Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Bath towel used by Franka Rosenblum, 25, that she stole from a Burgermeister's house in Sachsendorf, Germany, in April 1945 after her escape during a death march from Ravensbrueck concentration camp. She also took a blanket, 1993.27.33, a dress, and a blouse. Franka and her family lived in Zawiercie, Poland, which was invaded by Germany in September 1939. She was a forced laborer in a steel mill and involved with the resistance movement. On August 26, 1943, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she was shaved, given rags to wear, and tattooed with the number 56362. She worked in a hospital, then a Krupp ammunition factory. In January 1945, she was forced on marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig, where she escaped and hid. The area was soon liberated and she was relocated to a refugee camp in France. Her family in Poland was killed. In Paris, she encountered Julian Hirshfeld, whom she had known before and during the war. Julian, originally from Łódź, was transported from 1942-1945 to several concentration camps because his skills as a textile engineer were valuable to the Germans. He was interned at Birkenau, Auschwitz, Goleshau, and liberated in April 1945 at Buchenwald. His first wife Hela and 10 year old daughter Fryda were murdered in Auschwitz. Franka and Julian married on September 26, 1946. A few months later, Franka and their infant daughter emigrated to the United States. Julian followed in 1949.
- Date
-
found:
1945 April
use: 1945 May-1946
- Geography
-
found:
Sachsendorf (Wurzen, Germany)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Frances Hirshfeld, in memory of her husband Dr. Julian Hirshfeld, and their family members who perished during the Holocaust
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Frances Hirshfeld
- Biography
-
Franka (Frances) Mariam Rosenblum was born in Opatow Kieliecki, (Wojewowldztwo Swietokryzskie) Poland, on July 26, 1918, to Meyer and Gabriella (Malka) Wajman Rosenblum. Her father died before she was born. In 1924, she and her mother moved to Sosnowiec. Her mother had nine siblings and mother and daughter next went to live with the Sojka's, an uncle's family in Zawiercie. When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the Sojka's fled east to Russian territory, but it was winter and conditions were very harsh. Franka smuggled herself back to the German occupied area and found that nothing remained: homes and property had been confiscated. She was unable to get back into the Russian sector, but her family returned to the Zawiercie ghetto. Franka worked as forced labor in the steel mill, and became involved in the resistance.
On August 26, 1943, Franka was deported by the German authorities to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Upon arrival, she was stripped naked, had her head shaved, was given dirty, lice infested rags to wear, and tattooed with the number 56362. If she asked a question, she was slapped until her teeth shook. They slept six to a bunk in a stable with three layers of bunks. They worked all the time, some just carrying heavy rocks back and forth. They got ersatz coffee and a small piece of bread in the morning and evening, and dirty, watery soup during the day. If you washed your clothes, you had to sleep in them wet. Trains arrived all the time from across Europe, unloaded by men called zondercommandos, who were given the choice of helping to unload the trains or going to the ovens alive. She learned about the Warsaw Uprising from other camp inmates who had been sent to the camp from there. Franka worked first in a hospital zone crowded with people dying from starvation and disease, then in a Krupp ammunition factory. She was moved from Auschwitz to Birkenau where she lived near the place where medical experiments were conducted. One day, a Belgian girl was caught trying to escape. All the inmates were called to see her execution by hanging; someone slipped her a razor blade and she cut her wrists to escape the gallows. Beginning in January 1945, Franka was taken on a series of death marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig; near Dresden, around April, she escaped and the area was soon liberated.
She learned that her mother, all nine of her mother’s siblings, and her grandparents had perished. Franka was relocated to France where she met Julian Hirshfeld, a textile engineer and survivor of Auschwitz and many other concentration camps whose wfie and child had been murdered in a German camp. They had known each other before the war in the ghetto. They married in Brussels, Belgium, on September 26, 1946. In October, with the help of an uncle in Jacksonville, Florida, Franka emigrated to the United States with their infant daughter. Julian arrived in the US in 1949. They settled in Decatur, Alabama, and had another daughter and a son. Both she and her husband spoke about their experiences to many groups, because they believed that "Whatever is written...is not enough." Julian, 72, died in 1981. Frances, 80, passed away in 1999.
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Furnishings and Furniture
- Category
-
Household linens
- Object Type
-
Towels (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Long, narrow, discolored, offwhite cotton towel with yellow and brown bands at both short ends, intermixed with small dots and triangles in lighter, contrasting colors. One edge is selvage. The front and back patterns are similar, but have different color combinations. There are handwritten inscriptions on the back: F989 and 4 illegible letters.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 40.500 inches (102.87 cm) | Width: 19.000 inches (48.26 cm)
- Materials
- overall : cotton
- Inscription
- back, handwritten, ink : F989
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Concentration camp inmates--Poland--Biography. Death marches--Germany--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Zawiercie--Personal narratives. Holocaust survivors--United States--Biography. Jewish refugees--France--Paris--Biography. Women concentration camp inmates--Germany--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Germany--Personal narratives.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The towel was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993 by Frances Rosenblum Hirshfeld.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-07-28 18:22:18
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn8153
Also in Frances and Julian Hirshfeld family collection
The collection consists of a blanket, a pin, a pouch, a towel, documents, and publications relating to the experiences of Franka Rosenblum and Julian Hirshfeld and their families in Poland and several concentration camps during the Holocaust and in a displaced persons camp in Paris, France, where they married after the end of World War II. Some of these materials may be combined into a single collection in the future.
Date: 1936-1946
Small white bag with a button saved from the coat of a young Jewish girl deported to Auschwitz
Object
Small, sealed, cloth pouch containing a button from the coat of 10 year Fryda Hirshfeld who was deported from Łódź Ghetto and murdered in Auschwitz in 1942. The button was returned to her father, Julian, after the war in late 1940s in Paris, by Mr. Mechtiger, a prewar family neighbor from Łódź, Poland. Julian sewed the button in the pouch and attached the string. Łódź was occupied by German troops on September 8, 1939. Fryda, her father, and her mother, Hela, were forced into the sealed Jewish ghetto in February 1940. Fryda was deported and murdered in Auschwitz in 1942 and Hela met the same fate in 1943. Julian was in Łódź until 1942/43 and was transported to several concentration camps because his skills as a textile engineer were valuable to the Germans. He was interned at Birkenau, Auschwitz, Goleshau, and Buchenwald concentration camps. He was liberated at Buchenwald by US troops on April 11, 1945, and sent to a Red Cross refugee center in France. He encountered Franka Rosenblum, whom he had known before and during the war. Franka, from Zawiercie, was a forced laborer and resistance member. In August 1943, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and tattooed with the number 56362. She worked in a hospital, then a Krupp ammunition factory. In January 1945, she was on death marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig, where she escaped and hid. The area was soon liberated and she was relocated to Paris. A few months after their September 26, 1946 marriage, Franka and their infant daughter emigrated to the United States. Julian followed in 1949.
Metal pin made for a former concentration camp inmate with her prisoner number and the camps where she was held
Object
Commemorative pin made for Franka Rosenblum, 25, by a friend after the war in Germany, around May 1945. The pin is engraved with the names of the concentration and labor camps in which Franka was interned from 1943-1945. Franka and her family were from Zawiercie, Poland, which was invaded by Germany in September 1939. She was a forced laborer in a steel mill and involved with the resistance. On August 26, 1943, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she was shaved, given rags to wear, and tattooed with the number 56362. She worked in a hospital, then in a Krupp ammunition factory. In January 1945, she was forced on marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig, where she escaped and hid. The area was soon liberated and she was relocated to a refugee camp in France. Her family in Poland was killed. In Paris, she encountered Julian Hirshfeld, whom she had known before and during the war. Julian, originally from Łódź, was transported from 1942-1945 to several concentration camps because his skills as a textile engineer were valuable to the Germans. He was interned at Birkenau, Auschwitz, Goleshau, and liberated in April 1945 at Buchenwald. His first wife Hela and 10 year old daughter Fryda were murdered in Auschwitz. Franka and Julian married on September 26, 1946. A few months later, Franka and their infant daughter emigrated to the United States. Julian followed in 1949.
Commemorative FNDIRP button cover engraved 178284 acquired by a Jewish Polish refugee
Object
Button cover with number 178284 given to Julian Hirshfeld when he was a displaced person in Paris, where he was sent after his liberation from Buchenwald by US troops on April 11, 1945. The pin was issued by the Federation Nationale des deportes Internes resistants Patriotes (FNDIRP) in April 1945 to honor the memory of Charles Oschkor, 178284 was his prisoner number. Oschkor was a former kapo of Blechhammer concentration camp who sacrificed himself to save other prisoners. Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany in September 1939. Julian, a Jewish textile engineer, was interned in Łódź Ghetto in November 1940. When it was closed in 1943, he was transferred to Birkenau, Auschwitz, Goleshau, and Buchenwald concentration camps. His wife Hela and daughter Fryda, 11, were deported from Łódź and killed in Auschwitz. Julian's skills as a textile chemist were useful to the Germans and he was sent to various textile plants. He believes this is why he survived. After being freed, Julian was sent to the Red Cross camp run from the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. On September 21, 1946, Julian married Franka Rosenblum, whom he had known before and during the war. Franka was interned in the Zawiercie ghetto until 1943 when she was sent to Auschwitz, Birkenau, Marhof, and Ravensbrück. She escaped during a death march and was liberated in April 1945. Her entire family was killed. At the end of 1946, Franka and their infant daughter left for America. Julian followed in 1949.
Book
Object
Book, El Hakim, obtained by Julian Hirshfeld while a prisoner in Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany in 1945. It is inscribed and stamped with the camp identification. After Germany occupied Poland in September 1939, Julian and his family were interned in Łódź Ghetto. Julian, a 35 year old Jewish textile engineer, was taken from the Ghetto around 1943. He then was interned at Birkenau, Auschwitz, Goleshau, and Buchenwald concentration camps. His first wife, Hela, and daughter, Fryda, 11, were deported from Łódź Ghetto and killed in Auschwitz. Julian's skills as a textile chemist were useful to the Germans and he was employed at various German textile plants during his imprisonment. He believes this is why he survived. He was liberated at Buchenwald on April 11, 1945, by US troops and sent to the Red Cross camp at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. On September 21, 1946, Julian married Franka Rosenblum, whom he had known before and during the war. Franka, from Zawiercie, was a forced laborer and resistance member, deported in August 1943 to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she was shaved, given rags to wear, and tattooed with number 56362. She worked in a hospital, then in a Krupp ammunition factory. In January 1945, she was on death marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig, where she escaped and hid. The area was soon liberated and she was relocated to a refugee camp in France. A few months after her marriage to Julian, Franka and their infant daughter emigrated to the United States. Julian followed in 1949.
Frances and Julian Hirshfeld family papers
Document
Contains letters and photographs regarding the extended family of Frances Hirshfeld, including letters from Lipka and Rachel Futerko; photographs of the Tatarko family in Czestochowa, Poland; a photograph of Dr. Julian J. Hirshfeld in Buchenwald, after liberation in 1945; and photogaphs of Julian and Frances Hirshfeld in Brussels, Belgium, after the war.
Envelope
Document
Contains an envelope sent from Erwin Gasse to Frances Hirshfeld, green envelope addressed to "Mrs. J.J. Hirschfeld (sic.)/ 808-14th Ave S.E./ Decatur-Ala U.S.A." Gasse and Hirshfeld were both in the Zawiercie Ghetto together.
Erwin Gasse letter
Document
Contains a letter sent from Erwin Gasse to Frances Hirshfeld, two-sided hand-written letter, in blue ink, on lined paper, dated March 1962.
Life (New York, New York) [Magazine]
Object
Life magazine owned by Franka Rosenblum with an article on concentration camps. Franka and her family were in Zawiercie, Poland, when Germany invaded in September 1939. Franka was assigned as forced labor in a steel mill and was involved with the resistance. On August 26, 1943, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she was shaved, given rags to wear, and tattooed with the number 56362. She worked in a hospital, then in a Krupp ammunition factory. In January 1945, she was forced on death marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig, where she escaped and hid. The area was soon liberated and she was relocated to a refugee camp in France. Her family in Poland was killed. In Paris, she encountered Julian Hirshfeld, whom she had known before and during the war, and they married on September 26, 1946. Julian was deported from Łódź to a series of concentration camps because his skills as a textile engineer were valuable to the Germans. He was liberated at Buchenwald by US troops on April 11, 1945. A few months after her marriage to Julian, Franka and their infant daughter emigrated to the United States. Julian followed in 1949.
Wool blanket with a black, red, and cream plaid pattern acquired by a Polish Jewish woman after her escape during a forced march from Ravensbrück
Object
Plaid wool blanket used by Franka Rosenblum, 25, that she stole from a Burgermeister's house in Sachsendorf, Germany, in April 1945 after her escape during a death march from Ravensbrueck concentration camp. She also took a towel, 1993.27.32, a dress, and a blouse. Franka and her family lived in Zawiercie, Poland, which was invaded by Germany in September 1939. She was a forced laborer in a steel mill and involved with the resistance movement. On August 26, 1943, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she was shaved, given rags to wear, and tattooed with the number 56362. She worked in a hospital, then a Krupp ammunition factory. In January 1945, she was forced on marches to Malkov, Ravensbrück, and Leipzig, where she escaped and hid. The area was soon liberated and she was relocated to a refugee camp in France. Her family in Poland was killed. In Paris, she encountered Julian Hirshfeld, whom she had known before and during the war. Julian, originally from Łódź, was transported from 1942-1945 to several concentration camps because his skills as a textile engineer were valuable to the Germans. He was interned at Birkenau, Auschwitz, Goleshau, and liberated in April 1945 at Buchenwald. His first wife Hela and 10 year old daughter Fryda were murdered in Auschwitz. Franka and Julian married on September 26, 1946. A few months later, Franka and their infant daughter emigrated to the United States. Julian followed in 1949.
Greeting card
Document
Greeting card for Jewish New Year; from J. and R. Wajman and family with printed message sending hearty wishes for the Jewish year 5697; verso, stamped by the printer in purple ink; Opatów, Poland. Also includes the envelope, addressed to "A.H. Wyman, 1386 Arondale ave, Jacksonville Fla U.S.A.;" verso, return address from Josef Wajman, Opatów, Poland, 10 Grosz paper stamp with green ink of a mountain scene; 15 September 1936 (cancellation); Opatów, Poland (postmark).
Greeting card
Document
Greeting card for Jewish New Year; from Leonostwo Klinger with printed message sending hearty wishes for the Jewish year 5693; inscription in pencil (illegible); Zawiercie, Poland; 1934.
Frances Hirshfeld photograph collection
Document
The collection consists of 14 photographs of members of Julian Hirshfeld and Frances Hirshfeld's families before World War II as well as a photograph taken on the day of the Hirshfelds' civil marriage ceremony in Belgium in 1946.
