Object numberM1992/011:002
DescriptionID certificate with passport photograph from the Netherlands Consulate-General, Paris, 5 June 1945. It states in French and Dutch that Harry Fransman is who he says he is and that he is a Dutch citizen, born on the 16 September 1922 and that he wants to go back to Holland.
Harry J Fransman was born in Rotterdam on 16 September 1922 to parents Paulina and Bernard. He was the youngest of five children (Bep, Bella, Jonas and Caroline). His father was a pastry chef and had a cake shop. In May 1940 when the Germans invaded the Netherlands, Harry was working at Magazijn Nederland-Kattenburg & Company – a large menswear store – where he was learning the menswear trade. On 14 May 1940, while in the department store, he survived the German bombing of Rotterdam and the Dutch surrender. Soon after the Germans occupied Holland, they instituted anti-Jewish measures: Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David, a ‘J’ was printed on Jewish passports and Jews were not allowed into cinemas, theatres, cafes, dances or trains. In 1941 all Jewish firms were taken over by the German administrators.
On 19 June 1942, Harry was required to report to the police station together with other youths. The Green Police (Grüne Polizei – uniformed police force in Nazi Germany) supervised their transport to Ybenheer camp (work camp in the province of Friesland). From there he was sent to a number of camps and ultimately Blechhammer, a sub-camp of Auschwitz. In January 1945 the camp was evacuated and he was sent on the Death March. He later escaped from a train on 9 February 1945 near the town of Leipzig. In Leipzig he was issued a Free Worker’s Passport which allowed him freedom and employment. He was liberated by the Americans in April 1945 while working on a farm near Penig, Germany. He returned to Holland and after recuperating at Huize Zorgfliet Convalescent Home, near The Hague in Scheveningen, Harry joined the Dutch Army. After the war he learned that only his sister Bep and Caroline survived the war. In December 1948 he immigrated to Australia on the SS Volendam.
Harry J Fransman was born in Rotterdam on 16 September 1922 to parents Paulina and Bernard. He was the youngest of five children (Bep, Bella, Jonas and Caroline). His father was a pastry chef and had a cake shop. In May 1940 when the Germans invaded the Netherlands, Harry was working at Magazijn Nederland-Kattenburg & Company – a large menswear store – where he was learning the menswear trade. On 14 May 1940, while in the department store, he survived the German bombing of Rotterdam and the Dutch surrender. Soon after the Germans occupied Holland, they instituted anti-Jewish measures: Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David, a ‘J’ was printed on Jewish passports and Jews were not allowed into cinemas, theatres, cafes, dances or trains. In 1941 all Jewish firms were taken over by the German administrators.
On 19 June 1942, Harry was required to report to the police station together with other youths. The Green Police (Grüne Polizei – uniformed police force in Nazi Germany) supervised their transport to Ybenheer camp (work camp in the province of Friesland). From there he was sent to a number of camps and ultimately Blechhammer, a sub-camp of Auschwitz. In January 1945 the camp was evacuated and he was sent on the Death March. He later escaped from a train on 9 February 1945 near the town of Leipzig. In Leipzig he was issued a Free Worker’s Passport which allowed him freedom and employment. He was liberated by the Americans in April 1945 while working on a farm near Penig, Germany. He returned to Holland and after recuperating at Huize Zorgfliet Convalescent Home, near The Hague in Scheveningen, Harry joined the Dutch Army. After the war he learned that only his sister Bep and Caroline survived the war. In December 1948 he immigrated to Australia on the SS Volendam.
Production placeParis, France
Production date 1945-06-05
Production periodpost World War II
SubjectHolocaust
Object namerepatriation documents
Materialpaper
Techniquetypewritten
Dimensions
- whole width: 205.00 mm
whole height: 258.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Harry Fransman