Yellow Star of David badge with tweed backing worn in Slovakia
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 4.625 inches (11.748 cm) | Width: 3.750 inches (9.525 cm) | Depth: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm)
Creator(s)
- Alfred Atlas (Subject)
Biographical History
Adolf Atlas was a wealthy Jewish man living in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (Slovakia) in the late 1930s. With the Munich Pact of September 29-30, 1938, western powers agreed to Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland. The Czech democratic government resigned and the country dissolved. A Fascist dictatorship led by Jozef Tiso, closely allied with Nazi Germany, took control of Slovakia. By early 1939, anti-Jewish legislation was enacted and Jews were forbidden from certain professions and property was confiscated. By September 13, Adolf’s mansion was controlled by a temporary administrator while the government decided whether to sell it or turn it over to a non-Jew. In March 1942, Slovakia began to deliver its Jews into German custody for disposal in concentration and death camps. Atlas applied for an exemption from having to wear a Star of David Badge, which was denied on May 30, 1942. In July 1942, he was notified that his mansion was to be auctioned. No other details about his fate are known.
Archival History
The Star of David badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Peter Salner.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Peter Salner
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Star of David badge worn by Adolf Atlas, a wealthy Jewish man in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (Slovakia). He applied to be exempt from wearing a Judenstern, but on May 30, 1942, his request was denied. Badges often had to be supplied by the users and many were lined to make them more durable. After Germany annexed the Sudetenland in March 1938, Slovakia was ruled by a fascist, antisemitic regime. In September 1939, Adolf's mansion was confiscated and put under the control of an administrator while the government decided whether to sell it or give it to a non-Jew. That July, Atlas was notified that his house was to be auctioned. No further details are known about his fate.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Dark yellow cotton badge in the shape of a 6 pointed Star of David with zigzag stitching in yellow thread around the periphery attaching the gray, red, and white wool tweed backing.
Subjects
- Jews--Persecutions--Slovakia--Bratislava.
- Jews--Slovakia--Bratislava--History--20th century.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Slovakia--Bratislava.
Genre
- Identifying Artifacts
- Object