Silberschmidt Family Collection

Contains documents, photographs, and correspondence illustrating the experiences of Julianne Elise and her husband Fritz Silberschmidt, who fled Germany in 1939, leaving behind extended family. Included in the correspondence are a number of letters from Selma and Rudolf Silberschmidt, mother and brother of Fritz. Rudolph was deported and did not survive; Selma survived in hiding in the Netherlands. Also included are military documents issued to Selma's husband, a veteran of WWI who passed away in 1927, as well as documents illustrating efforts of Fritz and Julianne to leave in 1939.

Red checked towel embroidered ES saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Red windowpane checked dish towel monogrammed ES received as a wedding gift by Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt in 1933. It was one of a pair, and they received a matching black set as well. These towels were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled Cologne in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US in 1946.

Red checked towel embroidered ES saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Red windowpane checked dish towel monogrammed ES received as a wedding gift by Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt in 1933. It was one of a pair, and they received a matching black set as well. These towels were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled Cologne in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US in 1946.

Black checked towel embroidered ES saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Black windowpane checked dish towel monogrammed ES received as a wedding gift by Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt in 1933. It was one of a pair, and they received a matching red set as well. These towels were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled Cologne in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US in 1946.

Black checked towel embroidered ES saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Black windowpane checked dish towel monogrammed ES received as a wedding gift by Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt in 1933. It was one of a pair, and they received a matching red set as well. These towels were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled Cologne in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US in 1946.

Silver oak patterned tablespoon saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Silver oak leaf patterned spoon, one of three spoons brought with Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt when they escaped Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. These spoons were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Cologne. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled to Amsterdam in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US after the war in 1946.

Silver fiddle patterned tablespoon saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Silver spoon with a fiddle thread pattern, one of three spoons brought with Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt when they escaped Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. These spoons were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Cologne. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled to Amsterdam in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US after the war in 1946.

Silver fiddle patterned tablespoon saved by German Jewish refugees

Object

Silver spoon with a fiddle thread pattern, one of three spoons brought with Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt when they escaped Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. These spoons were among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Cologne. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities. Fritz and Juliane, and Fritz's mother Selma and brother Rudolph fled to Amsterdam in 1939. After Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was interned at Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam. After his release, he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined them in the US after the war in 1946.

Leather tallit pouch made by an inmate in a Dutch detention center

Object

Leather tallit bag made by Fritz Silberschmidt in Zeeburgerdijk quarantine center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in fall 1939. Fritz looked after an elderly orthodox rabbi who was ill and dying. The rabbi entrusted Fritz with his tallit, the prayer shawl that was his only possession and had been in his family for generations. Fritz saved and used the tallit for High Holidays for the rest of his life, and was buried in it upon his death in 1991. Fritz made shoes in the camp and secretly sewed this pouch from leather scraps he saved from work. It was pig leather, but Fritz felt since it was the only thing available, God would understand. He used the pouch to protect the tallit for over fifty years. Fritz, with his wife Juliane, mother Selma, and brother Rudolph fled Nazi Germany in 1939. Once Germany invaded Poland that September, even legal emigrants were detained as enemy aliens. Fritz was soon released and he and Juliane left for America in January 1940. Fritz's brother Rudolph was murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942. His mother survived in hiding and joined him in the US.

German book

Object

Novel brought with Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt when they escaped Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. It was among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Cologne. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities.

Haggadah

Object

Child's Hagadah brought with Fritz and Juliane Else Silberschmidt when they escaped Nazi Germany for the Netherlands in 1939. It was among the very few items that they were permitted to take with them when they left Cologne. The rest of the family's personal and household belongings were confiscated by German authorities.