Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Single sided, printed, paper map of Theresienstadt ghetto labor camp acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel while imprisoned at the camp from late fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese was from Prague which was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
- Date
-
creation:
1941 November 24-1945 May 09
- Geography
-
depiction:
Theresienstadt (Concentration camp);
Terezin (Ustecky kraj, Czech Republic)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Hana Rehakova
- Markings
- front, all 4 corners, printed, black ink : BEZIRK [district]
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Elisabeth Trausel
- Biography
-
Elisabeth (Liese) Polacek (later Trausel) was born on November 4, 1902, in Prague, Austro-Hungary (Czech Republic), to Josef and Stefanie Polacek (Polatschek). Josef, a Jewish doctor, was born on November 2, 1870, in Austro-Hungary. Stefanie was born on March 3, 1875. The Austro- Hungarian Empire collapsed at the end of World War I (1914-1918) and Prague became part of the newly independent Czechoslovak Republic. Liese married a non-Jewish man, Mr. Trausel, and the couple had two daughters, Eva and Hana (later Rehakova), born on March 28, 1930.
After 1933, when the Nazi regime came to power in Germany, Prague saw a large influx of Jews fleeing persecution. On February 4, 1938, Liese’s mother, Stefanie, died. In September, Germany annexed the Sudetenland border region. In March 1939, Germany annexed the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia, where Prague was located, and placed them under the control of a Reich Protector. Other regions were absorbed by German allies and Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. Jewish life was restricted. Jews were banned from most professions and organizations, lost their property, and had to live with curfews. Few shops would serve Jews, who were allowed shop only during a few hours each day. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. Two days later, England and France declared war on Germany.
In September 1941, Czech Jews were required to wear a yellow Star of David badge sewn to their clothing at all times to make them easy to identify. Liese attached pointed hooks to her badge, which made it easy to remove when she needed to cross into an area of the city where Jews were not allowed. At the end of the month, Reinhard Heydrich, SS Chief of Security for the Reich, became Reich Protector, and prioritized the expulsion of Jews to concentration camps. Regular deportations of Jews from Prague began, with daily transport notices in the newspapers. Exempted from these deportations were several groups of Jews, including those that like Liese, were married to non-Jews and their half Jewish children. Also exempted were Jews who were considered sick or infirm, served as slave laborers in the war industry, or were employees of particular Jewish associations. As the war progressed, food rationing increased and was strictly controlled with official ration cards. Non-Jewish citizens were granted much larger quantities of sugar, potatoes, bread, and other necessities than Jews. They were also issued cards for additional items like fruit and vegetables, which were not available to Jews. The cards issued to Jews were marked to clearly identify them. Liese’s father Josef, learned that he was to be deported to the east, and committed suicide on December 13, 1942, rather than be taken away by force.
In January 1943, Liese sent a food parcel to Berta Deutsch, a relative living in the sealed-off Łódź (Litzmannstadt) ghetto, in German occupied Poland. In May, Heinrich Himmler ordered the deportation of all remaining Jews in the Reich, including Bohemia and Moravia, to concentration camps in the east or to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp, 40 miles north of Prague, by June 30. Many previously exempted Jews were deported following the new order, though Liese and her daughters were still exempt because of her non-Jewish husband. In December, Gestapo chief Heinrich Muller ordered that Jews whose marriages to non-Jews had ended in divorce or death were allowed to be transported to Theresienstadt. Liese was able to correspond with or send food parcels to several friends and relatives being held at Theresienstadt in 1943 and 1944, including Dr. Erwin Pick, Hedwig Pick, Berta Kassler, and Leo Polacek. A couple of times, she received postcards from them confirming the receipt of the food parcels she had sent.
On August 31, 1944, the Jewish Council of Prague issued a Bescheinigung, special pass, granting Liese permission to be out on the street at 5 am on September 1. Local authorities had assigned her compulsory work splitting mica, and the only way to carry out the work was to be out on the street by 5 am, which was before the curfew for Jews was lifted each day. Later that fall, Liese was placed on a transport to Theresienstadt. Conditions in the overcrowded camp were horrible, with little food and poor sanitary conditions, which aided the spread of disease. Thousands of prisoners died every month. In mid-April 1945, Liese sent a Zulassungsmarke, an official camp permit allowing the recipient to send a 20 kilogram parcel of food to an inmate, to her daughter Eva via the Jewish Council of Elders in Prague. They received the permit and summoned Eva to claim it, but she was carrying out compulsory work and did not receive the summons. Hana was at the hospital, so neither one knew Liese had requested the package.
On May 2, the International Red Cross took over Theresienstadt. The guards fled, and on May 9, the Soviet Army entered the camp and took control. The war had ended on May 7 with Germany’s surrender. Liese returned to Prague and was reunited with her family. They later learned that Erwin Pick, Hedwig Pick, Berta Kassler, and Leo Polacek had all been deported to concentration camps to the east and killed. Their relative Berta Deutsch had also been deported and killed, and likely never received the food parcel that Liese had sent her. Liese’s first husband was no longer part of her life. She remarried and took the surname Kredbova. Hana married, and began working for the Czechoslovak News Agency. Liese, 75, died on July 15, 1978, in Prague. Hana, 77, died on September 9, 2007.
Physical Details
- Language
- German
- Classification
-
Information Forms
- Category
-
Maps
- Object Type
-
Maps (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Map of a ghetto-labor camp printed on white paper that is gridded and labeled with Roman numerals, I-VII, on the vertical edges and letters, A-J, on the horizontal edges. The thin gridlines are labeled with a letter and number combination, L1-L6 for the horizontal lines and Q1-Q9 for the vertical lines. The perimeter of the camp has six sides. There are bastions, angular structures projecting outwards from fortification walls, on every corner as well as one each on the long horizontal top and bottom sides. The interior has square and rectangular shaped buildings that are identified with their corresponding position on the grid. Several buildings are further divided into smaller units which are separately numbered. The center and three other areas are filled with symbols, small circles with right angled tails that represent outdoor courtyards. The paper is very worn, it has a hole in the center and vertical and horizontal center creases that have torn almost completely.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 6.125 inches (15.558 cm) | Width: 8.500 inches (21.59 cm)
- Materials
- overall : paper, ink
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Concentration camp inmates--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj)--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Czech Republic--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Personal narratives, Czech. Jews--Czech Republic--Prague--Biography. Holocaust survivors--Czech Republic--Prague--Biography.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The map was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Hana Rehakova, the daughter of Elisabeth Trausel.
- Funding Note
- The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-05-17 13:29:55
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn5863
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Also in Elizabeth Trausel family collection
The collection consists of documents, scrip, and a Star of David badge that relating to the experience of Elisabeth Trausel in Prague and Theresienstadt ghetto labor camp and her father Josef, and their family in Prague during the Holocaust.
Date: 1940-1945
Star of David badge with Jude worn by a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Star of David badge worn by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel in German occupied Prague following the September 1, 1941 order requiring Jews in Czechoslovakia to wear the Yellow Star of David badge at all times. The badge has pins sewn in to allow for easy removal from clothing so as to not be identified as a Jew. This allowed Liese to partake in actions that were prohibited for Jews such as crossing streets which were not open to Jews or taking trips by street car. Prague was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 1 krone note
Object
Scrip valued at 1 krone acquired by to Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps..
Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 2 kronen note acquired by a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Scrip valued at 2 kronen acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 5 kronen note acquired by a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Scrip valued at 5 kronen acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 20 kronen note acquired by a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Scrip valued at for 20 kronen acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 50 kronen note acquired by a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Scrip valued at 50 kronen acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 100 kronen note acquired by a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Scrip valued at 100 kronen acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Postage stamp
Object
Elizabeth Trausel family collection
Document
The Elisabeth Trausel family collection consists of postcards sent to Elizabeth Trausel from relatives in the Theresienstadt ghetto. The contents of the postcards largely relate to receiving food parcels. The collection also includes ration cards issued in the ghetto, ghetto scrip, and a printed map of the ghetto.
Permit to be out past curfew issued to a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Special pass issued to Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel by the Jewish Council of Prague granting her permission to be out on the streets before curfew expired on September 1, 1944. Liese was assigned to work as a mica splitter and in order to arrive on time she needed to leave before curfew ended. Prague was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Sugar and coffee ration card stub issued to a Jewish Czech woman
Object
Ration card stub for nutrient and sugar, valid from September 18 – October 15, 1944, issued to Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel by the Ministry of Land and Forestry of Bohemia and Moravia. During the war food was strictly rationed in German controlled regions and Jews were allowed much smaller portions than the general public. To identify the owners as Jewish, the cards were first stamped with a large J and later the entire card was covered with inscriptions of “Jude’. Liese was from Prague, which was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Sugar and coffee substitute ration card stub issued to a Jewish Czech woman.
Object
Ration card stub for coffee substitute valid from February 8 – March 71943, issued to Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel by the Ministry of Land and Forestry. During the war food was strictly rationed in German controlled regions and Jews were allowed much smaller portions than the general public. To identify the owners as Jewish the cards were first stamped with a large J and later the entire card was covered with inscriptions of “Jude’. Liese was from Prague, which was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
Bread and flour ration card stub issued to a Jewish Czech man
Object
Ration card stub for bread rolls, wheat or wheat flour valid from November 23 – December 20, 1942 issued to Josef Polacek by the Ministry of Land and Forestry. During the war food was strictly rationed in German controlled regions and Jews were allowed much smaller portions than the general public. To identify the owners as Jewish, the cards were first stamped with a large J and later the entire card was covered with inscriptions of “Jude’. Josef lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939 by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Josef’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Josef was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify himself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. On December 13, 1942 Josef committed suicide rather than being deported east. On May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered, ending the war. Josef’s daughter, Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel and granddaughter, Hana Trausel (later Rehakova) survived the war.
Bread rolls and flour ration card stub issued to a Jewish Czech man
Object
Ration card stub for bread rolls, valid from July 6-August 2, 1942 issued to Josef Polacek by the Ministry of Land and Forestry. During the war food was strictly rationed and Jews were allowed much smaller portions than the general public. To identify them as Jewish the cards were first stamped with a large J and later the entire card was covered with inscriptions of “Jude’. Josef lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Josef’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Josef was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify himself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. On December 13, 1942 Josef committed suicide rather than being deported east. On May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered, ending the war. Josef’s daughter, Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel and granddaughter, Hana Trausel (later Rehakova) both survived the war.
Potato ration card stub issued to a Jewish Czech man for potatoes
Object
Ration card stub for potatoes, valid from September 29 1941 – July 5 1942 issued to Josef Polacek by the Ministry of Land and Forestry. During the war food was strictly rationed in German controlled regions and Jews were allowed much smaller portions than the general public. To identify the owners as Jewish the cards were first stamped with a large J and later the entire card was covered with inscriptions of “Jude’. Josef lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Josef’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Josef was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify himself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. On December 13, 1942 Josef committed suicide rather than being deported east. On May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered, ending the war. Josef’s daughter, Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel and granddaughter, Hana Trausel (later Rehakova) both survived the war.