Papers of Rabbi René Hirschler (RG 221)

Document | Digitized | Accession Number: 2014.336 | RG Number: RG-67.045M

Overview

Description: The papers of René Hirschler consist of carbon copies of outgoing correspondence from the office of the chief chaplain. Included are letters to the network of regional chaplains and auxiliary chaplains, individuals interned in internment camps, hospitals, in the Groupements de Travailleurs Etrangers (foreign labor battalions). Also included are letters to individuals involved in the effort to provide assistance to foreign Jews in France during World War II; to Vichy government officials and to Jewish and non Jewish organizations. The collection is fragmentary and covers only the last nine months of Rabbi Hirschler’s administrative records, covering the period March 31, 1943 to December 20, 1943.
Date: inclusive: 1943-1943
Collection Creator: René Hirschler
Biography: Rabbi Rene Hirschler (1905-1945) was a Chief Chaplain for foreign-born Jews in internment camps in the French free zone (1943). Performed relief work in concentration camps, detention and forced labor camps and was active in underground efforts for Jews in hiding. Died in the concentration camp Ebensee a few weeks before the end of the war.

Language: French
Genre/Form: Correspondence.
Extent: 5,568 digital images : JPEG ; 12.1 GB.
4 microfilm reels (digitized) ; 35 mm.
System of Arrangement: Arranged in one series: Correspondence. Organized chronologically, from March through December 1943, it reflects the original order of the correspondence as it was generated and kept.

Conditions on Access: This material can only be accessed in a Museum reading room or other on-campus viewing stations. No other access restrictions apply to this material.
Conditions on Use: For scholarly use only, no reproduction without permission. Files shall not be copied or shared in any way with another individual or institution. Information on these files of a personal or confidential nature shall not be shared with third parties, neither through hard copy printouts nor by making copied files. For permission to reproduce documents write to the Chief Archivist, YIVO Archives at: reference@yivo.org.
Copyright Holder: Yivo Institute for Jewish Research

Topical Term: World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities--France. World War War, 1939-1945--Refugees--France. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--France. World War War, 1939-1945--Rescues--France. Jews--Nazi persecution--France--History--20th centry. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--France. Humanitarian assistance. Resistance Groups (ushmm) Executive departments.
Geographic Name: France--History--German occupation, 1940-1945. France--Politics and government--1940-1945. Gers (France)--Politics and government. Marseille (France) Paris (France) Villeneuve-sur-Lot (France) Lyon (France) United States. France.
Personal Name: Babsky, A. Hirschler, Rene, 1905-1945. Hirschler, Simone. Lipschitz, Mme. Schwartz, Isaïe, 1876-1952. Zasslowsky, Jean. M.
Corporate Name: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Brens (Concentration camp) Friends Relief Service Gurs (Concentration camp) International Committee of the Red Cross Le Vernet (Concentration camp) National Board of the Young Men’s Christian Associations Nexon (Concentration camp) Noé (Concentration camp) World Union OSE Union générale des israélites de France

Holder of Originals: Yivo Institute for Jewish Research
Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: Source of acquisition is the Yivo Institute for Jewish Research (YIVO), RG-221. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives received the collection from YIVO via the United States Holocaust Museum International Archives Project in Dec. 2014.