us-005578-irn517808-irn531620
type: RecordSet
archival history: The shadow box was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2014 by Ronne Mitnick Hess, the daughter of J. George Mitnick.
biographical history: J. George Mitnick (1917-2005) was born in Hartford Connecticut to David and Rose Mitnick (nee Schwartz). George was the youngest of six children and was raised in a conservative religious home. After high school, George attended the University of Connecticut. Due to family financial stress, George left school after two years and got a job at a supermarket. After a year, he began working at the lumber company owned by his father and two uncles. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, George enlisted in the Army. George trained at camp Devens, Massachusetts, and Camp Lee, Virginia before entering Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Edgeward, Maryland. George graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the 45th Infantry Division and was sent to Gadsden and then to Fort McClellan, Alabama for further training. While he was stationed in Alabama, George was promoted to Captain. He also met Willine Engel while visiting Birmingham, and the two began a relationship. George then received orders to report to the headquarters of the 65th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. While in Shelby, George and Willine were married in spring 1944, and then George shipped out to Europe with the 65th. The 65th landed at Le Havre, France in January, 1945, and was deployed to the German border in March. In April, the division advanced into Bavaria and captured the city of Regensburg. On April 13, George arrived at the recently liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp in Germany. There he saw the abysmal living conditions and the sickly, emaciated corpses of the prisoners the guards killed before they fled. On April 20, the division liberated a subcamp in the Flossenbürg camp system. In May, the 65th captured the town of Passau, then moved into Austria and captured the city of Linz. On May 9, hostilities officially ended in Europe, George was among the troops of the 65th who made contact with the Russians at Erlauf. After the war, George was assigned to arrange for the separation of …
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Rectangular, glass enclosed, wood framed shadow box with US Army insignia, patches, and medals mounted in five columns on a black fabric background. The first column on the left displays a white and blue rectangular 65th infantry patch; a shoulder sleeve insignia of the 45th infantry division featuring a gold thunderbird on a red field; a rectangular, curved shoulder patch for the 91st Chemical Mortar Battalion; and a 65th infantry shield shaped shoulder patch with a white halberd on a blue field. The next column exhibits the branch insignia of the Chemical Corps (mounted upside down), the blue and gold 1920-1946 distinctive unit insignia of the 45th Infantry Division, and two silver colored captains’ insignia. The next column contains a Bronze Star lapel pin, ribbon bar and medal, and a World War II Victory Medal ribbon bar and medal. The next column presents an Army of Occupation Medal ribbon bar and medal, in addition to a European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal ribbon bar and medal, both with two Service Stars. The final column contains an American Campaign Medal ribbon bar and medal, and a Good Conduct Medal ribbon bar and medal. The back of the shadow box is covered in brown paper, and near the top is a metal wire strung through two eye hooks which are screwed into the frame. A metallic, gold sticker with the contact information of the maker of the shadow box is in the bottom center.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1941 December 07
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: eng
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn531620
is or was included in: us-005578-irn517808
record resource extent: overall: Height: 12.250 inches (31.115 cm) | Width: 15.250 inches (38.735 cm) | Depth: 2.250 inches (5.715 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Decorative shadow box containing military awards, patches and insignia issued to and received by J. George Mitnick by the United States Army for his service in World War II. The box includes insignia from the 65th and 45th infantry divisions, and the 91st Chemical Mortar Battalion, along with a Bronze Star, a World War II victory medal, Army of Occupation Medal, European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, an American Campaign medal, and a Good Conduct medal. Mitnick, a 27-year-old Jewish American, served as a captain in the 65th Infantry Division, and in the Chemical Warfare Service, 91st Chemical Mortar Battalion, 45th Infantry Division in the European Theater. His unit took control of the Ohrdruf concentration camp in April 1945; nearly all the inhabitants were dead, killed by the departing German troops. This was the first concentration camp liberated by US troops and descriptions of the conditions horrified the world. Mitnick’s unit continued on into Austria and was involved with the liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp. Captain Mitnick was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service.
title: Shadow box containing mounted military medals and insignia of a US Army Captain