White pillowcase embroidered with a floral design recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
- Date
-
recovered:
1945 July
- Geography
-
recovery:
Vilmany (Hungary)
- Classification
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Furnishings and Furniture
- Category
-
Household linens
- Object Type
-
Pillowcases (lcsh)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Katie and George Frankfurter
Pillowcase returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillowcase to the Oppels to safeguard during the war.Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
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Record last modified: 2022-06-08 15:06:36
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn42620
Also in This Collection
George and Katie Frankfurter papers
Document
The George and Katie Frankfurter papers include documents relating to the experiences of Kato Ritter (later Katie Frankfurter) and her husband, Gyorgy Frankfurter (later George), who both survived concentration and slave labor camps. Documents relating to Kato include a handwritten list of items requested by Kato and her family in the Budapest ghetto from an uncle in Budapest, a personal account written on scrap paper while interned in Auschwitz-Birkenau and Peterswaldau labor camp, and correspondence relating to her immigration to the United States in 1951. The collection also includes post-war identification cards including a United Nations vaccination card and a registration certificate under her Americanized name, Ida Katie. Documents relating to Gyorgy include a letter from his cousin, Sidney Wells, about life in the United States, a United Nations vaccination card, identification cards and documentation from displaced persons camps in Germany, correspondence regarding his immigration in 1951, and post-war claims documentation.
Silver cup made in labor camp and later engraved with camp names where owner imprisoned
Object
Tall silver plated cup made in Peterswaldau slave labor camp where Kato was a slave laborer from 1944-1945. She made timing devices for explosives. The timers would be placed in plastic covers attached to these decorative cups which held the explosives. People would want to pick up the cups and when the lid was removed, they would explode. Kato was able to take one with her upon liberation. The cup was engraved in 1989 with a bible verse, her prisoner number, name, place of birth, and places where she was imprisoned: Kassa (Kosice) ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Peterswaldau, and the dates. Kato's husband George chose the Hebrew inscription, "Remember what Amalek did to you," from Deuteronomy:17 because Amalek attacked and killed the old and the weak just like the Nazis did, and we are charged to remember. When Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported one week later from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Small sampler with outline of a boy recovered by Hungarian Jewish woman
Object
Needlework sampler of a boy and a bird returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. The sampler was created around 1870 by her maternal great-grandmother, Pearl Klein Weissburg. Kato’s family gave the sampler to the Oppels to safeguard during the war prior to their deportation. When Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported one week later from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Small sampler with an embroidered girl recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman
Object
Needlework sampler of a girl holding a box returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. The sampler was created around 1870 by her maternal great-grandmother, Pearl Klein Weissburg. Kato’s family gave the sampler to the Oppels to safeguard during the war prior to their deportation. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Hallah cover with an embroidered blue bachelor button flower recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Hallah cover returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the hallah cover to the Oppels to safeguard prior to their deportation during the war. It was embroidered by Kato’s mother, Gizella Weissburg Ritter, in prewar Hungary. It was used to cover the two braided bread loaves, challah, at the beginning of a Shabbat meal. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Pillow sham with elaborate whitework embroidery and a crocheted border recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Pillow sham returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillow sham to the Oppels to safeguard prior to their deportation during the war. It was embroidered by Kato’s mother, Gizella Ritter, in prewar Hungary. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Large embroidered white pillowcase with scalloped edges recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Pillowcase returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillowcase to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Large embroidered white pillowcase with scalloped edges recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman after concentration camps
Object
Pillowcase returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillowcase to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Large embroidered white pillowcase with scalloped edges recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Pillowcase returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillowcase to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
White pillowcase embroidered with a floral design recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Pillowcase returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillowcase to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Large white pillowcase embroidered with a floral design recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Pillowcase returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the pillowcase to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Apron with a garland of multicolored floral embroidery recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Linen apron returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the apron to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Kato's initials were originally monogrammed between the red triangles. The Oppels removed the monogram from this, and other items, because they did not want to appear to have aided Jews if their home were raided. Kato wove the linen for the apron from flax plants grown on her family’s farm, and embroidered it in 1939. The family made their own noodles and, when doing so, always wore long aprons that covered them from their waist to their ankles. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Embroidered tablecloth with a blue floral design with birds recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Counted cross stitch tablecloth returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the tablecloth to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. It was embroidered by Kato’s cousin, Suzanne Szakely, in the 1930s. In March 1944, Germany occupied Hungary and, one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were sent to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau slave labor camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in May 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany. Her cousin, Suzanne, presumably perished during a forced march from Budapest, Hungary.
Fringed apron with a band of blue and yellow geometric embroidery recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Linen apron with embroidered band returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the apron to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. Kato wove the linen for the apron from flax plants grown on her family’s farm, and embroidered it in 1941. The family made their own noodles and, when doing so, always wore long aprons that covered them from their waist to their ankles. In March 1944, Germany occupied Hungary and, one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were sent to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau slave labor camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in May 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Table runner with a redwork and tatted design recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Embroidered table runner returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the table runner to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. In March 1944, Germany occupied Hungary and, one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were sent to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau slave labor camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in May 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Tablecloth with an embroidered multicolored floral design recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Embroidered tablecloth returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the tablecloth to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. In March 1944, Germany occupied Hungary and, one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were sent to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau slave labor camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in May 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Lace tablecloth with an embroidered white floral design recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Embroidered lace tablecloth returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. It was made from fishnet string that the women would collect from the fisherman as they tended their torn nets. It was given as a gift to one of Kato's aunts. Kato’s family gave the tablecloth to the Oppels to safeguard during the war. In March 1944, Germany occupied Hungary and, one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were sent to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau slave labor camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in May 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.
Sampler with a red embroidered design of a woman and a cat recovered by a Hungarian Jewish woman from her neighbors
Object
Needlework sampler of a woman and a cat returned to 20 year old Kato Ritter by her Catholic neighbors, the Oppel family, in Vilmany, Hungary, in July 1945. Kato’s family gave the sampler to the Oppels to safeguard prior to their deportation during the war. It was embroidered by Kato with the help of her mother, Gizella Ritter, in 1932. The family used it as a wall hanging. Nazi Germany occupied Hungary in March 1944, and one week later, 19 year old Kato, her parents, David and Gizella, and her 17 year old sister, Julianna, were deported from Vilmany to the Jewish ghetto in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. From there, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where everyone but Kato was gassed upon arrival. Kato was selected for forced labor, and sent to Peterswaldau concentration camp. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945. Kato returned to Vilmany.