Correspondence from Gurs concentration camp, France

Identifier
WL758
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 70678
Dates
1 Jan 1941 - 31 Jan 1941
Level of Description
Collection
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Biographical History

Gurs was a major internment camp in France, near Oloron-Sainte-Marie and 80 kilometers from the Spanish border. Established in 1939 to absorb Republican refugees from Spain, Gurs served later as a concentration camp for Jews from France and refugees from other countries. While under the administration of Vichy France (1940-1942) most non-Jewish prisoners were released and approximately 2000 Jews were permitted to emigrate. In 1941 Gurs held some 15,000 prisoners. The camp was controlled by the Germans from 1942 to 1944, during which time several thousand inmates were deported to extermination camps in Poland. An unknown number succeeded in escaping and reaching Spain or hiding in Southern France. Gurs was liberated in the summer of 1944.

Acquisition

Correspondence from Gurs concentration camp

Donated June 1987

Donor: R. F. Miller

Scope and Content

These two postcards offer a brief insight into conditions at Gurs internment camp experienced by Berta Kahnheimer, a German (?) Jewish inmate.

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Subjects

  • Gurs (internment camp)
  • Postcards

Places

  • France
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.