Photograph of Judit Nemes, aged nine, wearing the yellow star
Object numberM2020/013:078
TitlePhotograph of Judit Nemes, aged nine, wearing the yellow star
DescriptionPhotograph of Judit Nemes (far right) wearing a yellow Star of David, posing with other children and a dog. In 1944 when this photograph was taken, Judit and her mother were forced to give up their home and live in a shared apartment with a number of other Jewish families. Judit recalled her time in this shared living fondly as there were lots of kids and pets to play with. She was nine years old. This photograph is part of a collection of correspondence, documents and photographs relating to Judith Kaldor (nee Nemes) and her parents Mozes Nemes and Elizabeth (nee Deutsch) that testify to their Holocaust and post-war experiences.
Judith was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1935. Her father was forced to separate from his family in 1941 when he was conscripted into the Hungarian army. In 1942 he was transferred to forced labour on account of his being Jewish and then sent to a forced labour camp in the Soviet Union from 1944.
On 9 March 1944, the Germans invaded Hungary and life for Hungarian Jews “came to an end”. Judith describes 9 March as a day of mourning. The Nuremberg laws were immediately brought into effect and by the end of June, many properties had been confiscated. Judith lived in what was called a ‘Jewish House’, a place where many families were crammed together. In October, the Arrow Cross, Hungarian Nazi sympathisers, threatened to shoot all the inhabitants. They were only saved by an air-raid alarm.
Judith and her mother fled. After being in another place for three weeks they were taken to the ghetto. As they got there, Judith’s mother suggested that Judith ‘go to aunt Elizabeth’ and so Judith walked out of the ghetto. Her mother escaped by piling spare clothes under her dress to feign pregnancy and convinced the guards she had to go to the hospital. She and Judith were reunited and they survived the war in hiding.
There had been no sign of life from Judith's father since late 1944, but in 1946 Judith’s mother learned that he was alive. Mozes was finally reunited with his family in August 1947. Judith completed her schooling, went to university and studied to be a pharmacist. When the 1956 revolution opened the country, she and her boyfriend, Tamas (Tom) Kaldor, escaped Hungary on foot. Crossing into Austria, they were finally free. Judith and Tom married in Vienna in January 1957, and together they immigrated to Australia, arriving in August 1957.
Judith was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1935. Her father was forced to separate from his family in 1941 when he was conscripted into the Hungarian army. In 1942 he was transferred to forced labour on account of his being Jewish and then sent to a forced labour camp in the Soviet Union from 1944.
On 9 March 1944, the Germans invaded Hungary and life for Hungarian Jews “came to an end”. Judith describes 9 March as a day of mourning. The Nuremberg laws were immediately brought into effect and by the end of June, many properties had been confiscated. Judith lived in what was called a ‘Jewish House’, a place where many families were crammed together. In October, the Arrow Cross, Hungarian Nazi sympathisers, threatened to shoot all the inhabitants. They were only saved by an air-raid alarm.
Judith and her mother fled. After being in another place for three weeks they were taken to the ghetto. As they got there, Judith’s mother suggested that Judith ‘go to aunt Elizabeth’ and so Judith walked out of the ghetto. Her mother escaped by piling spare clothes under her dress to feign pregnancy and convinced the guards she had to go to the hospital. She and Judith were reunited and they survived the war in hiding.
There had been no sign of life from Judith's father since late 1944, but in 1946 Judith’s mother learned that he was alive. Mozes was finally reunited with his family in August 1947. Judith completed her schooling, went to university and studied to be a pharmacist. When the 1956 revolution opened the country, she and her boyfriend, Tamas (Tom) Kaldor, escaped Hungary on foot. Crossing into Austria, they were finally free. Judith and Tom married in Vienna in January 1957, and together they immigrated to Australia, arriving in August 1957.
Production placeHungary
Production date 1905-04-27 - 1905-04-27
Subjectfriendships, pets, dogs, Star of David
Object namephotographs
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 87.00 mm
height: 62.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Judith Kaldor