Star of David badge printed with Jude worn by a German Jew

Beate Ada Oppenheimer was born in January 17, 1909, in Lauenforde, Germany, to Sali and Emma Moses Oppenheimer. Emma was born March 31, 1879, in Betziesdorf and Sali was born in May 19, 1876, in Laufenselden. After Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor in January 1933, Jews were subject to increasingly harsh persecution. Beate left for the United States in 1938. In 1941, she married Ernest Oppenheimer. Ernest was born on July 12, 1915, in Frankisch-Crumbach and escaped to the United States in 1939. In September 1942, Sali and Emma were deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. They were released in exchange for American currency and transported to Switzerland. Ernest passed away, age 59, on May 1, 1975, and Beate passed away, age 82, on April 1, 1991.

Ernest Oppenheimer was born on July 12, 1915, in Frankisch-Crumbach, Germany, to Moritz and Margarete Kraemer Oppenheimer. Moritz was born on November 14, 1878, in Frankisch-Crumbach to Issak and Yohana Rorheimer Oppenheimer. Margarete was born in Mannheim on May 8, 1892, to Moritz and Feodora Pappenheim Kraemer. Ernest had two sisters and two brothers; Werner, Ruth, Feo, born ca. 1935, and Michael. The family settled in Mannheim and Margarete worked as a teacher at an orphanage. Werner emigrated to Argentina around 1930, and much later moved to the United States. As the Nazi dictatorship became established after 1933, life for Jews became dangerous. During the Kristallnacht pogrom on November 1938, Ernest and Moritz were arrested and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. Ernest was released before his father because Moritz had to send a postcard to his family to pay for his fare home. Ernest escaped to the United States in 1939; the older sister, Ruth, was sent to England on a Kindertransport. In 1941, Ernest married Beate Oppenheimer. Beate was born in January 17, 1909, in Lauenforde, and left Germany for the United States in 1938. Moritz, with the assistance of Ernest and Werner, tried to get immigration visas but they were denied. In October 1940, Moritz, Margarete, Michael, and Feo were deported to Gurs internment camp in France and later to Rivesaltes detention camp. Margarete taught and cared for children in Gurs and she worked as a housekeeper in Marseilles. They were able to correspond with family members and Ernest and Werner sent them money orders. In early 1941, Michael and Feo were rescued from the camp, probably by OSE (Ouevre Secours aux Enfants / Aid to Children), an aid organization that cared for refugee children. Feo was eventually sent to the OSE children's home, Chateau Masgelier, and Michael may have joined her there. In 1942, Margarete and Moritz were separated and were only able to see each once every few weeks. In August 1942, Moritz learned that he would be transferred to an unknown camp, and Margarete volunteered to go with him. That month, they were deported to Auschwitz, where they were killed. Ernest passed away, age 59, on May 1, 1975, and Beate passed away, age 82, on April 1, 1991.

The Star of David Badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2010 by Carol Oppenheimer Wolinsky, the daughter of Beate and Ernest Oppenheimer.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Carol Oppenheimer Wolinsky

Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.