Overview
- Geography
-
issue:
Landsberg am Lech (Displaced persons camp);
Landsberg am Lech (Germany)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Israel Gruzin
- Markings
- top center "RIF 0300"
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Israel Gruzin
- Biography
-
Israel Gruzin was born in Slobodka, Russia, on December 28, 1928. He had one brother. Israel attended Jewish day school as a child. In 1941, Israel's family began a horse and wagon journey towards Latvia because they feared the Germans' arrival in Lithuania. The bridge that the family wanted to cross was destroyed. They returned to Slobodka where they were forced to enter the ghetto in Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania. Israel's family was taken to a castle where the Hitler Youth were taught. The entire family performed slave labor at this school. In 1943, Israel and his father and brother were sent to Dachau, a concentration camp in Germany; Israel's mother went to Stutthof, a concentration camp in Poland. Israel was then taken to Landsberg, a subcamp of Dachau, where he had to build barracks. In April 1944, Israel and his father and brother began a death march but were abandoned by the Germans because American troops were approaching. Israel was liberated on May 2, 1945. He married his wife in a displaced persons camp, and they immigrated to the United States shortly after.
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Personal Equipment and Supplies
- Object Type
-
Soap (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Cake of soap engraved, top center, "RIF 0300."
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 1.620 inches (4.115 cm) | Width: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm) | Depth: 0.630 inches (1.6 cm)
- Materials
- overall : soap
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The soap was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1994 by Irael Gruzin.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-07-28 18:22:28
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn8768
Download & Licensing
In-Person Research
- By Appointment
- Request 21 Days in Advance of Visit
- Plan a Research Visit
- Request to See This Object
Contact Us
Also in Israel Gruzin collection
Israel Gruzin collection
Document
Contains several photographs taken in and near Landsberg, Germany and the Föhrenwald Displaced Persons camp soon after liberation, including images of Israel Gruzin with brothers Icik and Chaim Gruzin, and a photograph of General Dwight Eisenhower visiting Föhrenwald. Also includes images of the dedication of a memorial in 1955 and an invitation to a ceremony to commemorate Lithuanian Jews. Additionally, there is a clipping from the newspaper “Daily Jewish Forward” which includes a letter to General Eisenhower by Israel Gruzin, a magazine articles with images of the Landsberg camp, and an invitation to attend a "Great Commerative [sic] Academy" in memory of Lithuanian Jews, to be held in Landsberg.