cap
Object numberM1992/026:002
Titlecap
DescriptionBlack military cap from a French soldier, received in Mauthausen concentration camp. The donor explained that while working as a forced labourer, they sometimes also worked with non concentration camp people, and he received the cap from a French soldier. He added the decorations himself - red, white and blue thread - to represent the colours of Holland.
David Groenteman was born in Amsterdam on 18 June 1923. He was deported age 19 to Vucht concentration camp on 13 March 1943 (receiving prisoner identification number J5699). He was sent on to Auschwitz, arriving 15 May 1943 (prisoner number 112284 - tattooed on his forearm). From there he was sent to Mauthausen concentration camp, arriving 29 January 1945 (prisoner number 123855) where he remained until liberated on 5 May 1945. David immigrated to Australia on 21 June 1950.
He made himself a bracelet (M1992/026:001) with Mauthausen identification number, which he wore tied to his arm with an electric wire strap. The strap is no longer attached to the metal tag. The bracelet/ID tag was made from a scrap of aluminium in the Steyr-Daimler-Puch factory, Austria, where he worked as a slave labourer. Steyr-Daimler-Puch’s general director became one of the first German industrialists to suggest the use of slave labour from concentration camps to boost manpower at Steyr. Prisoners were brought by guarded train from Mauthausen-Gusen camp complex, around 30km away.
David Groenteman was born in Amsterdam on 18 June 1923. He was deported age 19 to Vucht concentration camp on 13 March 1943 (receiving prisoner identification number J5699). He was sent on to Auschwitz, arriving 15 May 1943 (prisoner number 112284 - tattooed on his forearm). From there he was sent to Mauthausen concentration camp, arriving 29 January 1945 (prisoner number 123855) where he remained until liberated on 5 May 1945. David immigrated to Australia on 21 June 1950.
He made himself a bracelet (M1992/026:001) with Mauthausen identification number, which he wore tied to his arm with an electric wire strap. The strap is no longer attached to the metal tag. The bracelet/ID tag was made from a scrap of aluminium in the Steyr-Daimler-Puch factory, Austria, where he worked as a slave labourer. Steyr-Daimler-Puch’s general director became one of the first German industrialists to suggest the use of slave labour from concentration camps to boost manpower at Steyr. Prisoners were brought by guarded train from Mauthausen-Gusen camp complex, around 30km away.
Production placeMauthausen concentration camp
Production date circa 1945
Object namecaps
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr David Groenteman