Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 50 kronen note, acquired by a Jewish Lithuanian survivor
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 2.750 inches (6.985 cm) | Width: 5.500 inches (13.97 cm)
Creator(s)
- David Klipp (Subject)
Biographical History
David Klipp was born on July 9, 1905, in Skudy (Skuodas), Lithuania. On January 17, 1940, David was forced out of his apartment and was brought to the ghetto in Łódź, Poland. In spring 1944, the Germans decided to destroy the Ghetto. On August 28, 1944, he was transported to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. He was on the same transport as Chaim Rumkowski and Leon Rosenblat. He was then selected for forced labor and sent to Continental-Gummi-Werke, AG factory, a subcamp of Neuengamme. He worked on the upper floors where rubber was cooked. On November 30, 1944, David was sent to Ahlem, also a subcamp of Neuengamme, to work in an old asphalt mine. Ahlem was being evacuated on April 6, 1945, when the prisoners were liberated by British and American soldiers. David relocated to Hannover, Germany on December. 11, 1945. While there, he met his future wife Estelle. She had been deported from Łódź and survived Auschwitz, Sasel, and Bergen Belsen concentration camps. David emigrated to the United States in 1950.
Archival History
The Theresienstadt scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1989 by David Klipp.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of David Klipp
Scope and Content
Scrip, valued at 50 kronen, issued in the Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp and acquired by David Klipp. All currency was confiscated from deportees upon entry and replaced with scrip and ration coupons that could be exchanged only in the camp, located in German occupied Czechoslovakia. David was deported on Janaury 17, 1940, to Łódź Ghetto in Poland from Lithuania. On August 28, 1944, he was transported to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. He was on the same transport as Chaim Rumkowski, the head of the Jewish Council. David was then selected for forced labor and sent to Continental-Gummi-Werke, AG factory, a subcamp of Neuengamme. He worked on the upper floors where rubber was cooked. On November 30, he was sent to Ahlem, another Neuengamme subcamp, to work in an old mine. Ahlem was being evacuated on April 6, 1945, when the prisoners were liberated by British and American soldiers. David relocated to Hannover, Germany on December. 11, 1945. He emigrated to the United States in 1950.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Scrip designed by Peter Kien and printed by the National Bank of Prague on offwhite paper The front has a graphic design in black and blue/green ink on a blue/green background. The front depicts Moses holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew characters in a medallion on the left, with German text on the right. The right side has an off-white border with the denomination 50 in the lower corner with a 6-pointed Star of David above. There is a center vertical band with light orange discoloration. The reverse has a blue/green geometric background design with German text, and a scrollwork line. Below the text is an engraved signature. The denomination 50 is in the upper right corner. The left side has a wide, off-white border with the denomination 50 in the lower corner with a 6-pointed Star of David above. The serial number is in the upper left corner. The series number is on the right, center under the scrollwork.
Scrip designed by Peter Kien and printed by the National Bank of Prague on offwhite paper. The face has a graphic design in black and green ink on a green patterned background. On the left is a medallion with an image of Moses holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew characters; to the right is the denomination in German text and a numeral 1, with text below. On the right side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 1 below a 6-pointed Star of David in the bottom corner. The reverse has a green geometric background with German text and a scrollwork line. Below the text is an engraved signature. The denomination 1 is in the upper right corner. The left side has a wide offwhite border with the denomination 1 in the lower corner with a 6-pointed Star of David within a horizontally striped circle above. The plate letter and number are in the upper left corner.
Subjects
- Concentration camp inmates--Biography.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Łódź--Personal narratives, Lithuanian.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Lithuania--Personal narratives.
- Slave labor--Germany--Biography.
- Concentration camps--Economic aspects.
- World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Germany--Personal narratives.
Genre
- Exchange Media
- Object