and Ber left Soviet controlled Warsaw for Germany. He settled in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp where he married 20 year old Mirka Kestenberg in September 1946. Mirka was deported from Nowa Slupia, Poland, to Starochowice labor camp with her two sisters in October 1942. In December 1944, she was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In February 1945, she escaped during a train transport to Mauthausen. Both her sisters survived, but the rest of her family were killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Ber, Mirka, and their two year old son left for America in November 1949.
Workbook of clothing patterns drawn by a Jewish refugee for an ORT class
Object
Pattern book made by Ber Miklin during his tailoring course with the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT). He took the course while living in the Neu Freimann displaced persons camp in Germany with his wife, Mirka. Ber and his family lived in Latvia which was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. After the German invasion of Latvia in June 1941, Ber and his family were imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto in Riga. In summer 1943, his father Motel and two married sisters, Lena and Zippora, were sent to nearby Kaiserwald concentration camp and killed. Ber and his brothers Philip and Dawid were sent to Stuffhof where his brothers perished. Ber was transferred to Burggraben and then Lauenburg subcamp. He escaped when it was evacuated in January 1945 by death march. The war ended in May 1945 and Ber left Soviet controlled Warsaw for Germany. He settled in Neu Freimann displaced persons camp where he married 20 year old Mirka Kestenberg in September 1946. Mirka was deported from Nowa Slupia, Poland, to Starochowice labor camp with her two sisters in October 1942. In December 1944, she was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In February 1945, she escaped during a train transport to Mauthausen. Both her sisters survived, but the rest of her family were killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Ber, Mirka, and their two year old son left for America in November 1949.
Marian Miklin photograph collection
Document
The Marian Miklin collection consists of seven photographs depicting Beryl and Marian Miklin and their life in Neu Freiman displaced persons camp.
