Shoemaker's lasting pliers of the type used in Łódź Ghetto

Identifier
irn3427
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1990.285.4.4
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 8.625 inches (21.908 cm) | Width: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Depth: 0.500 inches (1.27 cm)

Archival History

The pliers were acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection

Scope and Content

Lasting pliers, similar to those used by Jewish forced laborers in the Łódź Ghetto in German-occupied Poland from May 1940 to summer 1944. Lasting pliers are used by shoemakers to grip a piece of leather, stretch it over the shoe form (or last), and hold it until the leather can be nailed in place. Łódź was occupied by Germany a week after the September 1939 invasion of Poland. It was renamed Litzmannstadt, and in February 1940, the Jewish population of about 160,000 people was confined to a small, sealed-off ghetto. All residents had to work, and 85 percent of the ghetto population labored in nearly 100 factories. The major ones produced textiles, including uniforms for the German Army. Occupying authorities seized much of the specialized machinery from the Jewish population, forcing them to use hand techniques for production. Due to severe overcrowding and scarce food, disease and starvation were common. The Judenrat (Jewish Council) administered the ghetto for the Germans, and chairman Mordechai Rumkowski thought hard work and high output would preserve the ghetto. However, in January 1942, mass deportations to Chelmno killing center began; half the residents were murdered by the end of the year. In summer 1944, Łódź, the last ghetto in Poland, was destroyed and the remaining Jews were sent to Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau killing centers.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Corroded metal pliers with long handles, joined with a circular metal pin. Each half of the plier head is trapezoid-shaped, with clamps that taper down and grooved interior surface. The handles curve down from the pin and taper to pointed ends, with rounded outer edges and flat interior edges.

Corporate Bodies

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.