Kingdom of Wurttemberg 12 year military service medal and ribbon acquired by a US soldier
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm) | Width: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Depth: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm)
Creator(s)
- Harold B. Goldberg (Subject)
Biographical History
Harold B. Goldberg (1922-2011) was born in Brooklyn, New York to Samuel and Rose Goldberg. Samuel and Rose were born in Russia and immigrated to the United States before the birth of their children. Samuel worked as a presser in a tailor shop. Harold had six siblings and the family spoke Yiddish and English at home. As a young adult Harold worked as a mail carrier and attended City College in New York. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The following day the United States declared war on Japan, and on December 11, Germany declared war on the United States. On October 31, 1942 Harold was drafted into the U.S. military. He entered the army on October 31, 1942 as a private, and received serial number 32613738. He served in Europe until the end of the war. Harold then returned home to New York where he married his wife Rita in 1952. The family lived in New York for the rest of their lives.
Archival History
The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by the family of Harold Goldberg.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the family of Harold Goldberg
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
Kingdom of Wurttemberg 12 year military service medal with a red and blue striped ribbon brought back from the war by Harold Goldberg, an American soldier who served in Europe, circa 1945-1946. This medal dates to Imperial Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was deposed after Germany's defeat in World War I (1914-1918.)
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Circular, shiny, gold colored metal medal, 1.25 in. diameter, embossed with the crown of Wurttemberg inside a laurel leaved wreath. It has a raised rim and smooth edge. Embossed on the back is German text and a Roman numeral inside an oak leaved wreath. There is a bail and suspension ring at the top, attached to a metal plate wrapped by a discolored red grosgrain ribbon with a blue stripe. The back is covered with red felt and has a flat pin with a C catch on the top.
Subjects
- Soldiers--United States--Biography.
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography.
- Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--United States--Biography.
Genre
- Object
- Military Insignia