us-005578-irn59339-irn3419
type: RecordSet
archival history: The knife was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990.
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Small, shoemaker’s paring knife with a thin, silver-colored metal blade that tapers up to a point. The handle is covered in a sheath of black leather that is stitched along the end and one side. Stitched to the end is a small, black leather tab with a pointed end and a slot in the center for hanging. The surface of the blade is heavily corroded.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: approximately 1900-approximately 1945
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn3419
is or was included in: us-005578-irn59339
record resource extent: overall: Height: 9.250 inches (23.495 cm) | Width: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Shoemaker’s knife, similar to those used by Jewish forced laborers in the Łódź Ghetto in German-occupied Poland from May 1940 to summer 1944. Łódź was occupied by Germany a week after the September 1939 invasion of Poland. It was renamed Litzmannstadt, and in February 1940, the Jewish population of about 160,000 people was confined to a small, sealed-off ghetto. All residents had to work, and 85 percent of the ghetto population labored in nearly 100 factories. The major ones produced textiles, including uniforms for the German Army. Occupying authorities seized much of the specialized machinery from the Jewish population, forcing them to use hand techniques for production. Due to severe overcrowding and scarce food, disease and starvation were common. The Judenrat (Jewish Council) administered the ghetto for the Germans, and chairman Mordechai Rumkowski thought hard work and high output would preserve the ghetto. However, in January 1942, mass deportations to Chelmno killing center began; half the residents were murdered by the end of the year. In summer 1944, Łódź, the last ghetto in Poland, was destroyed and the remaining Jews were sent to Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau killing centers.
title: Shoemaker's knife of the type used in Łódź Ghetto