us-005578-irn522143-irn513773
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
title: Peach floral printed chemise saved by a Hungarian Jewish refugee
has beginning date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1935-01-01
has end date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1946-12-31
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Custom made, peach, crepe silk chemise printed with yellow, pink, blue, and white flowers with green stems and leaves. It is hip length with a sweetheart neckline, shoulder straps, and a widely flared skirt. It has a fitted bodice with a gathered center. There are darts on the front and back for a better fit. The cloth has repairs.
type: RecordSet
date: approximately 1935-1940
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn522143-irn513773/alternateIDs/1
is or was included in: us-005578-irn522143
scope and content: Floral printed silk slip custom made for Anna Havas Gondos and taken with her when she was deported from Budapest, Hungary to Bergen-Belsen on the Kasztner train with her husband Bela and 7 year old daughter Judit in June 1944. The family brought their best clothing since they believed they were going to Portugal. Jews were increasingly persecuted by the Nazi-influenced Hungarian regime. Bela worked on 2 or 3 forced labor battalions until released in 1942 because he was a physician. On March 19, 1944, Germany invaded Hungary and the authorities prepared to deport all the Jews from Hungary to concentration camps. In mid-May, Bela heard about the Kasztner train, negotiated by Rezso Kasztner of the Relief and Rescue Committee, Hungarian Zionist Association, to get the German SS to take money to release Jews to neutral territory. Bela and his family were selected because of Bela’s Zionist ties. Kasztner failed to raise sufficient funds and the train was sent to Bergen-Belsen, arriving on July 8. After ransom money was raised by Jewish aid organizations, the prisoners were sent to Switzerland on December 7, 1944. Bela, Anna, and Judit emigrated to the United States in 1946.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
archival history: The chemise was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2011 by Dr. Bela Gondos and Dr. Judith Gondos Jacobs.
has record set type: Item
biographical history: Anna Ilona Havas was born on June 22, 1910, in Gurahont, Romania, to Jakab and Iren Bleuer Havas. She had a brother, Imre Laszlo, born on June 17, 1908, in Honcto. Her father Jakab was born in 1871 in Transylvania, Romania. He was a merchant and owned a brewery and bar in Bekes, Hungary. Her mother Iren was born in 1877 in Mezotur, Hungary. The family was Jewish but assimilated. Her brother Imre married Iren “Pircsi” Gruenwald. Anna was an interior designer. In 1934, Anna married Dr. Bela Gondos, a radiologist, born on November 25, 1903, in Erdobenye, Hungary. He was an active Zionist. The couple lived in Budapest where they had a daughter, Judit, on April 27, 1937. They had a prosperous life with several maids and lived in a large apartment. Anna and Judit spent the summers visiting Anna’s family in Bekes. Hungary was governed by a fascist regime, allied with Nazi Germany. From 1939, Jewish men were forced into the Hungarian labor service, which was put under army command in 1940. In approximately 1940, Anna’s brother Imre was conscripted into the labor service. In spring 1941, Hungary joined the German invasion of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. Bela was drafted into forced labor two to three times in the early 1940’s. In 1942, he was in a labor battalion in Szentkiralyszabadja. While he was gone, the family had no income. Anna made leather goods to sell and they had to let go of their help. There were constant air raids and Anna and Judit had to go to a separate Jews only, less secure bomb shelter in the basement. Bela was released from the labor service and returned to his practice, but had fewer patients because non-Jewish patients would not see a Jewish doctor. On March 19, 1944, Germany occupied Hungary. Anti-Semitic restrictions were implemented immediately. On March 31, Star of David badges were required for Jews. Bela’s clinic was closed and Judit was no longer allowed to attend school. They had to turn over their valuables. They were only allowed to leav…
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn522143-irn513773/acquisitions/1
identifier: irn513773
record resource extent: overall: Height: 22.875 inches (58.103 cm) | Width: 15.250 inches (38.735 cm)
has or had holder: us-005578