Cast iron cleaver from cafe used as rendezvous point by French resistance

Identifier
irn522893
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2005.174.7
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 10.250 inches (26.035 cm) | Width: 3.130 inches (7.95 cm)

Archival History

The cleaver was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection

Scope and Content

Cleaver from cafe-coiffeur (cafe-hairdressing salon) of Mere Beylier in the village of Chateau-Cherviz, in the Limosin region of France. The cafe was near two orphanages operated by the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants [OSE: Children’s Aid Society], Chateaus Chabannes and Montintin. Both homes sheltered Jewish children and other young refugees from deportations during the German occupation of France. The cafe, which was the town gathering place, also served as a resource center and temporary refuge for Jews and others who opposed the German occupation and the pro-German Vichy government. In this village of 3,000 people, over 1,000 Jews were provided assistance and temporary refuge.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Cast iron cleaver with blade and handle forged from one piece of metal. The handle is elongated with a curved end. An incised line is on one side of the blade, opposite the knife edge. Also opposite the knife edge is an ellipticall section of widened metal. The top corner of the blade has a hole through it. Each end of the blade is concave.

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.