us-005578-irn61106-irn61103
type: RecordSet
archival history: The Star of David badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2006 by Ron and Susan Miller, the son and daughter-in-law of Ruth Kittel Miller.
biographical history: Ruth Kittel was born on July 21, 1927, in Berlin, Germany, to Josef and Marie (Maria) Ritter Kittel. Josef Kittel, a businessman and World War I veteran, was born on February 5, 1896, in Vienna, Austria, to Catholic parents. Maria was born on July 29, 1896, in Orzegow, Germany, to Jewish parents. Ruth’s older sister, Hannelore, was born on March 12, 1924. In January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. In spring 1934, Ruth was enrolled in her local public school in the Neukolln borough of Berlin. She was also enrolled at the Jewish religious school run by Rabbi Dr. Kantorowitz to study Hebrew and Jewish teachings. The sisters actively participated in Jewish life and were members of a congregation. Following the September 15, 1935, passage of the Nuremberg Laws, Ruth and Hannelore were classified as persons with mixed Jewish blood, mischlinge, and subject to anti-Jewish restrictions and laws. In spring 1938, the German government passed laws to remove Jewish students from public schools. Ruth had to enroll at the Jewish middle school in her borough, which was managed by the Jewish Religious Organization of Berlin. Ruth, her sister Hannelore, and their mother, Maria, had to register with the local police, district number 214, and were recorded as Jews. On February 14, 1939, they each received a numbered Jewish identification card with a large red letter J and the added middle name Sara to make them identifiably Jewish. Ruth’s card was numbered A. 611790. In September, World War II began after Germany invaded Poland. On September 19, 1941, 14 year old Ruth reported to the office of the Jewish Organization to pick up Star of David or Judenstern badges, which she always had to wear to indicate she was Jewish. Non-Jewish children her age regularly ridiculed Ruth because she wore the Star of David. Ruth never had enough to eat because the Organization distributed ration cards for food, but Jews received reduced rations. The anti-Jewish regulations also r…
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Yellow cloth badge in the shape of a 6 pointed Star of David hand stitched to satiny brown cloth backing. The star outline is formed from 2 overlapping dyed triangles. In the center is the German word for Jew in a font resembling Hebrew. The backing is cut across the center. It has very slight signs of wear.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: approximately 1941 September 19
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: deu
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn61103
is or was included in: us-005578-irn61106
record resource extent: overall: Height: 3.500 inches (8.89 cm) | Width: 3.000 inches (7.62 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Yellow cloth Star of David badge worn by Ruth Kittel, her sister, Hannelore, or their Jewish mother, Marie, while living with their Catholic father Josef under the Nazi dictatorship in Berlin, Germany. On September 19, 1941, 14 year old Ruth picked up government mandated Judenstern from the Office of the Jewish Organization because she, Hannelore, 17, and Maria had to wear one at all times to identify themselves as Jewish. In spring 1942, her Jewish school closed, and Ruth had to register as a forced laborer with the Work Office for Jews. In November, Ruth was assigned to the Osram light bulb factory. On February 27, 1943, she was taken from Osram and transported to two collection camps untile her release on March 6. Ruth returned in May to her forced labor detail. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Ruth, Hannelore, Maria, and Josef immigrated to the US on August 26, 1946.
title: Star of David badge with Jude for Jew worn by a young woman assigned to forced labor