Physical Description
Small, rectangular, light brown cardboard matchbook folder that has been flattened and the matches removed. It has a striker flap at the bottom of the back side. It forms a matchbook cover when folded along three horizontal score lines, which divide it into four rectangular panels; a front cover, spine, back cover, and a slightly worn striker flap that folds up and is stapled to the bottom end. The offwhite exterior is printed with 2 seals with an open winged eagle, 6 pointed Star of David, and a laurel wreath. English slogans are printed on both covers, the spine and the interior. It has 2 staple holes in the center of the striker flap and back side.
Dimensions
overall : 4.500 x 1.500 in. (11.43 x 3.81 cm.)
Materials
overall : cardboard, ink
Markings
front, center, above seal, printed, blue ink : FOR / HUMANITY’S SAKE
front, center, below seal, printed, blue ink : DON’T BUY / NAZI GOODS
front, bottom, printed, blue ink : SAFETY FIRST - CLOSE COVER
spine, center, printed, blue ink : JEWISH WAR / VETERANS OF U.S.
back, center above seal, printed, blue ink : FOR / HUMANITY’S SAKE
back, center, below seal, printed, blue ink : DON’T BUY / NAZI GOODS
spine, center, printed, blue ink : JEWISH WAR / VETERANS OF U.S.
Interior, printed, bold font, black ink : JEWISH WAR / VETERANS OF THE / UNITED STATES / 276 5th Ave. N. Y., N. Y. / Posts Throughout / United States
Contributor
Subject:
Max Beer
Biography
Max Beer was born on May 18, 1947, in Pocking, Germany, to Leib (Leo) and Gitla (later Genia) Paris Einzenberg Beer. Leo was born on August 1, 1909, in Uhnow, Poland (Uhniv, Ukraine), to Szulem and Gizela Thumin Beer. Leo had two brothers. Their parents got divorced, and in March 1929, Szulem immigrated to Canada. Leo worked as a carpenter and lived in Krakow, Poland. Genia was born on July 5, 1916, in Radom, Poland, to Chaim Mordechai and Ruchla Rent Paris. Gitla had two sisters, Freindel and Devora, and five younger brothers. She married Israel Einzenberg and they had a son. In the late 1930’s, Freindel was sent to Palestine, but the rest of the family stayed in Radom.
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and occupied Krakow and Radom. Jewish people in both cities were severely restricted by anti-Semitic policies put in place by German authorities. By April 1941, German forces had created closed ghettos for the Jewish population in both cities. In July, Leo escaped from the Krakow ghetto and made his way to the Soviet Union, where he joined the army. In March 1942, Gitla was transported from the Radom ghetto to Skarzysko - Kammienna forced labor camp in Poland. In June 1944, she was deported to a forced labor camp run by the Hugo Schneider Aktiengesellschaft Metalwarenfabrik (HASAG) in Leipzig, Germany. In August, Gitla was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp and was assigned prisoner number 636.
Leo was injured during a German attack on Soviet forces. He lost the use of his left arm and was transferred to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. On April 11, 1945, Buchenwald was liberated by the US Army. On May 7, Germany surrendered. Leo and Gitla met in Poland when they returned there after the war, but had to flee due to anti-Semitism and violent pogroms. By fall 1946, Leo and Gitla were at Poking displaced persons camp in the US zone southern Germany. They learned that all of their family members still in Poland had been murdered during the Holocaust. The couple got married at the camp, where their son Max was born. In 1949, Max’s grandfather, Szulem Beer, and Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS) helped Leo, Genia, and Max immigrate to Canada, where the family settled in Montreal.
