Buchenwald Standort-Kantine concentration camp scrip, 2 Reichsmark, given to and inscribed by a US soldier

Identifier
irn18324
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1989.113.13
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 2.875 inches (7.303 cm) | Width: 4.125 inches (10.478 cm)

Archival History

The scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1989 by Bernard Feingold.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Bernard Feingold

Scope and Content

2 Reichsmark Buchenwald Kantine coupon given to Bernard Feingold, a US soldier, by a Russian Jewish inmate in exchange for two cigarettes. Feingold inscribed the note with story of its receipt. In early April 1945, as US forces approached Buchenwald concentration camp, the German guards began to evacuate the camp. On April 11, the prisoners revolted and seized control of the camp. Later that day, soldiers from the Sixth Army Armored Division, part of the Third Army, arrived in camp and discovered more than 21,000 starved and ill inmates.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Rectangular, light brown paper coupon with a rectangular orange floral background design with scalloped edges with a narrow, blank border printed on the front. German text, the denomination 2, a serial number, and an asterisk are printed in black ink over the floral design. There are 5 lines of handwritten English cursive script on the back.

back, handwritten : a Russian Jew who was a prisoner at Buchenwald for over four years gave me this. This is the money the Germans used to pay the prisoners but they had no place to spend it. I gave him 2 cigarettes for this.

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.