Overview
- Description
- Documents, affidavits, passenger ship's ticket and copy photograph illustrating the experiences of Helene and Benjamin Taubmann and their daughter Natalie, who emigrated from Nazi-occupied Berlin to the United States in 1939. Ship's ticket for the Saturnia for Helene and Natalie dated December 1939. Affidavit of support provided by Claude Bayless of Los Angeles, CA.
- Date
-
creation:
1939
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Natalie Taubmann Tortolani
- Collection Creator
- Taubmann family
- Biography
-
Benjamin Taubmann (1902-1971) was born in Kiev, Russia (now Kyïv, Ukraine) to Jewish parents, David and Sara Taubmann. Helene Schneidmann (1907-1996) was born to Michael and Katharina (Sophia) Schneidmann in Tver, Russia, near Moscow. Around this time, about one half of the world’s Jewry lived in Russia. Pogroms against Jews were frequent, as were oppressive laws and restrictions. From 1914-1922, Russia fought and was defeated in World War I, which ultimately led to an overthrown monarchy and a civil war. During this chaotic period, violent antisemitism was widespread and many Jews emigrated from Russia, or they were part of lands ceded after defeat in WWI. Benjamin was living in Berlin, Germany, when he married Helene in April 1931.
In January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Anti-Jewish decrees were soon passed that restricted every aspect of Jewish life. The following year, Benjamin and Helene’s daughter, Natalie (later Natalie Tortolani, b. 1934) was born in Berlin. After enduring several years of increasing persecution against Jews in Germany, the family decided to emigrate. Benjamin obtained an affidavit and sponsorship from Claude Bayless, a Purple Heart veteran of the US Army. Benjamin sailed alone from Hamburg aboard the SS Hansa, arriving in New York City on June 9, 1939. Helene and Natalie followed that winter aboard the SS Saturnia, which sailed from Genoa, Italy. They arrived in New York on December 21.
In the United States, Benjamin obtained a job at Minerva Art Ltd. in Manhattan, and Americanized their last name to Taubman. Later, the family moved to the Bronx and Benjamin became a self-employed painter. In April 1943, Benjamin and Helene had another child, Paul (b. 1943). In August 1945, Benjamin became a naturalized citizen. Helene became a citizen in December 1946, and Americanized her name to Helen. Natalie trained as a ballet dancer, and attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. All four members of the family eventually relocated to Rhode Island, where Natalie settled with her husband, Robert Tortolani, and raised a family.
Physical Details
- Language
- English
- Genre/Form
- Affidavits.
- 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
- Jews--Germany--Berlin.
- Geographic Name
- United States--Emigration and immigration.
- Corporate Name
- Saturnia (Ship)
Administrative Notes
- Holder of Originals
-
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- Donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2014 by Natalie Taubmann Tortolani.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-02-24 13:44:36
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn107970
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-
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Also in Natalie Taubmann Tortolani family collection
The collection consists of a 1918 banknote, affidavits, documents, a ship ticket, and a photograph copy relating to the experiences of Helene and Benjamin Taubmann, and their daughter Natalie, in Berlin, Italy, and the United States before the Holocaust.
Date: 1918-1939
1918 bank note brought to the United States by a Jewish family fleeing Nazi Germany
Object
Banknote acquired by the Taubmann family, valued at 250 rubles. The note was issued between 1918 and 1920, by the government of the Don Cossack province in Russia, prior to the Bolshevik occupation. Between 1917 and 1922, Russia became embroiled in civil war, fought largely between the Bolshevik Red Army and the oppositional White Army. The area of Ukraine, including Kiev, became a heavily-contested area. During the war, these notes were accepted currency among allies of the White Russians. The war and widespread antisemitism caused many Jews to emigrate from Russia during this time. Benjamin Taubmann (1902-1971) was born in Kiev, Russia (now Kyïv, Ukraine) to Jewish parents. In April 1931, Benjamin was living in Berlin, Germany, when he married Helene Schneidmann (1907-1996), who was born in Tver, Russia, near Moscow. The year after Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, Benjamin and Helene’s daughter, Natalie (b. 1934) was born. After enduring several years of increasing persecution against Jews in Germany, the family decided to emigrate. Benjamin preceded his family, arriving in New York City on June 9, 1939. Helene and Natalie followed that winter, and arrived on December 21. In April 1943, Benjamin and Helene had another child, Paul (b. 1943). All four members of the family eventually relocated to Rhode Island, where Natalie settled with her husband, Robert Tortolani, and raised a family.
