Pin with a profile of Adolf Hitler found during postwar reconstruction

Identifier
irn34882
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2007.477.1
Dates
1 Jan 1949 - 31 Dec 1953
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: | Diameter: 1.120 inches (2.845 cm)

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Diane Keeley was the daughter of James E. Keeley Sr., one of the first American civilian employees stationed in Germany, in January 1946, as part of the United States Army of occupation. The rest of the family, Diane, her mother, older brother, and two younger sisters, followed in June 1949 and lived first in Bad Neuheim and then Nuremberg. They lived in a large home of 26 rooms at 169 Am Maxfield Strasse near Linde Stadium, which had been expropriated by the US Army. The house was previously owned by Herr Frank, who now lived down the street in a much more humble dwelling. Diane's father repaired the war damage to the house, including bullet holes in the facade and the hole in the roof where a bomb had fallen during the siege of Nuremberg. Diane's mother invited Herr and Frau Frank to the home and invited them to take what they wanted from the fruit trees in the yard. According to the maid, Herr Frank was a Nazi and had coordinated Nazi activities in the neighborhood during the war. The Keeley children were taught to respect the Frank home and never to go down to the basement and disturb Herr Frank’s things. Diane's family returned to the United States in January 1953. She later became a history teacher.

Archival History

The Hitler lapel pin was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2007 by Diane Keeley.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Diane Keeley

Scope and Content

Pin found by 14 year old Diane Keeley and her siblings in the home in Nuremburg, Germany, where her family lived from 1949-1953. The home had been expropriated from a German man suspected of being a Nazi by the United States Army for use by its personnel. Diane's father was an American civilian employee sent to Germany in January 1946 as part of the army of occupation. The children had been told to never go to the basement and disturb the previous occupant's belongings. However, one day, the girls decided to explore the area and they took some items as souvenirs.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Round, metal pin with a relief image of Adolf Hitler in left profile. There is text along the perimeter with a swastika between each word. The fastening pin is attached to the disc by a metal flap.

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.