World War I medal awarded to a Jewish German veteran

Identifier
irn531116
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2015.415.3
Dates
1 Jan 1914 - 31 Dec 1918
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: | Diameter: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm)

Archival History

The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015 by Marlyse Levy Kennedy, the daughter of Alfred and Meta Mayer Levy.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Marlyse Levy Kennedy

Scope and Content

World War I medal awarded to Alfred Levy for his service in the German Army during the First World War (1914-1918). Alfred, a judge, his wife Marie, and their children Marie-Louise and Theo moved from the Saar region when it voted to reunify with Germany in 1935. They resettled in Luxembourg which was occupied by Germany in May 1940. Restrictions were placed on the Jewish population to segregate them from other citizens and Marie-Louise, 15, had to leave school. In December 1940, the family was deported to Vichy France, and escaped the internment camps to live in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. In November 1942, after Germany occupied Vichy, a neighbor informed upon the Levy family. In 1943, Alfred was notified by the French resistance that he was in danger of arrest. He went into hiding, and was arrested while visiting his family, and then released with the help of a French police office. The entire family went into hiding until the region was liberated in fall 1944. In 1946, they returned to Saar.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Iron Cross shaped medal engraved with a crown on top and the year 1914 at the bottom and a "W” in the center. The cross is a darker metal at the center and is bordered by a lighter colored silver metal. In between the two colors is a raised border in a third color or type of metal. The cross is attached to a larger circular piece of metal by means of two screws.

engraved with a crown on top and the year 1914 at the bottom and a "W” in the center.

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.