Theresienstadt Bank: Savings book of Max Hirschfeld

Scope and Content

Papers of Theresienstadt Bank, 1943-1944, comprise a savings book issued by the bank of the Jewish self-administration of Theresienstadt, which documents the savings accrued by a former inmate, Max Hirschfeld, from June 1943 to August 1944, payment for labour whilst in the camp. The colleciton also includes a letter dated 1 October 1945 from the same to the British military governor, Bielefeld, requesting funds for savings accrued by all surviving Theresienstadt inmates and is annotated cannot be allowed .

Administrative / Biographical History

On June 10, 1940, the Gestapo took control of Terezìn (Theresienstadt), a fortress, built in 1780-1790 in what is now the Czech Republic, and set up prison in the Small Fortress (Kleine Festung). By 24 November 1941, the Main Fortress (grosse Festung, ie the town Theresienstadt) was turned into a walled ghetto. The function of Theresienstadt was to provide a front for the extermination operation of Jews. To the outside it was presented by the Nazis as a model Jewish settlement, but in reality it was a concentration camp. Theresienstadt was also used as a transit camp for European Jews en route to Auschwitz and other extermination camps.

Arrangement

Arranged in chronological order.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Hirschfeld family.

Other Finding Aids

Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.