Satirical drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting a German prison

Identifier
irn513893
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1988.5.9
Dates
1 Jan 1933 - 31 Dec 1933
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 14.750 inches (37.465 cm) | Width: 12.625 inches (32.068 cm)

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Karl Schwesig was born on June 19, 1898, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. His father was a miner. From 1916 to 1918, Schwesig served in the German Army during the First World War (1914-1918). In 1918, Schwesig began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dusseldorf. In 1921, he left the conservative academy and joined the Junge Rhineland artist group. In 1924, Schwesig cofounded the satirical magazine Die Peitsche (The Whip). The right wing Nazi Party was growing rapidly in popularity duirng the 1920s and Schwesig was an outspoken anti-Nazi. He joined the Communist Party in the late 1920’s. Hitler came to power in Germany in January 1933 and the country was soon ruled by a Nazi dictatorship. On July 11, 1933, Schwesig was arrested for his anti-Nazi commentary. He was detained by the SA and interrogated for the names of colleagues who also resisted the Nazis. He was sent to Ulmer Höhe prison in Dusseldorf. In 1934, he was convicted of treason and served his sentence in Bendahl prison in Wuppertal. After his release on November 18, 1934, Schwesig was granted political asylum in Belgium and lived in Antwerp. In 1937, his German citizenship was revoked and his property in Germany was confiscated by the Nazi regime. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and deported to St. Cyprien internment camp in Vichy France. In October, he was moved to Gurs internment camp after St. Cyprien was destroyed by flooding. In February 1941, he was transferred to Noé internment camp. In March 1943, he was sent to Nexon internment camp and classified as a politcal prisoner. In June, Schwesig was sent to Fort Romainville prison in Paris and in July to Ulmer Höhe prison in Dusseldorf. Throughout his imprisonment, Schwesig drew images of daily life in the camps. Schwesig was liberated in Ulmer Höhe after American forces captured Dusseldorf on April 17, 1945. The war ended when Germany surrendered on May 7. Schwesig stayed in Dusseldorf. He died, age 57, in 1955.

Archival History

The drawing was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection

Scope and Content

Pencil drawing of a jug created by Karl Schwesig in 1933 while he was a prisoner in Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Realistic pencil drawing depicting the interior of a room, with a large jug with a broken handle next to a tall pipe in the left corner. The jug is labeled 12 on the front. There is a large rectangular door in the center and a small double layered shelf on the right. The floor is shaded with lines around the pipe, jug, and door. On the reverse are 3 pencil sketches of a man’s head in left profile.

back, lower left corner, stamped, purple ink : Nachlaß Karl Schwesig back, lower left corner, written, blue ink : 426

People

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.