Object numberM2010/005:002
DescriptionPen drawing of a man sleeping on a bed, dreaming (in Czech) of an aeroplane with the “Flug Altester” (flight elder) dropping supplies. The Flug Altester wears an armband with a Star of David; the aircraft tail also bears a Star of David.
He is dreaming of desirables such as sausages, MACESKA liverwurst bread spread, packs of VLASTA cigarettes (banned in the ghetto, but used as virtual black market currency for barter), RUPA chocolates and cocoa powder, ORION bonbons, and a Dauer Durchlas-schein - a rare, highly valued unlimited pass for visits outside the ghetto. The drawing was made in Theresienstadt by an unknown artist for Otto Ehrmann, and donated as part of a large collection of ghetto memorabilia by his sister Olga Wachtel (nee Ehrmann).
Otto Ehrmann was born in 1918 in Kralup, Prague, in the then Czech Republic. He died in 1944,aged 26. He came from a wealthy family. They had a chauffeur, a maid, cook and many gardeners. The family owned a summer house in the countryside. Otto was deported from Prague to Theresienstadt in February 1942, wearing his deportation tag—T135 [Collection M2010/005:001], around his neck. His transport number was 209 [Collection M2010/005:009].
Shortly after his arrival at Terezin, he was ‘employed’ as a painter [as distinct from an artist]. He married Elfi Felixova on 7 February 1943. They had been introduced to each other by Otto’s sister Olga Wachtel [née Ehrmann]. In 1944 their happiness was cut short. They were forcefully deported to different concentration camps. Otto to Kaufering—a sub-camp of Dachau, where he died of typhus later that year. Elfi was deported to Auschwitz, not knowing that she was pregnant at the time. She gave birth to a baby boy, who died shortly thereafter. She survived but had a nervous breakdown after the war, due to all the horrors she endured. She was committed to an asylum in Prague. She died there, shortly after liberation, in 1945, aged 24.
He is dreaming of desirables such as sausages, MACESKA liverwurst bread spread, packs of VLASTA cigarettes (banned in the ghetto, but used as virtual black market currency for barter), RUPA chocolates and cocoa powder, ORION bonbons, and a Dauer Durchlas-schein - a rare, highly valued unlimited pass for visits outside the ghetto. The drawing was made in Theresienstadt by an unknown artist for Otto Ehrmann, and donated as part of a large collection of ghetto memorabilia by his sister Olga Wachtel (nee Ehrmann).
Otto Ehrmann was born in 1918 in Kralup, Prague, in the then Czech Republic. He died in 1944,aged 26. He came from a wealthy family. They had a chauffeur, a maid, cook and many gardeners. The family owned a summer house in the countryside. Otto was deported from Prague to Theresienstadt in February 1942, wearing his deportation tag—T135 [Collection M2010/005:001], around his neck. His transport number was 209 [Collection M2010/005:009].
Shortly after his arrival at Terezin, he was ‘employed’ as a painter [as distinct from an artist]. He married Elfi Felixova on 7 February 1943. They had been introduced to each other by Otto’s sister Olga Wachtel [née Ehrmann]. In 1944 their happiness was cut short. They were forcefully deported to different concentration camps. Otto to Kaufering—a sub-camp of Dachau, where he died of typhus later that year. Elfi was deported to Auschwitz, not knowing that she was pregnant at the time. She gave birth to a baby boy, who died shortly thereafter. She survived but had a nervous breakdown after the war, due to all the horrors she endured. She was committed to an asylum in Prague. She died there, shortly after liberation, in 1945, aged 24.
Production date 1942 - 1943
Subjectdrawing (art), holocaust art
Object namedrawings
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- height: 240.00 mm
width: 190.00 mm
Language
- Czech It depicts a Terezin prisoner's dream.
An aeroplane with Star of David insignia is dropping (like manna from heaven) most desirable treasures for a hungry, deprived smoker, inmate:
Two large sausages,
a chain of MACESKA liverwurst bread spread,
four packs of VLASTA cigarettes (banned in the ghetto, but used as virtual black market currency for barter - say to trade for a piece of bread),
large box of RUPA chocolates and cocoa powder,
box of ORION bonbons,
Dauer Durchlas-schein - a rare highly valued Unlimited pass for visits outside the ghetto - see round official stamp.
The happily asleep prisoner in his Terezin ghetto room bunk with a suitcase at his side is having this wonderful dream..
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Olga Wachtel