us-005578-irn37668-irn39855
title: Two unused Star of David badges with a J issued to a Jewish family
has record set type: Item
scope and content: Star of David badges distributed to Herman and Gizela Levendel in Belgium in June 1942, but never cut out and used. Nazi Germany occupied Belgium in May 1940 and immediately enacted anti-Jewish laws. As the persecution of the Jews increased, the Levendel family was forced to go into hiding, often moving from region to region, assisted by the underground resistance. Herman and Gizela were able to obtain false identification cards, but their 3 children had to remain hidden. Anna, b. 1933, and Lea, b. 1931, were able to stay together during this period, but their brother, Zvi, b. 1929, sometimes had to be hidden separately. In September 1944, Brussels was liberated and eventually the entire country was free. The family was reunited but not long after the war, Gizela and Herman divorced. Herman and Anna, the youngest child, remained in Antwerp; Gizela and the 2 older children emigrated to Israel.
has or had holder: us-005578
is or was included in: us-005578-irn37668
biographical history: Anna Levendel was born on May 17, 1933, in Antwerp, Belgium, to Herman and Gizela Levendel. She joined older siblings, Lea, born July 17, 1931, and Zvi, born February 9, 1929. Her father was born in 1900 in Halmue, Romania. After he established a successful business in Antwerp, Gizela Walker arrived from Hungary and they married in 1926. Nazi Germany conquered Belgium in May 1940, and as Jewish persecution intensified, the Levendel family was forced to go into hiding, assisted by the underground resistance. Anna and her sister were able to stay together while living in hiding in various locations throughout Belgium. From 1942-1943, they were hidden in a convent in Brussels by Lila De Voghel. Through 1944, they were in hiding in the Wallonie region, aided by Max Migeotte and Fanard. Brussels was liberated in September 1944. Soon after this, her parents divorced. Anna, now 12, remained in Belgium with her father to finish school. Her mother, brother, and sister emigrated to Israel circa 1947. Many members of her extended family in Hungary and Romania perished during the war. Anna met Bernard Sifry, a United States serviceman, in 1959, while on a boat to Israel. They married in 1960 and moved to the United States. Anna spent nearly 30 years working in special education. The couple had 3 children. Hermann died in Antwerp on April 12, 1975. Gizela died in Israel in May 1984. Gizela Walker was born on November 13, 1896, in Decj, Hungary, now Sucz, Romania. She married Herman Levendel, a distant cousin, who had emigrated to Antwerp, Belgium, in 1926. Herman and Gizela had 3 children, all born in Antwerp: Zvi, born February 9, 1929, Lea, July 17, 1931, and Anna, May 17, 1933. The Germans conquered Belgium in May 1940. In early 1942, as the Nazi persecution of the Jews intensified and the German prepared to deport the Jews, the family felt forced to go into hiding, assisted by the underground resistance. Herman and Gizela obtained false identification cards, hers in the name…
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
archival history: The unused Star of David badges were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2009 by Anna Levendel, the daughter of Gizela and Herman Levendel.
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn37668-irn39855/acquisitions/1
date: 1942 June
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Yellow rectangular cloth printed with 2 adjacent 6 pointed Stars of David. The star outline is formed from 2 overlapping, dyed triangles and has a J printed in the center.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
identifier: irn39855
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn37668-irn39855/alternateIDs/1
record resource extent: overall: Height: 6.875 inches (17.463 cm) | Width: 3.800 inches (9.652 cm)
type: RecordSet