us-005578-irn61342-irn90824
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
title: Green painted aluminum trunk used by a German Jewish girl on a Kindertransport
history: The trunk was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by The George Washington University, which received the item as a bequest from the Estate of John P. Eden.
type: RecordSet
has or had some members with language: eng
is or was included in: us-005578-irn61342
has or had holder: us-005578
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn61342-irn90824/acquisitions/1
history: Gisela Amalie Marx was born on April 24, 1925, in Dulken, Germany, the nly daighter of a Jewish couple, Leopold and Erna Lifges Marx. Her father Leopold was born on November 28, 1882, in Dulken. Leopold had two sisters: Rosetta (Rosa) and Eva. He was in the German Army in World War I (1914-1918) and was awarded an Iron Cross. Gisela’s mother Erna was born on July 23, 1892, in Suchteln, Germany. Erna’s family was very wealthy and the largest landowners in Westphalia. Leopold and Erna met in Paris, where Leopold was a junior diplomat and Erna was a correspondent. Gisela’s family kept kosher and observed the holidays, but were not very religious. In January 1933, Hitler came to power and, by summer, Germany was ruled by a Nazi dictatorship. Anti-Jewish policies were soon enacted. Leopold and Erna believed they had some protection because of their wealth and Leopold’s status as a veteran and diplomat. Still, they decided to send Gisela to England on a Kindertransport as the persecution worsened. Leopold sent money to a friend in England, who agreed to care for Gisela after she arrived. Gisela traveled from Cologne to Holland by train, then sailed to England, arriving on August 25, 1939. Her father’s friend never arrived to claim her. Gisela and two other abandoned children were sent to live with an Orthodox rabbi. Gisela had a very difficult time adjusting because she was not raised to be observant and did not speak English. A member of the Jewish Refugee Committee had Gisela sent to a boarding school in Lancashire. In 1941, Gisela was called for military service after she turned sixteen. She had to choose between the army, police, or nursing. Gisela chose to study nursing and worked at a children’s hospital in London. The hospital was bombed during the Blitz, the nightly German air raids on London from fall 1940 - May 1941. Gisela was transferred to an American military hospital in Surrey, where she cared for wounded American soldiers. The war ended when Germany surren…
record resource extent: overall: Height: 9.625 inches (24.448 cm) | Width: 26.375 inches (66.993 cm) | Depth: 17.625 inches (44.768 cm)
has record set type: Item
scope and content: Green aluminum trunk used by 14 year old Gisela Marx on a Kindertransport from Dulken, Germany, to Great Britain in August 1939. Gisela’s parents, Erna and Leopold, purchased the trunk for her trip, hoping it would be more waterproof. The Nazi regime, in power in Germany since 1933, persecuted the Jewish population. Leopold, a former diplomat and WWI veteran, and Erna, a member of a wealthy, landowning family, thought their status would protect them, but in 1939, they decided to send Gisela to safety. The friend paid to care for her never showed up, and she was sent to live with an Orthodox rabbi, and then to boarding school. In 1941, Gisela had to perform military service and she chose to become nurse. She worked in a children’s hospital in London. When it was bombed during the Blitz, she was transferred to an American military hospital in Surrey. The war ended when Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945. Gisela’s parents were deported and killed in the Riga Ghetto in December 1941.
identifier: irn90824
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn61342-irn90824/alternateIDs/1
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1939 August
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: Rectangular, aluminum trunk, painted dark green with 2 light green center stripes, with a rounded lid attached by 3 hinges. The lid and base have metal trim and corner bumpers, with large rivets around all edges. On the lid front, 2 drawbolts flank a hasp for the lockplate with keyhole on the base. A dark brown leather covered metal handle is attached on front by rings to 2 metal plates. There are 4 metal foot studs on the back and the bottom corners. The interior is lined with fuzzy brown cloth, with a leather lid stay. The hardware is silver colored metal. There are labels adhered to all sides. front, lower left corner, labels, black ink : FROM / TO / VIA / EXCESS CHARGE TO PAY top, back left, handwritten on sticker, black ink : FABRIC PIECES OF / CLOTHES MADE / ALSO SPARE DINING / ROOM CHAIR FABRIC top, center, remnants of label, handwritten in blue ink and printed in white and black : MA / V / VO / anding / STEVE / JER / LAND NEW YO / NO / WANT / GE right, handwritten on 2 labels and crossed out, black ink : FABRIC ENDS left, label on left, handwritten, red marker : EDEN left, label on right, stamped in black ink and printed in white and black : 401432 B 401432 / UNITED STATES / CUSTOMS SERVCE / DATE / INSPECTOR