Boy Scout Merit badge issued to Jewish refugee in Shanghai

Identifier
irn13816
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2000.24.16
Dates
1 Jan 1939 - 31 Dec 1948
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Web Source

https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn13816

Extent and Medium

overall: | Diameter: 1.380 inches (3.505 cm)

Creator(s)

  • Eric Bergtraun (Subject)

Biographical History

Eric Bergtraun (1925-2008) was born Erich Maximilian Bergtraun in Vienna to Edmund Leon Bergtraun and Lilly Wagner Bergtraun. His family left Austria for Shanghai shortly after Kristallnacht in 1938 and was forced to live in the Hongkew Ghetto for three years as the war intensified. Eric was active in the underground British Boy Scouts and became Scout Master after the war. He immigrated to the United States in 1948, settled in San Francisco, and married Polly Bergtraun (nee Hertz).

Archival History

The badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2000 by Eric Bergtraun.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Eric Bergtraun

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

navy blue circle embroidered with image of smiling face, bordered in green and "BOY/SCOUTS"; verso: maroon backing; bordered with blue stitching

Genre

  • Object
  • Identifying Artifacts
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.