us-005578-irn604645-irn526642
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: Rectangular, black imitation leather (est.) covered trifold wallet with cardboard reinforcement. There is a full length interior panel with 3 oval cutout windows with clear plastic inserts and a side opening to insert a photograph. It has shiny, blue-green cloth lining.
is or was included in: us-005578-irn604645
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn604645-irn526642/acquisitions/1
identifier: irn526642
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
has record set type: Item
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
has or had holder: us-005578
history: Fritz Dieter Vendig (Fred, 1932-2001) was born in Kaiserslautern, Germany, to Charlotte (née Berstein, 1907-1988) and Ernst Vendig (1899-1956). Ernst was born in Kaiserslautern to Paulina (Lina, née Marx, 1872-1959) and David Vendig (1865-1930). David and Paulina married in January 7, 1894. During World War I, David served for over a year in a German Field Artillery Regiment. Charlotte was born in Hachenburg, to Jenny (née Stern, 1867-1940) and Isaac Bernstein, a cattle dealer. Charlotte had two brothers, Ernst, and Robert, who, with his wife Gertrude left for the United States before the war, and a sister Anne, who married Jules Heim and moved to Zurich, Switzerland. Charlotte and Ernst Vendig married on August 17, 1930. Soon after this, Ernst’s father died following a car accident. They lived with Ernst’s mother Lina. Ernst owned a store which sold ready-to-wear clothing for men and women. Charlotte worked with Ernst in the business. Fritz had one younger brother, Heiner (Henry, 1937-2003). On January 30, 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, and the Nazi regime passed legislation to disenfranchise the Jewish population. Nazi Party SA members, known as brown shirts, stood guard at the Vendig store entrance to stop customers from entering, as part of a boycott of all Jewish businesses. After three weeks, the threatening crowds lessened, but the news media continued to spread anti-Jewish propaganda. Charlotte wanted to leave Germany, but Ernst and his mother did not. Around this time, Charlotte’s parents went to live with her sister Anne in Zurich. In the summer of 1935, Ernst was arrested while talking to two friends. They were accused of holding a political meeting and held for three weeks. At the end of 1936, Ernst’s business was Aryanized and he was forced to sell the store. The family moved to Berlin, where Ernst had established a clothing factory. Ernst closed the business which was losing money in 1938. Ernst was arrested during the Kristallnacht pogrom …
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn604645-irn526642/alternateIDs/1
history: The wallet was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Stephanie Vendig, wife of Fred Vendig.
title: Black leather photo wallet used by a young German Jewish refugee
date: approximately 1939-approximately 1946
record resource extent: overall: Height: 2.875 inches (7.303 cm) | Width: 2.500 inches (6.35 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)
scope and content: Small wallet with three photo windows used by Fritz Vendig or a family member after leaving Nazi Germany in 1939. In the mid-1930s, Fritz's father's business was taken from him when it was Aryanized, or cleansed of Jews. In November 1938, Ernst was arrested during Kristallnacht. After his release, the family prepared to leave. On May 13, 1939, Fritz, 7, his parents Ernst and Charlotte, his brother Heiner, 2, and his paternal grandmother Pauline, sailed for Cuba on the MS St. Louis. Cuban authorities refused entry to nearly all passengers. Appeals were made to the Cuban and US governments, but the ship had to return to Europe. The family was given refuge in Belgium. In May 1940, Germany occupied Belgium and Ernst was deported to France and imprisoned in St. Cyprien and then Gurs internment camps. In 1941, Charlotte, the boys, and Pauline obtained false papers and illegally entered France to be near Ernst. In August 1942, they were all interned at Les Milles and then Rivesaltes, until Charlotte's sister in Switzerland managed to get them out and smuggled into Zurich. The war ended in May 1945 with Germany's surrender. Fritz (later Fred) and his family emigrated to the United States in 1946.
type: RecordSet