Brown textured suitcase used by a young German Jewish woman
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 11.500 inches (29.21 cm) | Width: 18.000 inches (45.72 cm) | Depth: 5.620 inches (14.275 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 Weil Wascou in 2005.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Anne Wascou
Scope and Content
Small brown 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
Dark brown, rectangular suitcase with a ribbed surface. The body is constructed of fiberboard riveted to a wooden frame. There is a hollow metal handle on the top and 2 gold colored metal key hasp locks. The opening is edged with metal. The corners have brass colored metal reinforcement attached with rivets.The bottom has 2 small metal feet. Attached with brown twine to the handle are 2 partial cardboard tags with printed text. The left sticker has a large ocean liner in blue and a place for hand writing.
bottom, right sticker, black ink : AMERIKA bottom, left sticker, blue ink : __RG - AMERIKA LINIE / Anneliese Weil / NAME NOMBRE / FECHA DE SALIDA / YORK / DESTINATION * PUERTO DE DESTINO on tag, white text on blue background : HAMBURG-AMERIKA LINIE
Subjects
- Germany--Emigration and immigration--Biography.
- United States--Emigration and immigration--Biography.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Personal narratives.
- Jewish refugees--United States--Biography.
- World War , 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
Genre
- Containers
- Object