us-005578-irn85553-irn1034
title: Inverted red triangle patch with T made by a Jewish Czech concentration camp inmate
date: approximately 1945 February-1945 March
scope and content: Inverted, triangular red prisoner identification badge with a black T for Tscheche [Czech] owned by Karel (later Charles) and Hana Bruml. Karel made it while imprisoned in Nordhausen concentration camp, part of the Dora-Mittelbau complex, from February-March 1945, after a capo recognized him and had him make artwork with a group of other artist-prisoners. Red cloth is usually used to identify political prisoners, with a letter to indicate nationality; if the inmate was Jewish, it would be worn with a yellow cloth stripe. Both Karel and Hana were imprisoned in several German-run concentration camps from 1941-1945. They were originally from Prague which was annexed by Nazi Germany in March 1939. On December 10, 1941, Karel, his parents, Jindrich and Irma, siblings, Anna and Otto, and Otto’s wife Irma were sent to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp. Karel worked in the technical department. On October 26, 1942, Karel’s parents and sister were selected for deportation and Karel volunteered to go with them. They were sent to Auschwitz. Karel was then force marched to Auschwitz III - Monowitz (Buna) concentration camp where he painted prisoner numbers on uniforms. In early 1945, he was transferred to Gleiwitz, Nordhausen, and Bergen-Belsen, where he was liberated on April 15. Hana and her then husband Rudolf Schiff were sent to Theresienstadt in August 1942. Hana was deported to Auschwitz in October 1944, and then sent to Kudowa-Sackisch slave labor camp where she was freed in May 1945. Hana and Karel returned to Prague and met while searching for relatives, but most had perished. They both left for the United States in 1946, where they married.
is or was included in: us-005578-irn85553
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn85553-irn1034/alternateIDs/1
identifier: irn1034
history: The badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1989 by Charles and Hana Bruml.
record resource extent: overall: Height: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm) | Width: 1.875 inches (4.763 cm)
has or had holder: us-005578
history: Karel (Charles) Bruml was born on October 5, 1912, to Jindrich and Irma Schindler Bruml in Prague, Czech Republic, Austro-Hungary. Jindrich was born in 1882 in Strazov to Abraham and Anna Steinreich Bruml and had approximately 10 siblings. Jindrich was a businessman and owned several shoe factories. Irma was born in 1885 in Trebenice to Jacob and Anna Getreuer Schindler. Karel had 2 younger siblings: Otto, b.1916, and Anna, b. 1922. Karel’s family was prosperous and employed a maid. They spoke Czech and German. They were Jewish, but did not keep kosher and rarely attended synagogue. Karel attended a Czech school and took art classes at his synagogue and with a private teacher. Karel’s father often partnered with his brother Richard, b.1884, on business deals. Richard was married to Helene Fischer and Karel was very close to her brother Karel Fischer (1889-1975), a railroad engineer and transportation expert, whom he thought of as an uncle. Karel was a draftsman at a design company. On September 29, 1938, Germany annexed the Sudetenland border region. On March 15, 1939, Germany invaded Prague and absorbed the Bohemia and Moravia provinces, which were governed by a Reich Protector. Karel’s uncle Richard was secretary of the Pilsen branch of the Czechoslovakian Social Democratic party, and was jailed in Germany as a political prisoner. Several antisemitic regulations were enacted: Jews lost their jobs and property; were banned from areas of the city or shopping at certain times. Karel was fired because he was a Jew and his father’s businesses were confiscated. The family had to turn their radio and valuables over to the authorities. Jews were not allowed to have gold or silver, so Karel’s father hid jewelry and bought cheap jewelry to turn over instead. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded neighboring Poland, and World War II began when Great Britain and France declared war. In September 1941, Reinhard Heydrich, SS chief of Reich security, became Reich Protector. Jews…
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: Used, lightweight red cloth inverted triangle patch with the letter T applied in black ink near the top front, with darker staining around it. The edges are folded onto the back and hand stitched with purple thread. front, top center, black ink : T [Tscheche, German for Czech]
type: RecordSet
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn85553-irn1034/acquisitions/1
has record set type: Item
has or had some members with language: deu
conditions of access: No restrictions on access