The sketchbook was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995 by Irwin Ross.
Adolf Frankl (1903-1983) was born to Josef (1871-1944) and Esther (nee Nasch, 1876-1933) in Pozsony, Austria-Hungary (which became Bratislava, Czechoslovakia in 1919, and is now in Slovakia). Josef was a respected businessman with an interior design store. He had three brothers, Ignatz (1901-1945), Alexander Simson (1905-1993), and Leo (1907-1942), and a sister, Stefanie (later Reisner,1916-2009). They were wealthy, well-respected, and had a large extended family in town. Adolf attended the School of Applied Arts in Bratislava, and worked as a caricaturist and advertising artist on the side. After he graduated in 1921, Adolf began working in his father’s interior design business. In 1933, he married Renee Nachmias (1914-2007), and the couple had two children, Thomas (b.1934) and Erika (later Rothberg, 1936-2015). Although Adolf and Renee raised their children as liberal Jews, they ate Kosher and observed the holidays at the home of Renee’s parents with over 100 members of their extended family. In the fall of 1938, Germany annexed the Sudetenland, a border region of Czechoslovakia. By May of 1939, Germany, Hungary, and Poland partitioned Czechoslovakia, and Bratislava became part of the Nazi puppet state of Slovakia. Anti-Jewish violence and restrictions grew, and when World War II began in September 1939, Jewish shops were confiscated and Aryanized. The Frankl’s store was taken over by a man named Anton Csech, who was sympathetic towards Adolf and his family. Since Anton was not familiar with the interior design industry, he obtained special permission to keep Adolf on as an employee, which allowed him to continue supporting his family. Adolf’s brother, Alexander, immigrated to Palestine in 1939. Adolf and Renee moved their family to her parents’ home, and later had to move into a shared home in the Jewish sector of the city. Slovakia joined the Axis in November 1940. In June 1941, after Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the Frankl’s home was raided by the German and Slovakian soldiers, and their property was confiscated. When authorities began arresting Jews for forced labor, Adolf and his family were given special identification cards. Adolf was identified as an economic contributor, which protected him and his family from deportation. Adolf’s father, Josef, had gone to the hospital before the large-scale arrests began, and remained hidden there under false documentation that Stefanie and a family friend procured for him. On September 9, 1941, a series of new decrees included the mandatory wearing of a yellow Star of David. Because of his professional status, Adolf was issued a small, plastic pin to wear instead of a large badge. In March 1942, Slovakia signed a formal agreement with Germany to begin deporting Jews as part of the Final Solution. The Frankls began fostering Benjamin Klein, a Jewish boy who had been smuggled from Krakow, Poland. Benjamin was not registered as a Jew with the authorities, and therefore was not on the lists when Adolf and his family were arrested on September 28, 1944. Benjamin found refuge with neighbors, while the rest of the family was taken to the freight train station. Adolf was separated from the rest of the family at the station, and Renee told an officer that they were there by mistake and that her husband was not Jewish. The officers reasoned that Adolf still had Jewish ancestry, forced him onto the train, and escorted Renee and the children out of the train station. Adolf was transported to Sered concentration camp. While there, he falsified two work cards and an identification for “mixed marriage,” which protected him from immediate deportation. He volunteered for several work positions, hoping to keep himself off the transports to Auschwitz. Adolf made a point of walking around to various barracks to exchange information and tradable goods. He came across many people that he knew, including relatives of Renee as well as his brother, Ignaz, and Ignaz’ wife and son. In October 1944, Adolf learned that his father, Josef, died. When Renee’s parents, Frida (1886-1945) and Oskar (1881-1945) Nachmias, arrived at Sered, they were all questioned, exposing Adolf’s lie about his wife’s religion. Adolf and his in-laws were deported to Auschwitz on the next transport. On November 4, Adolf arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center in German-occupied Poland. There, he was tattooed with the number B 14395 and assigned to Barrack 11. By the time Adolf arrived at Birkenau, gassing had stopped, following the October riot in which prisoners had blown up one of the crematoriums. He falsely claimed that he was a skilled weaver, and was subsequently assigned to a series of crews, including weaving, dismantling damaged barracks, sorting parachute and rubber waste, and dragging latrine and food barrels. Adolf volunteered for as much as he could to prove to the SS guards that he was a capable worker. Although gassings had stopped, the prisoners were tortured, malnourished, and treated inhumanely. Adolf was caught and beaten multiple times for trading goods for cigarettes. He also witnessed his brother, Ignatz, and nephew being beaten. Ignatz was beaten so severely that he was admitted to the sick barracks and later died. In January 1945, Auschwitz was evacuated in advance of the Soviet arrival and Adolf was among 2,000 prisoners sent on a forced march to Gleiwitz. One night, Adolf and a group of 20 other sick prisoners were forced to stand almost to their necks in snow overnight, guarded by soldiers and dogs. When they woke the following morning, their two guards had fled. Adolf and his group made their way to the Auschwitz subcamp Althammer (in the town of Stara Kuźnia). Most of the camp had been evacuated, except for 150 prisoners too sick to march. Adolf hid in a typhus barrack, where he became so weak that he passed out and remained unconscious for three days. Soviet forces liberated the camp on January 27, 1945. After liberation, Adolf made his way to Katowice, then Krakow, through a combination of walking and hitchhiking with the Soviet army. He stayed in Krakow for about a month, working as a servant for a countess. He returned to Bratislava in April 1945, shortly after the liberation of the city. Adolf reunited with his wife and children, who spent the war hiding in homes on the outskirts of Bratislava. While in hiding, Renee received financial support from Anton Csech, the man who took over their family business. Adolf’s sister, Stefanie, her husband and child had also been in hiding under false names with a family near Bratislava. Although Adolf’s brothers, Leo and Ignatz, died in the camps, Ignatz’s wife and daughter survived Auschwitz. Adolf and his family were able to return to their home, only to find that the Germans who had lived there trashed it. In 1946, the children returned to school and Adolf reopened his shop. Shortly after Adolf and Renee had another son, Jonny (b. 1947). In 1948, their business was seized and nationalized during communist revolution in Slovakia. Adolf planned to take the family to Israel, where his brother, Alexander, was living, but they went through multiple rounds of paying for invalid visas. In 1950, they immigrated to Vienna, Austria, where Adolf set up a small art studio. Although he suffered from fear, migraines, insomnia, and nightmares until his death, Adolf created paintings that helped him cope with his experiences during the Holocaust. The family prepared to immigrate to either Australia, where Stefanie and her family had moved, or to the United States. They sailed for New York in 1957, but eventually returned to Europe. After Adolf’s death, his children continued to run a gallery exhibiting his work until its closing in 2017.
Small sketchbook with 150 pages and an orange cardboard cover that is heavily worn and creased. The binding is disintegrating, and held together with paper tape. The pages contain sketches on off-white paper of various scenes from a concentration camp in graphite and blue, black, and red ink. Most of the sketches include a caption and artist signature. There are15 additional sketches that do not include a caption. Pages 129-130 have been torn from the sketchbook, leaving a jagged remnant. page 1, lower left corner, handwritten, blue ink: Typhuslager Staré Kušna wird geräumt. 20•I•1945 [Typhus camp Starà Kušna is cleared out January 20, 1945] page 3, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Juder Mistgrube vom Typhuslager Storé kušna I 1945 [Jewish manure pit from the Typhus camp Staré Kušna January 1945] page 5, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: BIRKENAU, STRAFBARAK.ii Nov 944 [Birkenau, punishment barrack 2 November 1944] page 7, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: BIRKENAU DAS PERSONAL / DESKREN-WURDEN / KANADA / (KREMATORIUM) genannt [Birkenau The staff / Deskren were called / Canada / (crematorium)] page 9, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Bemalung der Mäntel wegen Fluchtgefahr. BIRKENAU Desember 1944 [Painting the coats due to the risk of escape. Birkenau December 1944] page 11, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Richtung Auschwitz Nov 44 [Towards Auschwitz. November 1944] Page 13, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: KINDER KOMMANDO BIRKENAU 944 [Children’s commando Birkenau 1944] page 15, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: 18. I.45 Eilmarsch Evakuation vom Birkenau [January 18, 1945 Quick evacuation from Birkenau] page 17, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: KREMATORIUM 1944 Birkenau / [backwards] KREMATORIUM 1944 Birkenau [Crematorium 1944 Birkenau] page 19, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: KREMAT. 944. [Crematorium 1944] page 21, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: 1944 (?) BIRKENAU v.BARAK. 5 [1944 (?) Barrack 5 of Birkenau] page 23, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: Ein Hosendieb wird von der Feuerwehr erschlagen Birkenau XII. 944 [A trouser thief is killed by the fire brigade Birkenau December 1944] page 25, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Nach der vergasung. Birkenau 944 [After the gasification. Birkenau 1944] page 27, top edge, handwritten, blue and black ink: Gefangene bei der Toilette. Birkenau 944 [Prisoners at the toilet. Birkenau 1944] page 29, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: Bratislava 20 Sept. 44. Beginn der Deportation. [Bratislava, September 20, 1944. Start of deportation.] page 31, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Nach. / Sered. 20 Sept 944 Beginn der Deportation in Bratislava [After / Sered. September 20, 1944 start of deportation in Bratislava] page 33, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: Weihnachten Birkenau 944 [Christmas Birkenau 1944] page 35, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: VORRAUM DES TODES / Birkenau 944 [Vestibule of death / Birkenau 1944] page 37, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Bratislava Sept 944 / Beginn der Deportation [Bratislava September 1944 / Start of deportation] page 39, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: NACH AUSCHWITZ 944 [To Auschwitz 1944] page 41, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Selbstmörder. Birkenau 944 [Suicide. Birkenau 1944] page 43, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Eine Hand Birkenau 944 [A hand Birkenau 1944] page 45, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Birkenau 944. Dichungerige Ratte. [Birkenau 1944. Poisonous rat.] page 47, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Judentypen / aus der Slova / kei 944 [Types of Jews / from Slovakia / 1944] page 49, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Klosett Birkenau 944 [Latrine Birkenau 1944] page 51, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Birkenau “MEXIKO” 944 [Birkenau “Mexico” 1944] page 53, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Starà kužna. ERSTE SCHRITTE IN FREIHEIT. 25.I.945 [Starà Kušna. First steps in Freedom. January 25, 1945] page 55, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Birkenau 944 ARBEITSKOMMANDO “WEBERI” TRETET AN.. [Birkenau 1944 Working command “Weaving” steps AN.] page 57, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: TASCHEN KO[N]TROLLE BIRKENAU 944 [Pocket control Birkenau 1944] page 59, bottom edge, handwritten, black ink: Sered, Slovaki. geschorene Zigeunor müssen tansen und Whireke innitieren. 1944 [Sereď, Slovakia. Shorn gypsies must dance and initiate music.1944] page 61, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Sered. Slovake / 944 22 Sept. / I. Transport wird besidrtinet [Sereď, Slovakia / September 22, 1944 / 1. Transport will be carried out] page 63, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Appell. Birkenau 944 [Inspection Birkenau 1944] page 65, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Identifierung vom liquidierten Spitzeln. Brikenau (?)st 944 (Polemig, Krause etc) [Identification of liquidated spies Birkenau (?) 1944 (?)] page 67, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Traum des K.Z. Lers Birkenau 944 [Lers dreams in the concentration camp Birkenau 1944] page 69, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Tod des Advoketen Dr. Polgar Birkenau 944 [Death of lawyer Dr. Polgar Birkenau 1944] page 71, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Abschied von den Lieben Sered 944 [Saying farewell to loved ones Sered, Slovakia 1944] page 73, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: Leichentrager Birkenau 944 [pallbearer Birkenau 1944] page 75, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: EinTotentransport ist angekommen Birkenau 944 [A transport of dead people has arrived Birkenau 1944] page 77, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Abendessen, Birkenau 944 [Dinner, Birkenau 1944] page 79, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: 25 Stockhiebe waren üblich. Birkenau 944 [25 cane strokes were common. Birkenau 1944] page 81, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Selbstmord Werner (Spitzel) Sered 44 [Suicide of Werner (spy) Sered, Slovakia 1944] page 83, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Aus Dem K.Z. Indie Freiheit. 1945.IV [From the concentration camp into freedom. April 1945] page 85, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: KADISCH GEBET. Birkenau 944 [Kaddish Prayer. Birkenau 1944] page 89, bottom right corner, hand written, blue ink: 944 [1944] page 91, right edge, handwritten, blue ink: Auschwitz / Birkenau / Lublin / Dachau / Terezin / Majdanek / Bergen B. / 944 [Auschwitz / Birkenau / Lublin / Dachau / Theresienstadt / Majdanek / Bergen Belsen / 1944] page 93, lower right corner, handwritten, blue ink: zahnarzt der Leichen / Birkenau / 944 [dentist of the corpses / Birkanau / 944] page 95, lower right corner, handwritten, blue ink: Nacht mahl Barak 5. / 944 / Birkenau [Evening meal at Barrack 5 / 1944 / Birkenau] page 97: bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: 944 [1944] page 99. Top edge, handwritten, blue ink: Birkenau 944 [Birkenau 1944] page 101, bottom edge, hand written, blue ink: Sonntag zwischen Männer u. Frauenlager. B.944 [Sunday between the men and women’s camp Birkenau 1944] page 103, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: “SS” Frauen und Männer unterhalten sich. Birkenau 944 [“SS” women and men entertain themselves Birkenau 1944] page 105, top edge, handwritten, black ink: Ankunft. Birkenau 944 [Arrivals. Birkenau 1944] page 107, bottom right corner, handwritten, blue ink: Vor dem Tode / Birkenau / 944 [Before death / Birkenau / 1944] page 109, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Zur selektion. Birkenau 944 [To selection. Birkenau 1944] page 111, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Das Frauen Klosett. Birkenau 944 [The women’s latrine. Birkenau 1944] page 113, top edge, handwritten, blue ink: Frauen in Birkenau 944 [Women in Birkenau 1944] page 116, bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: Weiliburetempel(?) Wien [(?) Vienna] page 120, bottom right corner, handwritten, blue ink: Wien [Vienna] page126: wien [Vienna] page 136, edge, handwritten, graphite: Mein Arbator [My Arbator] page 141, bottom edge, handwritten and crossed out, blue ink: D Ponesch / XIII / Linzerstr. / (?) [D Ponesch / 13 / Linzer Street / (?)] page 152: bottom edge, handwritten, blue ink: IreneTaube. Wien 27.I.54 —20 Grad [Irene Taube. Vienna January 27, 1954 —20 degrees] inside back cover: handwritten, blue ink and graphite: Doisy Streeruwitz / Pension Mozart / Theobaldgasse / 1 Rudin 1 Barye / 40 Mol. 250 / 20 “ 80 / [?] / u12993 / Ludwig / Theobaldg. 10
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overall: Height: 5.750 inches (14.605 cm) | Width: 4.125 inches (10.477 cm) | Depth: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm)
Sketchbook created by Adolf Frankl, depicting scenes from multiple concentration camps. It was likely created after the war, as a way for Adolf to process his experiences during the Holocaust. Adolf was living in his hometown of Bratislava with his wife, two children, and a large extended family, when the city became part of the Nazi puppet state of Slovakia in May 1939. When World War II began in September 1939, the family’s interior design store was confiscated and Aryanized. Adolf was able to continue working for the new owner, and received documentation protecting him and his family from persecution. On September 28, 1944, Adolf and his family were arrested for deportation. His wife convinced the guards to let her and the children go, but Adolf was transported to Sered concentration camp. After about a month, he was deported and arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center on November 4. By the time he arrived, gassing had stopped, but prisoners continued to be tortured, malnourished, and treated inhumanely. Adolf was caught and beaten multiple times for trading goods for cigarettes. In January 1945, Auschwitz was evacuated and Adolf was sent on a forced march to Gleiwitz. Adolf and a small group of prisoners escaped when their guards abandoned them one night. They made their way to the Auschwitz subcamp, Althammer, where Adolf hid in a typhus barrack until Soviet forces liberated the camp on January 27, 1945. He returned to Bratislava in April, and reunited with his wife and children, who had been in hiding. They moved back into their home until Slovakia’s 1948 communist revolution forced them to emigrate. In 1950, they moved to Vienna, Austria, where Adolf set up a small art studio and became a prolific painter.
Sketchbook of drawings created by a former concentration camp prisoner