Overview
- Brief Narrative
- White lace sample doily saved by 34 year old Irene Schweizer, who fled Germany on a Kindertransport with her 6 year old son Hans in July 1939, joining her husband in England. The lace was acquired by Irene’s father, Leonhard Regensburger (1858-1914), who was a silk and textiles merchant France for many years before becoming a partner in a linen manufacturing company in Plauen, Germany. When Hitler rose to power in Germany in January 1933, Irene lived in Mannheim, with her husband, Friedrich Schweizer. Irene’s stepfather, Nathan Karlsruher, died in October 1933 and Irene’s mother and half-sister, Jella and Ruth Karlsruher, 11, moved in with them. In 1936, Friedrich was fired from his job as a bank manager because he was Jewish. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was arrested and sent to Dachau. Nazi party supporters invaded their home and destroyed their belongings. In January 1939, Friedrich was released. Irene made arrangements for him to go to England in June. In July, Irene picked up Hans, from his school for the deaf in Berlin to go to England. They emigrated to the United States in March 1940 and settled in Chicago. Irene arranged for her mother and sister to get to America in September 1940.
- Date
-
creation:
approximately 1903-1912
emigration: 1939 July
- Geography
-
use:
Mannheim (Germany)
creation: Plauen (Germany)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Audrey Eisenmann and Geoffrey Eisenmann
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Irene Schweizer
- Biography
-
Irene Regensburger was born on July 18, 1905, in Plauen, Germany, to Leonhard and Jella Furth Regensburger. Leonhard was born on July 12, 1858, and Jella on January 25, 1879, both in Eppingen. Leonhard had been a silk and textile merchant in France for twenty years and had acquired French citizenship. He had returned to Saxony because he wanted a German wife. He became a partner in a drapery manufacturing factory in Plauen. Jella and Leonhard married on September 30, 1903, and moved to Plauen. When Leonhard retired in 1912, the family moved back to Eppingen. On April 11, 1914, Leonhard died of cancer. On December 5, 1919, Jella married Nathan Karlsruher who had been her first love. However, Nathan, the oldest brother of twelve, had not been able to marry until he had helped all his sisters wed. The family moved to Mannheim. Irene changed her last name to Regensburger-Karlsruher. Jella had another child, Ruth, on July 30, 1922. The family lived very well, with dressmakers and servants. Irene excelled at school and graduated in 1922 at age 17. She then got a job at a bank. On May 27, 1927, she married Friedrich Schweizer. Friedrich, born on August 20, 1891, was a veteran of World War i (1914-1918.) He was employed as a manager at Deutsche Bank and, since he earned more than minimum wage, Irene was legally required to leave her job. Friedrich had two sisters, Celia and Rose, who emigrated from Germany.
In January 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany and anti-Jewish laws were enacted almost immediately. On September 19, 1933, the couple had a son, Hans, who was born profoundly deaf. Irene’s stepfather, Nathan, died on October 21, 1933. Her mother Jella and step-sister Ruth moved in with Irene and her family. When Hans was older, he was sent to a school for deaf children in Berlin. In 1936, Friedrich was fired from his job because he was Jewish. On November 10, 1938, during Kristallnacht, two Nazis entered the apartment and took Friedrich. A few hours later, more Nazis came in with crowbars, smashed their furniture and dishes, and destroyed pictures on the wall. They did not harm the apartment building which was Swiss owned, and the next day, SS guards were posted outside. On November 12, 1938, Irene's maternal aunt Sophie killed herself by jumping off a roof, fearful of the violent antisemitism she witnessed during Kristallnacht. After a few days, the family heard that Friedrich had been taken to Dachau concentration camp. In January 1939, he was released. Jella had quickly put sandwiches in his pockets when he was arrested and they had helped him survive because he was not given food for many days. Some of Friedrich’s distant relatives in St. Louis, Missouri, sent the family affidavits to help them get out of Germnay. In June 1939, Friedrich left for England. Irene went to Berlin to get Hans from school. On July 18, 1939, they left Berlin on a Kindertransport. Irene was allowed to accompany Hans because he was deaf. She paid her own fare and was the only mother on the train. She never forgot the sight of the other parents sobbing as they said goodbye to their children. She and Hans were reunited with Friedrich in England and remained there for nine months.
In March 1940, the family sailed to the US and settled in Chicago. Friedrich and Hans Americanized their names to Frederick and Henry. Irene worked to get Jella and Ruth out of Germany, calling relatives and friends to get them 2000 dollars and affidavits. She was successful and they left Germany in August 1940. They arrived in Chicago in September 1940 and moved in with Irene. Frederick arranged for Henry to attend to the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis. Irene took evening bookkeeping classes and then got a job in the accounting office of the University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics. She was active in the Jewish community in Hyde Park. Frederick was a bookkeeper. Jella, age 81, died on January 11, 1961. Frederick, age 71, died on December 23, 1962. Irene, age 101, died on June 22, 2007.
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Decorative Arts
- Category
-
Needlework
- Object Type
-
Doilies (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Rectangular white lace doily with a center rectangle of intricate lace connecting stitched flowers, thick vines, and leaves with centers formed from different stitch types. There is a wide border of open net lace with an inner pattern of small flowers and pairs of dots and an outer border of a vine with large flowers. The corners have diagonal seams.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 8.500 inches (21.59 cm) | Width: 12.500 inches (31.75 cm)
- Materials
- overall : lace
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives. Jewish refugees--Great Britain--Biography. Jewish refugees--United States--Chicago--Biography. Jews--Persecution--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Kindertransport (Rescue operations)--Great Britain--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The lace was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Audrey Eisenmann and Geoffrey Eisenmann, the niece and nephew of Irene Schweizer.
- 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:
- 2024-10-03 13:01:29
- This page:
- http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn83867
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Also in Karlsruher, Schweizer and Eisenmann family collection
The collection consists of a charm bracelet, doily, dish towel, lace samples, field glasses, opera glasses, napkin, napkin rings, cookbook, correspondence, documents, photographs, and photo albums relating to the experiences of Jella Furth Karlsruher and her daughters Ruth Karlsruher Eisenmann and Irene Regensburger-Karlsruher Schweizer before the Holocaust in Mannheim, Germany, and after the Holocaust in Chicago, Illinois, and the experiences of Albrecht Eisenmann and his family before the Holocaust in Noerdlingen, Germany, and after the Holocaust in Chicago, Illinois.
Date: approximately 1900-1950
Jella Karlsruher and Albrecht Eisenmann families papers
Document
Collection of documents, correspondence, photographs, photo albums and a cookbook, relating to three families: the Karlsruher and Schweizer families of Mannheim, Germany, and Eisenmann family of Noerdlingen, Germany. Jella Furth Karlsruher with her younger daughter Ruth (donors' maternal grandmother and mother) were able to leave Germany in August 1940 via USSR and Japan to the United States. Irene Schweizer (Jella's oldest daughter) left for England in 1939 with her husband and son. Albrecht Al Eisenmann (donors' father) immigrated to the US in 1938, his mother Ida was murdered in 1942 in Piaski.
Long section of black floral lace from the family business saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Long section of black floral French lace saved by 34 year old Irene Schweizer when she fled Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport with her 6 year old son Hans in July 1939, joining her husband in England. The lace was acquired by Irene’s father, Leonhard Regensburger (1858-1914), who was a silk and textiles merchant in France for many years before becoming a partner in a drapery manufacturing company in Plauen, Germany. When Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, Irene, Hans, and her husband Friedrich resided in Mannheim. Irene’s stepfather, Nathan Karlsruher, died that October and Irene’s mother and half-sister, Jella and Ruth Karlsruher, 11, moved in with them. In 1936, Friedrich was fired from his job as a bank manager because he was Jewish. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was arrested and sent to Dachau. Their home was invaded by Nazi party supporters and their belongings were destroyed. In January 1939, Friedrich was released. Irene made arrangements for him to go to England in June. In July, Irene picked up Hans from his school for the deaf in Berlin and left for England. They emigrated to the United States in March 1940 and settled in Chicago. Irene arranged for her mother and sister to get to America in September 1940.
White knitted lace doily with a center flower saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
White knitted lace doily saved by 34 year old Irene Schweizer, when she fled Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport with her 6 year old son Hans in July 1939, joining her husband in England. The lace was acquired by Irene’s father, Leonhard Regensburger (1858-1914), who was a silk and textiles merchant in France for many years before becoming a partner in a drapery manufacturing company in Plauen, Germany. When Hitler rose to power in Germany in January 1933, Irene lived in Mannheim, with her husband, Friedrich Schweizer. Irene’s stepfather, Nathan Karlsruher, died in October 1933 and Irene’s mother and half-sister, Jella and Ruth Karlsruher, 11, moved in with them. In 1936, Friedrich was fired from his job as a bank manager because he was Jewish. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was arrested and sent to Dachau. Nazi party supporters invaded their home and destroyed their belongings. In January 1939, Friedrich was released. Irene made arrangements for him to go to England in June. In July, Irene picked up Hans, from his school for the deaf in Berlin and left for England. They emigrated to the United States in March 1940 and settled in Chicago. Irene arranged for her mother and sister to get to America in September 1940.
White damask napkin with embroidered monograms saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Linen napkin embroidered with their initials brought by Jella Furth Karlsruher and her daughter Ruth, age 18, when they escaped Nazi Germany in August 1940. The napkin and other items from her trousseau were sent in crates to Holland and then later to New York. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Nathan, Jella and Ruth were living in Mannheim. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, her husband Friedrich, and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene left for the US and then arranged the necessary money and documentation for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Blue and white checkered dish towel embroidered JK saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Blue and white checked dish towel monogrammed JK saved by Jella Furth Karlsruher, when she escaped Nazi Germany with her daughter Ruth, 18, in August 1940. Many items from Jella's trousseau, such as the damask napkin, 2013.430.5, and perhaps this item, were sent in crates to Holland and then later to New York. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Jella, her husband, Nathan and Ruth lived in Mannheim. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, her husband Friedrich, and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene left for the US and then arranged the necessary money and documentation for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Silver charm bracelet saved by a young German Jewish refugee
Object
Charm bracelet with twelve charms saved by 18 year old Ruth Karlsruher, when she escaped Nazi Germany with her mother Jetta in August 1940. Ruth had owned the bracelet since she was a young girl. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Ruth was living in Mannheim with her parents, Jella and Nathan. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, her husband Friedrich, and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene left for the US and then arranged the money and documentation needed for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Silver napkin ring with an engraved floral design and name brought with a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Silver napkin ring engraved with her name saved by Jella Furth Karlsruher when she escaped Nazi Germany with her daughter Ruth, 18, in August 1940. Many items from Jella's trousseau, such as the damask napkin, 2013.430.5, and perhaps this item, were sent in crates to Holland and then later to New York. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Jella, her husband Nathan and Ruth lived in Mannheim. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, her husband Friedrich, and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene left for the US. She soon provided the money and documentation for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Silver napkin ring with an engraved wreath design and name brought by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Silver napkin ring engraved with her name saved by 18 year old Ruth Karlsruher, when she escaped Nazi Germany with her mother Jetta in August 1940. Many items from Jella's trousseau, such as the damask napkin, 2013.430.5, and perhaps this item, were sent in crates to Holland and then later to New York. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Ruth was living in Mannheim with her parents, Jella and Nathan. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, and her husband Friedrich and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene left for the US. She soon provided the money and documentation needed for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Silver napkin ring with an embossed floral design and engraved name saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Silver napkin ring engraved with her husband's name saved by Jella Furth Karlsruher when she escaped Nazi Germany with her daughter Ruth, 18, in August 1940. Many items from Jella's trousseau, such as the damask napkin, 2013.430.5, and perhaps this item, were sent in crates to Holland and then later to New York. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Jella, Nathan, and Ruth lived in Mannheim. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, her husband Friedrich, and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene left for the US. She then provided the necessary money and documentation for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Small black field glasses and fitted leather case saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Black field glasses with fitted case saved by Jella Furth Karlsruher when she escaped Nazi Germany with her daughter Ruth, age 18, in August 1940. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Jella, her husband Nathan and Ruth lived in Mannheim. Following Nathan’s death in October 1933, Jella and Ruth moved in with Jella’s daughter from her first marriage, Irene Schweizer, her husband Friedrich, and son Hans. Ruth experienced anti-Semitism constantly, from cruel remarks in the street and in school to being chased out a public pool by Nazis with crowbars. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was sent to Dachau and released in January 1939. Friedrich, Irene, and Hans fled to England in summer 1939. From September to November 1939, Ruth performed forced agricultural labor. In March 1940, Irene and her family left for the US. She provided the money and documentation for Jella and Ruth to emigrate. They received visas in May but had to change their travel plans several times because of the war. In August, Jella and Ruth left Berlin and traveled through the Soviet Union, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, until arriving in Chicago in September 1940.
Leather tag stamped with the US seal containing a photograph owned by a German Jewish refugee
Object
Small leather tag with a photograph presumably of her husband and son saved by Irene Schweizer, who fled Germany on a Kindertransport with her 6 year old son Hans in July 1939, joining her husband in England. When Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, Irene, Hans, and her husband Friedrich resided in Mannheim. Irene’s stepfather, Nathan Karlsruher, died that October and Irene’s mother and half-sister, Jella and Ruth Karlsruher, 11, moved in with them. In 1936, Friedrich was fired from his job as a bank manager because he was Jewish. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was arrested and sent to Dachau. Their home was invaded by Nazi party supporters and their belongings were destroyed. In January 1939, Friedrich was released. Irene made arrangements for him to go to England in June. In July, Irene picked up Hans from his school for the deaf in Berlin and left for England. They emigrated to the United States in March 1940 and settled in Chicago. Irene arranged for her mother and sister to get to America in September 1940.
Mother of pearl opera glasses saved by a German Jewish prewar emigre
Object
Mother of pearl opera glasses saved by Irene Schweizer when she fled Germany on a Kindertransport with her 6 year old son Hans in July 1939, joining her husband in England. When Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, Irene, Hans, and her husband Friedrich resided in Mannheim. Irene’s stepfather, Nathan Karlsruher, died that October and Irene’s mother and half-sister, Jella and Ruth Karlsruher, 11, moved in with them. In 1936, Friedrich was fired from his job as a bank manager because he was Jewish. During Kristallnacht on November 10, 1938, Friedrich was arrested and sent to Dachau. Their home was invaded by Nazi party supporters and their belongings were destroyed. In January 1939, Friedrich was released. Irene made arrangements for him to go to England in June. In July, Irene picked up Hans from his school for the deaf in Berlin and left for England. They emigrated to the United States in March 1940 and settled in Chicago. Irene arranged for her mother and sister to get to America in September 1940.