Shapell family photograph collection

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 

Shapell family photograph collection 

folders 4 

The collection consists of photographs documenting German-occupied Oświęcim, Poland, circa 1940-circa 1941, and refugees living in the Münchberg, Germany, displaced persons camp, circa 1946. The photographs of Oświęcim include depictions of buildings, Jewish men forcibly having their beards and sidelocks (peyot) cut off, street scenes, and Jews clearing snow under the presence of a German soldier. Included are undated typed captions in Polish, and English translations of the captions produced in 2013. The bulk of the photographs of Münchberg document a funeral and re-interment ceremony in 1946 for women who perished between the Helmbrechts subcamp of Flossenbürg and Münchberg on the death march that originated from the Schlesiersee subcamp of Gross-Rosen in January 1945 and terminated in Volary (Volary, Czech Republic) in May 1945. They were initially buried by area farmers in or near Münchberg. The ceremony was attended by DP camp refugees, American military service members, and members of the community from Münchberg. Other photographs include depictions of youth kibbutz activities, and members of the camp community, including Nathan Shapell, his wife Lilly Shapell, Max Webb, David Shapell, Mordchai Adler, and Joachim Komet. Some of the Münchberg photographs also appear in the Max Webb photograph collection (USHMM, 2018.638.1), and the book Jidiszer Kraiz-komitet, Münchberg un Naila, 1945-1947, by Nathan Shapell (USHMM, HV640.5.J4 J83 1947). The book Witness to the Truth by Nathan Shapell (USHMM, D810.J4 S468 1974) provides detailed descriptions of the funeral at Münchberg and the kibbutz activities. 

The collection is arranged as 4 folders. Folder 1 of 4. Oświęcim, Poland under German occupation, circa 1940-circa 1941 Folder 2 of 4. Oświęcim, Poland photographs, English translations of captions, 2013 Folder 3 of 4. Münchberg DP camp funeral, 1946 Folder 4 of 4. Münchberg DP camp kibbutz activities and people, circa 1945-circa 1947