German State criminal police and a Gestapo warrant badge on a chain acquired by a US soldier
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm) | Width: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)
b: Height: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm) | Width: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)
c: Height: 8.875 inches (22.543 cm)
Creator(s)
- Harold B. Goldberg (Subject)
- Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo) (Issuer)
- Reichskriminalpolizeiamt (RKPA) (Issuer)
Biographical History
Harold B. Goldberg (1922-2011) was born in Brooklyn, New York to Samuel and Rose Goldberg. Samuel and Rose were born in Russia and immigrated to the United States before the birth of their children. Samuel worked as a presser in a tailor shop. Harold had six siblings and the family spoke Yiddish and English at home. As a young adult Harold worked as a mail carrier and attended City College in New York. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The following day the United States declared war on Japan, and on December 11, Germany declared war on the United States. On October 31, 1942 Harold was drafted into the U.S. military. He entered the army on October 31, 1942 as a private, and received serial number 32613738. He served in Europe until the end of the war. Harold then returned home to New York where he married his wife Rita in 1952. The family lived in New York for the rest of their lives.
Archival History
The medals were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by the family of Harold Goldberg.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the family of Harold Goldberg
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Two warrant discs [Dienstmarken], silver for the Gestapo [Geheime Staatspolizei], the secret state police, and bronze for the State criminal police [Kriminalpolizei] in Nazi Germany brought back from the war by Harold Goldberg, an American soldier who served in Europe, circa 1945-1946, during and after World War II. After Himmler centralized the police forces in the German Reich in the mid-1930s, these became the official identification badges for the Gestapo and the state criminal police. They are stamped with individual officer's numbers and were generally suspended from a chain. They had the authority of a warrant and once displayed during an arrest, investigation or search, ensured compliance.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
a. Oval, shiny, die-struck silver colored metal disk embossed on the front with a stylized eagle, facing right, with outspread wings holding an enwreathed swastika. The back has embossed German text and a stamped identification number. It has a raised edge, smooth rim, and a small hole punched on the left side, through which the chain (c) is inserted. b. Heavy, worn oval, die-struck bronze disc embossed on the front with a stylized eagle, facing right, with outspread wings holding an enwreathed swastika. The back has embossed German text and a stamped identification number. It has a raised edge, smooth rim, and a small hole punched on the left side, through which the chain (c) is inserted. c. Silver colored metal curb link chain with uniform, oval links with a swirled design. It has a lanyard hook clasp attached to a smaller ring to form a loop. It is inserted through 2 warrant discs.
Subjects
- Soldiers--United States--Biography.
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography.
- Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--United States--Biography.
Genre
- Identifying Artifacts
- Object