Overview
- Description
- The papers consist of Holocaust-era documents and photographs relating to the Spett family, originally of Tarnów, Poland. Documents include identification papers, marriage certificate, work registration document, a document confirming that Sala Spett was a prisoner in Bergen-Belsen, and a DP index card issued by the Allied Expeditionary Force to Arthur Spett. Photographs include pre-war and post-war family photographs, and a group of Army Signal Corps photographs likely depicting the liberation of Dachau.
- Date
-
inclusive:
circa 1930-1946
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Martin Spett and family In memory of Arthur and Sala Spett
- Collection Creator
- Martin Spett
- Biography
-
Monius (later Martin) Spett was born on December 2, 1928, in Tarnow, Poland. In September 1939, the city was occupied by Nazi Germany. In 1940, the German authorities removed Monius and his family from their apartment. During the first massacre of Jews, Monius hid in an attic. The family was able to hide during two more roundups. In May 1943, the family was registered, allegedly to be exchanged for German prisoners of war, because Monius' mother, Sala, was born in the United States. They were taken by train to Krakow and then to Bergen Belsen concentration camp in Germany. They were to be transported to Theresienstadt ghetto labor camp in German occupied Czechoslovakia, but the Allied troops' advance stopped the transport. Monius was liberated by American troops on April 13, 1945. After the war, he spent some time in Belgium and then immigrated to the United States in 1947.
Physical Details
- Genre/Form
- Identification cards. Photographs. Certificates.
- Extent
-
1 folder
- System of Arrangement
- The collection is arranged as a single series.
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
Administrative Notes
- Holder of Originals
-
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The papers were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990 by Martin Spett.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-02-24 14:20:53
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn521606
Download & Licensing
- In Copyright - Use Permitted
- Terms of Use
- This record is not digitized and cannot be downloaded online.
In-Person Research
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-
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Contact Us
Also in Martin Spett collection
The collection consists of an armband, a brooch, soap, documents, and photographs relating to the experiences of Monek (Martin) Spett and his family in Tarnow, Poland, and Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Holocaust, and in Belgium after the Holocaust.
Date: 1939-1946
Pin made by a concentration camp inmate bought by 2 child inmates for their mother
Object
Floral cloth brooch given to Sala Spett by her children, Monius (later Martin) and Rozia, while the family was imprisoned in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany between May 1943 and April 1945. It was bought on her birthday, May 19, 1943, "as a remembrance by my children, Rozia, 9, and Monius, 14, and my husband, for a slice of bread which meant a day's hunger in Bergen-Belsen." The brooch was handmade by a young girl from Warsaw who was in their camp. The family was from Tarnow, Poland. Sala was an American citizen raised in Poland. Her husband worked at the city's tax office. After the German occupation in September 1939, the family lived in the ghetto and in hiding. In 1943, they were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They were liberated while on an evacuation train by American troops on April 13, 1945. The Spett family emigrated to the United States in 1947.
White armband with a blue embroidered Star of David worn by a Polish Jewish youth
Object
Armband with a blue embroidered Star of David owned by Monek Spett. Monek lived in Tarnow, Poland, with his parents and younger sister Roslyn. His mother was an American citizen raised in Poland. His father worked at the city's tax office. After the German occupation began in September 1939, the family lived in the ghetto and in hiding. In 1943, they were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They were liberated while on an evacuation train by American troops on April 13, 1945. The Spett family emigrated to the United States in 1947.
Soap used by a Polish Jewish concentration camp inmate
Object
Soap used by Monek Spett. Monek lived in Tarnow, Poland, with his parents and younger sister Roslyn. His mother was an American citizen raised in Poland. His father worked at the city's tax office. After the German occupation began in September 1939, the family lived in the ghetto and in hiding. In 1943, they were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They were liberated whil on an evacuation train by American troops on April 13, 1945. The Spett family emigrated to the United States in 1947.
