us-005578-irn593679-irn594950
archival history: The dress was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Margret Hantman.
record resource extent: overall: Height: 31.000 inches (78.74 cm) | Width: 12.250 inches (31.115 cm)
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn594950
scope and content: Stars and stripes costume worn by Margret Simon Hantman in a musical revue at Deggendorf displaced persons (DP) camp. The costume was designed by a Viennese couple, most likely Paul and Erna Sucher, and was made in a sewing group. In order to stay busy and bring some normalcy to their lives after the war, Margret and her friends formed a theater group and staged productions at the camp. Prior to the war, Margret and her family lived in Berlin, Germany, where her father owned a grocery store. In 1935, his store was taken by the authorities after the Nuremberg Laws were passed and he was forced to work as a laborer on the outskirts of the city. In October 1942, her sister Eva was sent on a transport to Rīga, Latvia, where she was murdered. In December, Margret and her parents were sent to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp in Czechoslovakia. In September 1944, Margret’s father was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp in German occupied Poland, where he was murdered. The following month she and her mother were sent there as well. Margret’s mother was killed soon after they arrived. After a few weeks, Margret was sent to Sackisch‐Kudowa labor camp to work in an airplane factory. She and the other prisoners were freed in May 1945, and Margret made her way to Deggendorf DP camp that summer. She met her first husband Felix Huber at Deggendorf, and in 1946 they both immigrated to the United States.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn593679-irn594950/alternateIDs/1
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
title: Stars and stripes dress worn by a German Jewish woman for a DP camp theatrical performance
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Machine stitched costume with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt painted and stamped to resemble an American flag. The front left bodice, back bodice and skirt are made of cream colored cotton with alternating wide red stripes painted on with watercolor. The front right bodice is made from blue fabric with stamped white stars. At the neckline, the blue fabric has been folded over and tacked into place to form a small lapel. There are two shoulder darts on either side of the neck opening and the cap sleeves are pleated. The front opening has a concealed, reinforced, waist-length placket with 4 metal snap closures and a hook and eye fastener at the bottom. An approximately 1.25” wide red cloth belt circles the waist and is fastened with a metal snap on the left. There are darts and pleating at the waistline and the skirt is stitched down the center front. The left side is slightly longer where it meets in the front and the bottom edge is unhemmed. The stipes are outlined in pencil and there are a series of ‘x’ pencil marks on the back left. The red paint has bled into the white cloth along the edges, primarily on the bodice. There are small, brown stains throughout and staining under the arms. Inside collar, written, pencil : Mirjam
biographical history: Margret (Miriam) Hantman (née Simon) (b. 1926) was born in Berlin, Germany, to Willy Simon (1896-1944) and Ella Anita Stahl Simon (1901-1944). She had one younger sister, Eva (1928-1942). Her father ran a grocery store outside Berlin and made a comfortable living. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany and anti-Jewish decrees were passed that restricted every aspect of Jewish life. In 1935, her father’s store was taken from him by authorities after the Nuremberg Laws were passed. The family moved to Bernau, a small town north of Berlin. Her father worked as a salesman for a margarine company, but then was forced to do hard labor carrying stones. After a couple of years, the Simon family moved back to Berlin where Margret attended public school until she was forced, by law, to attend a Temple school for Jewish children only. Her family was not religious, but Margret became very interested in the Zionist movement and went away to a Hachshara in order to prepare to make aliyah to Palestine. After returning to Berlin, Margret worked in a cable factory for six months. Her sister, Eva attended school and worked nights in a Jewish foundling home. In October 1942, the Gestapo, seeking retribution against members of the Jewish community who had gone underground, deported a group to Rīga, Latvia. Eva, who was working for the Jewish community, was taken away on this transport at the age of 15. In December, Margret and her parents received a transport summons as well. Her father had received the Iron Cross in WWI and her grandmother was not Jewish, so they were sent to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp in Czechsoslovakia. They were forced to live separately, but could see each other. Margret worked in the stabsgarten [staff garden] where they grew vegetables enabling her to sneak food to her family. In Theresienstadt, she met Lucy Steinhagen (née Fried), who became a lifelong friend. Margret’s father worked treating people who had lice and her mot…
has or had holder: us-005578
type: RecordSet
date: after 1945 May-before 1946 May
is or was included in: us-005578-irn593679
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn593679-irn594950/acquisitions/1