us-005578-irn89249-irn3124
has record set type: Item
scope and content: Dutch 1 (een) gulden silver voucher kept by Flory Cohen Levi in her pouch, see 1990.23.191, while she was in hiding in Amersfoort, Netherlands, from June 1942 to May 1945. Flora intended to send it to her mother Alijda, but Flora could not find her, so she always kept the pouch with her. Flora's mother Alidja had been deported to Auschwitz in September where she was killed. Flory met Felix Levi, a refugee from Hitler's Germany, in the mid-1930s. After Germany invaded Poland, Felix convinced Flora to flee. In November 1939, they sailed for South America aboard the SS Simon Bolivar, which was sunk by German mines. They were rescued by the British military and taken to a hospital in England. After recuperating for six months, they had to leave because Felix, a German, was considered an enemy alien. In May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. Flora and Felix went into hiding in June 1942 in the home of Piet Brandsen, a resistance member. They married while in hiding. After Piet was arrested in January 1944, they found refuge with Hank Hornsveld and family. The Netherlands was liberated in May 1945. The couple emigrated to America in 1948 on the SS Nieuw Amsterdam.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
record resource extent: overall: Height: 2.875 inches (7.302 cm) | Width: 5.000 inches (12.7 cm)
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn89249-irn3124/acquisitions/1
date: 1938 October 01
identifier: irn3124
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Rectangular, watermarked offwhite paper currency printed in red-brown, black, and green ink. The face has a rectangle with an ornately flourished border. The denomination 1 is in the upper and lower right corners. On the left is a medallion with the left profile of woman, Queen Wilhelmina. In the center is an offwhite rectangle with Dutch text and the denomination ZILVERBON Groot EEN GULDEN. Along the top are the series letter and number over an underprint of the denomination EEN GULDEN. The reverse has a rectangle bordered with overlapping bands with a geometric flourish.The denomination 1 is in each corner. In the center is an offwhite rectangle with Dutch text and the arms of the Netherlands: 2 lions supporting a crown. It is worn, soiled in the center, and has deep creases.
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn89249-irn3124/alternateIDs/1
archival history: The money was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990 by Felix and Flory Van Beek.
biographical history: Flora Cohen was born on December 3, 1914, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Abraham and Alijda (Aleida) Van Beek Cohen. Flora had three older siblings, Izak (1900-1965), Salomon (1904-1981), and Elisabeth (1906-1996), and two siblings who died before she was born, Moses (1901-1901), and Rosina (1902-1903). Flora’s father Abraham was born on January 23, 1874, in Rotterdam, to Isaac and Elizabeth van Lier Cohen. Flora’s mother Alijda was born on July 23, 1880, in Amersfoort, to Mozes Hartog and Rozina (Annegje) Van Esso Van Beek. Alijda had two sisters: Roosje (Rosa) (1876-1939), and Flora (1878-1943). Alijda and Abraham were married on October 11, 1899. When Flora was 5 years old, Abraham died on May 6, 1920. The family moved to Amersfoort to be closer to Alijda’s family. They were Orthodox and Flora attended services on Friday nights with her grandfather. She attended grammar school, where she learned three languages. After her grandparents died, Flora’s family moved to Amsterdam, then Rotterdam, where they had other relatives, including Flora’s paternal grandmother. In the 1930’s, many German Jewish refugees fled to the Netherlands after Hitler rose to power in 1933. Flora met Felix Levi, a German Jewish refugee who was born on May 2, 1912, in Sennfeld, Germany, to Maier and Jette Aufhauser Levi. He worked for an international import-export grain business. Germany annexed Austria in March 1938 and invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939 and Poland in September 1939. Felix believed that the Germans would invade the Netherlands. His company offered to send him to their offices in South America. Felix offered to take Flora with him to save her life. On November 17, 1939, Flora and Felix sailed on the SS Simon Bolivar. The next day, the ship was hit with two German mines and sunk. It was the first neutral ship to be destroyed by the Germans. Flora and Felix were severely injured and were rescued by a British destroyer. They were brought to Harwich, England, where they recuper…
is or was included in: us-005578-irn89249
has or had some members with language: nld
type: RecordSet
title: Netherlands, 1 gulden silver voucher, kept by a Dutch Jewish woman in hiding
has or had holder: us-005578
conditions of use: No restrictions on use