us-005578-irn614013-irn619226
type: RecordSet
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: Rectangular, dark gray metal tag with rounded corners, five narrow horizontal slits cut out across the center, and a small circular hole punched out in three corners. The prisoner number and German abbreviations are embossed on the front on each side of the slits, with the text on the lower half reversed. Indentations from the stamped text are visible on the back and white tarnish is visible throughout on both sides of the tag.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1941 December 12-1943 July
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had subject: 1976
has record set type: Item
history: George Louis Waldman (1890-1972, b. Jules Chazanoff) was born in Stepan, in the Russian Empire (now, Ukraine) to Boroch (1856-1941) and Bella Spelman Waldman (1860-1949). George had 3 younger brothers and a younger sister. In 1910 he immigrated to the United States via Montreal, Canada, on the Allen Train Line. George worked as a plumber before starting a paper import-export business. He married Betsy Stackowitz (1898-1970) on March 28, 1917 in Boston Massachusetts. Betsy was born in London, England, and immigrated to the United States in 1906. They had two sons, Milton Albert Waldman (1918-2002) and John Robert Waldman (1928-1973). As part of their paper business, the Waldmans established an office in Paris, and split their time living in France and the U.S. At the onset of World War II George, Betsy, and John were staying in France. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany. In May 1940, Germany invaded France and occupied the northern half of the country. After the conquest, the Germans did not bother American citizens living in France, including the Waldman family, despite their Jewish heritage. Jewish citizens from the United States and western enemy states were exempted from the German anti-Semitic policies because of their potential prisoner exchange value during the war. On December 11, 1941, four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Germany declared war on the United States. The next day, George was arrested and detained in Compiègne internment camp as an enemy alien. While in Compiègne George lived in military style barracks. On January 11, 1943, Betsy and John were arrested and detained at Vittel internment camp. In July, George was removed from Compiègne, taken to Vittel, and reunited with his family. In Vittel, the Waldman’s had hotel-like accommodations with running water and heat. They were able to send and receive mail, and received weekly Red Cross packages. The Germans pub…
history: The identification tag was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Deborah Pearson, the daughter of John Waldman and the granddaughter of George and Betsy Waldman.
identifier: irn619226
is or was included in: us-005578-irn614013
record resource extent: overall: Height: 1.625 inches (4.128 cm) | Width: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Prisoner ID tag issued to George Waldman, while he was held in Compiègne internment camp in France, from December 1941 to July 1943. George, Betsy, and their teenage son, John, were American citizens who lived in Paris to manage their paper import-export business. On September 3, 1939, in response to the German invasion of Poland, France declared war on Germany. In May of 1940, Germany invaded and quickly defeated France, occupying the northern half of the country. Despite their Jewish heritage, the Waldmans were left alone by the Germans due to their American citizenship. In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Subsequently, Germany declared war on the U.S. on December 11, 1941.The next day George was arrested and detained at Compiègne as an enemy alien. On January 11, 1943, Betsy and John were arrested and detained in Vittel internment camp. In July, George was removed from Compiègne, taken to Vittel, and reunited with his family. Due to their American citizenship, the Waldmans received better treatment than other prisoners at the internment camps. They had hotel like accommodations, with heat and running water, were able to send and receive mail, and received weekly Red Cross packages. On September 12, 1944, the Vittel internment camp was liberated by Free French forces and the Waldmans returned to the United States in October 1945.
title: Prisoner ID tag issued to a Jewish American prisoner in Compiègne internment camp