us-005578-irn68623-irn373
type: RecordSet
archival history: The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by Irene S. Woods, the daughter of Kurt Schlesinger.
biographical history: Kurt Joseph Schlesinger (1885-1946) was born in Berlin, Germany, to Max (1853-1898) and Harriet Holz (1862-1929) Schlesinger. The couple married on October 19, 1884, and lived in Berlin. Kurt had an older brother, Fritz (1886 -?), and a younger sister Hanna (1891-?). Kurt worked as an apprentice lumberman in the early 1900s, and eventually became a lumber broker. He would buy and sell lumber by the wagonload and ship it by rail from Poland and Russia. He fought as an officer for Germany during World War 1 (1914-1918) and earned two medals, an Iron Cross, 2nd class, and an Honor Cross. On May 19, 1918, Kurt married Erna Meier (1897-1991) and they settled in the Zehlendorf borough of Berlin. Erna was the daughter of Hermann (1868-1904) and Jenny Gruenberg (1874-1944) Meier, and the step-daughter of Adolf Pelz (1865-1935). Kurt’s sister, Hanna, married Max Pelz in 1918, and they had one daughter, Susanne (1921-?). Kurt and Erna had one daughter, Irene (later Woods Hofstein, 1921-2016). In 1924, Kurt and Erna divorced. Erna moved in to her parents’ home and took Irene with her. Kurt only saw Irene on Sundays and during school vacations. Kurt’s brother, Fritz, married Margarete Wilde on October 19, 1924, and they had one son, Klaus (ca 1925 -?). In 1929, Kurt married Christine (Christal) Dahlhausen (1900-?), a non-Jewish woman, and the couple moved to Cologne. Kurt saw Irene only when she visited during the summer. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany, and there was a large parade to celebrate. Kurt was very concerned by this election and Hitler’s policies. As a result, Kurt and Christine immigrated to Amsterdam, Netherlands. He continued to be a lumber broker, and occasionally worked in other countries when necessary. His daughter Irene’s maternal Aunt Ruth and her family were also concerned, and immigrated to Palestine. In 1934, Irene had to be removed from public school because she was being harassed for being Jewish. She was sent to a p…
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Bronze, cross pattée medal with flared arms, an embossed central design with two crossed, military swords behind, and a raised rim. At the center, the years of conflict appear encircled by a laurel wreath with a ribbon tied at the bottom, the trailing ends extending into the cross’s lower arm. The lower arm is flanked by the engraved hilts of the swords, while the blade tips flank the upper arm. A maker’s mark is embossed on the bottom arm of the smooth back. A suspension ring with a bail is attached to the center of the upper arm. Threaded through the bail is a grosgrain ribbon with seven vertical stripes: a red center flanked by black and white stripes and narrow black edges. The ends of the ribbon are not sewn together and they are cut and fraying.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1934 July 13-1944
has beginning date: 1914-01-01
has end date: 1918-12-31
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had subject: 2019
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn373
is or was included in: us-005578-irn68623
record resource extent: overall: Height: 4.375 inches (11.113 cm) | Width: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Honor Cross, combatants medal awarded to Kurt Schlesinger for his service in the German Army during World War I (1914-1918). The Honor, or Hindenburg, Cross was established by President von Hindenburg in July 1934. It commemorated distinguished deeds in combat, and individuals had to apply to the government to receive it. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Kurt and his second wife, Christine, were very concerned about Hitler’s policies, and immigrated to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Kurt left behind his teenage daughter, Irene, who lived in Berlin with her mother, Erna Schlesinger. Kurt and Erna had divorced in 1924, and he only saw Irene during holidays. In July 1938, Kurt signed a document granting permission for Irene, a minor, to emigrate because the situation for Jews in Germany had become more dangerous. In July 1939, Irene and Erna arrived in Amsterdam to say goodbye to him before boarding a ship to the United States. Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. In the second half of 1942, Kurt was transported to Westerbork transit camp and held there. After approximately one year, Christine, who was not Jewish, was able to get Kurt out the camp before he could be deported to a concentration camp. In February 1946, Kurt was killed instantly when he was thrown from the bed of a truck during an accident.
title: Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 combatant veteran service medal awarded to a German Jewish soldier