Carry-on suitcase used by a young German Jewish woman
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 10.625 inches (26.988 cm) | Width: 23.625 inches (60.008 cm) | Depth: 17.250 inches (43.815 cm)
Creator(s)
- Anne Wascou (Subject)
Biographical History
Anne (Anneliese) Weil was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, on August 23, 1921, to Elfriede Meyer, who was born on October 27,1886, in Mannheim, and Max, who was born on December 30, 1888, in Eichstatten. Her brother, Arno, was born July 12, 1923, and her sister, Ilse, was born November 25, 1922, both in Mannheim. On September 17, 1938, Anne sailed from Hamburg to New York on board the Ms St Louis. She was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust. Around October 1940, her parents and brother were imprisoned in the Rivesaltes internment camp in France. Anne received a few letters from them in 1941 but her parents either died there or were deported to Auschwitz in 1942, where they perished: Max on February 16; Elfriede on August 15 or 16. Arno was deported to Buhenwald where he was murdered, age 22, on February 19, 1945. Her sister, a kindergarten teacher, was arrested in Diez, Germany, on July 14, 1944, and deported to Auschwitz where she perished at age 21. Anne married Albert Wascou in Philadelphia between 1942-1945 and they had two daughters. Anne passed away, age 90, on November 13, 2011.
Archival History
The suitcase was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum by Anne Wascou in 2005.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Anne Wascou
Scope and Content
Patterned canvas carry-on suitcase used by 16 year old Anneliese Weil when she left Hamburg, Germany for the United States on board the MS St. Louis on September 17,1938. She was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust. Her parents, brother, and sister were arrested by the Germans for being Jewish and deported to concentration camps where they perished.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Rectangular, small, wooden framed suitcase covered with stiffened canvas coated with brown paint and stamped with a geometric design in black ink. It is reinforced by wooden bands with fitted metal plates: 2 on top, 2 on bottom. There is brown leather piping on the edges. On the bottom front is a hollow metal and leather handle and 2 brass colored metal latches and a hasp lock. Tied to the left handle with brown twine is an oval, blue, cardboard tag with an image of an ocean liner; tied to the right is a brown cardboard tag with 8 lines of handwritten text. There is a round, white sticker on the front lower left and multiple layers of stickers and remnants over the rest of the case. The lid is attached by 2 metal hinges and inside is a folding bracket to connect the lid and base. The interior is lined with canvas covered with thin, orange paper. There is a removable canvas tray with cloth tabs the size of the suitcase. It has a wooden frame and 2 brown cloth straps with leather covered buckles.
tag tied on left of handle, handwritten, blue ink: Anneliese Weil / St. Louis / 14 September tag tied on left of handle, blue ink : HAMBURG-AMERIKA LINIE / H A / P / A G [logo?] / NAME NAME NOMBRE / SCHIFF VESSEL VAPOR / ABFAHRSTAG DATE OF SAILING FECHA DE SALIDA / NEWYORK / BESTIMMUNGSHAFEN PORT OF DESTINATION PUERTO DE DESTINO / 323 / KAMMER ROOM CAMAROTE / Nr. bottom front, lower left, sticker, black ink : HAMBURG-AMERIKA LINIE / H A / P / A G bottom left, sticker, black ink : ϋbersee-Gepäck—Nr. / 9190 / S. / HAMBURG-AMERIKA / GEPÄCKDIENST bottom left side, sticker : R-103641 / UNITED STATES / CUSTOMS SERVICE
Subjects
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Personal narratives.
- United States--Emigration and immigration--Biography.
- Germany--Emigration and immigration--Biography.
- Jewish refugees--United States--Biography.
- World War , 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
Genre
- Object
- Containers