Metal badge with the letter Ž to identify a Croatian Jew

Alfred Grunhut was born in 1882 in Zagreb, Croatia. He was a well known actor, director of silent Serbian films, and cabaret performer. He survived the Holocaust in Zagreb, despite the persecution of Jews by the independent government of Croatia. After the 1941 partition of Yugoslavia by the Germans, Croatia was run by the Ustasa, a fanatically nationalist, fascist organization. whose government was endorsed by Germany and the Axis powers. Grunhut was married to a non-Jewish woman, who when she died years later left her estate to their longtime live-in maid, Miroslava Babic. Grunhut died in Zagreb, age 63, on October 10, 1946. 

The Jewish badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2006 by Miroslava Babic. 

Metal badge with the letter Ž to identify a Croatian Jew 

overall: Height: 1.875 inches (4.763 cm) | Width: 1.875 inches (4.763 cm) 

Jewish identification badge with a Z for Zidov (Jew) that Alfred Grunhut was forced to wear in Zagreb, Croatia, from 1941-1945. Grunhut was a well known cabaret and theater actor. He survived the Holocaust despite the zealous persecutions of Jews by the independent state of Croatia. This government was run by the fascist Croatian organization, Ustasa, whose rule was endorsed by the Germans after they partitioned Yugoslavia in April 1941. By May, the Jews of Zagreb had to register at the community center and wear badges. There were frequent deportations to the concentration camps established by the Ustasa. Miroslava Babic was the Grunhut's live-in maid before and during World War II. 

No restrictions on access 

Circular aluminum badge with a yellow painted background and a black Z in the center. The back is silver and has a tension pin.