Cloth patch printed Buchenwald over a red inverted triangle worn by a German Jewish man

Identifier
irn9927
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1995.78.5
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm) | Width: 5.750 inches (14.605 cm)

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Alfred Fabian was born on May 24, 1910, in Neumark, Germany (now Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Poland), to a Jewish couple. Alfred’s mother was Erna Leyser Fabian, who was born on December 19, 1882, in Culmsee, Prussia (Chelmza, Poland). Alfred’s father died in 1921 at age 41. Alfred was a gardener and lived in Berlin. He married Ruth Imber, who was born on February 23, 1909, in Schulitz, Kreis Bromberg, Germany (Bydgoszcz, Poland), to Elias and Erstina Koralczyk Imber. In January 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany. Anti-Semitic policies were enacted soon after. On January 23, 1938, Alfred and Ruth had a daughter, Ingrid Johanna. On November 9, 1938, during Kristallnacht, Alfred witnessed the synagogue being destroyed. On September 1, 1941, Jews over the age of six were required to wear yellow Star of David badges. On May 10, 1943, Alfred, Ruth, Ingrid, and Alfred’s mother Erna were arrested by the Gestapo and brought to the Hamburgerstrasse clearing station in Berlin. On May 17, they were deported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp in Czechoslovakia. On October 12, 1944, they were transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center on Transport Eq. Alfred’s wife, daughter, and mother were murdered on October 13, the day they arrived. In November 1944, Alfred was transferred to Niederorschel slave labor camp, a Buchenwald subcamp in Germany that provided worked for Junkers-Werke aircraft factories. He arrived on November 19 and was assigned prisoner number 95769. On April 1, 1945, Niederorschel was evacuated. Alfred was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. On April 11, Alfred was liberated in Buchenwald by the 761st Tank Battalion, US Army. On May 6, Alfred was released from the custody of the US Army. He returned to Berlin. Alfred’s father- and mother-in-law, Elias and Erstina, survived imprisonment in Theresienstadt. The rest of his family perished. On June 12, 1947, Alfred sailed from Bremen on the SS Ernie Pyle, arriving in New York on June 22. He was sponsored by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). Alfred, age 88, died on November 5, 1998, in Bradley Beach, New Jersey.

Archival History

The badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995 by Alfred Fabian.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Alfred Fabian

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

Buchenwald prisoner badge worn by Alfred Fabian in Niederorschel and Buchenwald concentration camps from November 19, 1944, to April 11, 1945. The inverted red triangle on the badge signifies a political prisoner. On May 17, 1943, Alfred, wife Ruth, 5 year old daughter Ingrid, and Alfred’s mother Erna were deported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp in Czechoslovakia. On October 12, 1944, the family was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center, where Ruth, Ingrid, and Erna were gassed on arrival. On November 19, 1944, Alfred was sent to Niederorschel slave labor camp, a Buchenwald subcamp in Germany. Niederorschel was evacuated on April 1, 1945. Alfred was sent to Buchenwald where he was liberated April 11 by the 761st Tank Battalion, US Army.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Rectangular, discolored, white cotton patch with angled corners with a faded, inverted red stamped triangle with BUCHENWALD stamped over it in black. The cloth in the stamped area is marked by a rectangle of light brown discoloration. There are pinholes at the short edge and the cloth is stained with frayed edges.

front, center, stamped, black ink : BUCHENWALD

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.