Box iron of the type used in Łódź Ghetto

Identifier
irn3417
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1990.285.2
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 6.500 inches (16.51 cm) | Width: 12.500 inches (31.75 cm) | Depth: 3.750 inches (9.525 cm)

Archival History

The iron was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection

Scope and Content

Box iron, similar to those used by Jewish forced laborers in the Łódź Ghetto in German-occupied Poland from May 1940 to summer 1944. The iron would have been heated by inserting a hot piece of metal, called a slug, into the hollow cavity of the iron. Generally, two slugs were alternated, so that one was always being heated while the other was in use. Unlike the flat, or sad iron, the surface of the box iron could be kept away from the fire, ensuring that the garment was not soiled by soot or dirt. Łódź was occupied by Germany a week after the September 1939 invasion of Poland. It was renamed Litzmannstadt, and in February 1940, the Jewish population of about 160,000 people was confined to a small, sealed-off ghetto. All residents had to work, and 85 percent of the ghetto population labored in nearly 100 factories. The major ones produced textiles, including uniforms for the German Army. Occupying authorities seized much of the specialized machinery from the Jewish population, forcing them to use hand techniques for production. Due to severe overcrowding and scarce food, disease and starvation were common. The Judenrat (Jewish Council) administered the ghetto for the Germans, and chairman Mordechai Rumkowski thought hard work and high output would preserve the ghetto. However, in January 1942, mass deportations to Chelmno killing center began; half the residents were murdered by the end of the year. In summer 1944, Łódź, the last ghetto in Poland, was destroyed and the remaining Jews were sent to Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau killing centers.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Silver-painted box iron with a long, horizontal, turned wood handle with three sets of incised lines. The handle is attached by an L-shaped mount, screwed to the top of the iron, and extends horizontally over the front tip by approximately five inches. The body of the iron is hollow with a flat base, an arched top, and curved sides that taper into a rounded point. The back end is open and has a cover that rotates on a threaded pin, which is attached to a small tab that protrudes from the upper-right side of the base.

Corporate Bodies

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.