us-005578-irn68674-irn5871
type: RecordSet
archival history: The Theresienstadt scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Hana Rehakova, the daughter of Elisabeth Trausel.
biographical history: Elisabeth (Liese) Polacek (later Trausel) was born on November 4, 1902, in Prague, Austro-Hungary (Czech Republic), to Josef and Stefanie Polacek (Polatschek). Josef, a Jewish doctor, was born on November 2, 1870, in Austro-Hungary. Stefanie was born on March 3, 1875. The Austro- Hungarian Empire collapsed at the end of World War I (1914-1918) and Prague became part of the newly independent Czechoslovak Republic. Liese married a non-Jewish man, Mr. Trausel, and the couple had two daughters, Eva and Hana (later Rehakova), born on March 28, 1930. After 1933, when the Nazi regime came to power in Germany, Prague saw a large influx of Jews fleeing persecution. On February 4, 1938, Liese’s mother, Stefanie, died. In September, Germany annexed the Sudetenland border region. In March 1939, Germany annexed the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia, where Prague was located, and placed them under the control of a Reich Protector. Other regions were absorbed by German allies and Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. Jewish life was restricted. Jews were banned from most professions and organizations, lost their property, and had to live with curfews. Few shops would serve Jews, who were allowed shop only during a few hours each day. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. Two days later, England and France declared war on Germany. In September 1941, Czech Jews were required to wear a yellow Star of David badge sewn to their clothing at all times to make them easy to identify. Liese attached pointed hooks to her badge, which made it easy to remove when she needed to cross into an area of the city where Jews were not allowed. At the end of the month, Reinhard Heydrich, SS Chief of Security for the Reich, became Reich Protector, and prioritized the expulsion of Jews to concentration camps. Regular deportations of Jews from Prague began, with daily transport notices in the newspapers. Exempted from these deportations were several groups of Jews, including those that …
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Theresienstadt scrip printed on rectangular, off white paper in black and red ink. The front background rectangle has a geometric latticework pattern. On the left is a vignette of Moses, with a long beard and wrinkled brow, holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew. To the right is the denomination 2 and German text. On the right is a wide, off white border with the denomination 2 in the bottom corner below a Star of David. The reverse has a background rectangle with an interlocked diamond pattern, overprinted with German text, an engraved signature, and a scrollwork line. The denomination 2 is in the upper right corner. On the left is a wide, off white border with 2 in the lower corner below a Star of David in a lined circle. The plate letter and serial number A006 are in the upper left corner. The front has several yellow stains and a crease in the center.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: after 1943 January 01
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: irn5871
is or was included in: us-005578-irn68674
record resource extent: overall: Height: 2.125 inches (5.398 cm) | Width: 4.375 inches (11.113 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Scrip valued at 2 kronen acquired by Elisabeth (Liese) Trausel who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp from fall 1944 until liberation in May 1945. Liese lived in Prague when it was invaded in March 1939, by Germany and made part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The authorities passed new anti-Jewish regulations that severely restricted Liese’s daily life. In September, Germany invaded neighboring Poland. In September 1941, Liese was required to wear a yellow Star of David badge at all times to identify herself as Jewish. Later that month, Reinhard Heydrich became Reich Protector and soon there were almost daily deportations of Jews to concentration camps. Liese was married to a non-Jewish man and her daughters were considered half-Jewish, which exempted all three women from being transported. On December 13, 1942, Liese’s father Josef Polacek was facing deportation and instead committed suicide. In June and December 1943, many of the exemptions protecting particular groups were waived and more Jews were transported. On September 1, 1944, Liese was assigned to do compulsory work. Later that fall, she was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp north of Prague. In April 1945, Hana was in the hospital and Eva was assigned to a compulsory work detail. Theresienstadt was taken over by the Red Cross on May 2, 1945. The war ended 5 days later when Germany surrendered. Liese returned to Prague. Many of her relatives and friends were killed in German concentration camps.
title: Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 2 kronen note acquired by a Jewish Czech woman