Theresienstadt currency
Object numberM2018/067:001
TitleTheresienstadt currency
DescriptionThree Theresienstadt krone notes collected by Charlotte Sarah Weitze during her incarceration, valued at 1 krone, 2 krone and 20 krone. They are one of the best known and most available of Holocaust camp money. They were distributed from May 1943 in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto and concentration camp to trick International Red Cross inspectors and were used as a virtually worthless currency for buying goods. The front vignette depicts Moses holding the ten commandments, with his hand obscuring either the fifth or sixth commandment depending on interpretations. There is also considerable debate and mythology around the production and approval of the design of the Theresienstadt krones. To the side the Star of David is also depicted.
Charlotte Sarah Weitze (nee Loewe) was born in Berlin on 18 February 1902 and had three siblings who all left Germany long before the war. Her father passed away during the 1920’s and her mother moved to Melbourne in 1939 to be with her son. Charlotte married Paul Weitze, who was born in Dusseldorf in July 1904 and was non-Jewish. Their only child Brigitte (Gitta) was born in Frankfurt in 1934. Paul was an accountant but he was conscripted into the German army during World War II and later imprisoned in a French prisoner of war camp.
Brigitte recalls the Nuremberg Laws coming into effect during her early childhood, especially that they barred her mother from doing the grocery shopping. Brigitte was only allowed to go to school until October 1942. After the war, the JOINT organisation helped her continue her education, which she later finished in Melbourne. Whilst her mother was incarcerated in Theresienstadt, Brigitte went to stay with her paternal aunt in the countryside outside of Frankfurt.
Charlotte was imprisoned at Thereseinstadt from 18 February to 4 June 1945. After the war she walked home to Frankfurt and was given gifts by the Russian and United States forces. She picked Brigitte up but left her with a friend from Theresienstadt to find her husband.
The family travelled together to Australia in October 1950 on the SS Surriento, despite wanting to move to Israel. According to the donor, Charlotte was barred from Israel because she had a non-Jewish husband. Charlotte worked for Berlei in Australia, and she passed away in 1987.
These krone are part of a collection of identity cards, certificates and documents donated by Brigitte Meggs (nee Weitze) in April 2018, in memory of her mother.
Charlotte Sarah Weitze (nee Loewe) was born in Berlin on 18 February 1902 and had three siblings who all left Germany long before the war. Her father passed away during the 1920’s and her mother moved to Melbourne in 1939 to be with her son. Charlotte married Paul Weitze, who was born in Dusseldorf in July 1904 and was non-Jewish. Their only child Brigitte (Gitta) was born in Frankfurt in 1934. Paul was an accountant but he was conscripted into the German army during World War II and later imprisoned in a French prisoner of war camp.
Brigitte recalls the Nuremberg Laws coming into effect during her early childhood, especially that they barred her mother from doing the grocery shopping. Brigitte was only allowed to go to school until October 1942. After the war, the JOINT organisation helped her continue her education, which she later finished in Melbourne. Whilst her mother was incarcerated in Theresienstadt, Brigitte went to stay with her paternal aunt in the countryside outside of Frankfurt.
Charlotte was imprisoned at Thereseinstadt from 18 February to 4 June 1945. After the war she walked home to Frankfurt and was given gifts by the Russian and United States forces. She picked Brigitte up but left her with a friend from Theresienstadt to find her husband.
The family travelled together to Australia in October 1950 on the SS Surriento, despite wanting to move to Israel. According to the donor, Charlotte was barred from Israel because she had a non-Jewish husband. Charlotte worked for Berlei in Australia, and she passed away in 1987.
These krone are part of a collection of identity cards, certificates and documents donated by Brigitte Meggs (nee Weitze) in April 2018, in memory of her mother.
Production placeTerezin, Czech Republic
Production date 1943 - 1945
Subjectghettos, , marriage, Nuremberg laws
Object namecurrency
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- 1 Krone width: 98.00 mm
height: 49.00 mm
2 Krone width: 107.00 mm
height: 53.00 mm
20 Krone width: 130.00 mm
height: 67.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Brigitte Meggs