Object numberM2018/061:002
DescriptionIdentity card for Imre Spitzer from the D.P. Centre Camp of Feldafing, Germany. Imre was taken to the centre after being imprisoned in concentration camps.
Imre Spitzer (later known as Eric Spicer) was born on 18 April 1922 in Budapest, Hungary. His parents Elizabeth and Jeno (Euguene) Spitzer were born in Czechoslovakia and Transylvania respectively. Elizabeth stayed at home and kept a kosher household. Jeno was a civil engineer but was retrenched so the family moved to Soroksar where Eric went to non-Jewish primary and secondary schools. He recalls a traditional Jewish upbringing and grew up with a large, close-knit extended family.
As part of a local social democratic party and ‘peace party’, Eric took part in non-violent resistance after the Nazi occupation of Hungary in March 1944. He was arrested, interrogated and tortured for two months by the Hungarian gestapo, and gendarmes. During this time his mother died in hospital. In September 1944 Eric was charged and taken to Margit Korut. He was moved to Komarom fortress in late October 1944, then to Ausburg, a sub-camp of Dachau in November. Whilst in the camps, he wore an identifying red triangle of a political prisoner, rather than a yellow star.
In late 1944, Erich was transported to Leonberg, a sub-camp of Natzweiler-Stuthof . He was evacuated back to Dachau and imprisoned until it was liberated by U.S. forces in April 1945. Afterwards, Eric was briefly captured by Schutzstaffel (SS) guards on his way to Switzerland but escaped near Mittenwald, Germany. Suffering from typhoid fever after liberation, he was taken to a hospital in the Bavarian mountains.
Once recovered, he was taken to Feldafing Displaced Persons Camp where he met his wife Eva. They married on 13 June 1946. Eric briefly returned to Hungary to learn that his father had died. He and Eva lived in Paris for three years and then migrated to Australia in 1949. They have two children, Peter and Suzanne.
This identity card is part of a collection of drawings, a work certificate and coin donated by Eric Spicer in memory of his parents.
Imre Spitzer (later known as Eric Spicer) was born on 18 April 1922 in Budapest, Hungary. His parents Elizabeth and Jeno (Euguene) Spitzer were born in Czechoslovakia and Transylvania respectively. Elizabeth stayed at home and kept a kosher household. Jeno was a civil engineer but was retrenched so the family moved to Soroksar where Eric went to non-Jewish primary and secondary schools. He recalls a traditional Jewish upbringing and grew up with a large, close-knit extended family.
As part of a local social democratic party and ‘peace party’, Eric took part in non-violent resistance after the Nazi occupation of Hungary in March 1944. He was arrested, interrogated and tortured for two months by the Hungarian gestapo, and gendarmes. During this time his mother died in hospital. In September 1944 Eric was charged and taken to Margit Korut. He was moved to Komarom fortress in late October 1944, then to Ausburg, a sub-camp of Dachau in November. Whilst in the camps, he wore an identifying red triangle of a political prisoner, rather than a yellow star.
In late 1944, Erich was transported to Leonberg, a sub-camp of Natzweiler-Stuthof . He was evacuated back to Dachau and imprisoned until it was liberated by U.S. forces in April 1945. Afterwards, Eric was briefly captured by Schutzstaffel (SS) guards on his way to Switzerland but escaped near Mittenwald, Germany. Suffering from typhoid fever after liberation, he was taken to a hospital in the Bavarian mountains.
Once recovered, he was taken to Feldafing Displaced Persons Camp where he met his wife Eva. They married on 13 June 1946. Eric briefly returned to Hungary to learn that his father had died. He and Eva lived in Paris for three years and then migrated to Australia in 1949. They have two children, Peter and Suzanne.
This identity card is part of a collection of drawings, a work certificate and coin donated by Eric Spicer in memory of his parents.
Production placeFeldafing, Germany
Production date 1945-12-07 - 1945-12-07
Subjectcamp experiences, Gestapo, liberation
Object nameidentity cards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 180.00 mm
height: 80.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Eric Spicer