Kennkarte
Object numberM2009/038:008
TitleKennkarte
DescriptionThis is a Kennkarte - a civil identity document issued to Ada Sara Schnek, in Germany, October 1939. As of July 1938, every German citizen over the age of 15 was required to carry a Kennkarte at all times; another measure in a broader plan to bring an end to Jewish assimilation in German society.
Deutsches Reich Kennkartes were constructed from durable linen material to ensure their longevity within a climate of heightened and incessant persecution. The expense of the material and complex manufacturing process of these documents posed difficulties in the production of forgeries. As demonstrated in this example, Jewish citizenry were forced to adopt middle names of either 'Sara' or 'Israel' and a Hebraic 'J' was printed internally and externally, allowing for instant identification.
As the war progressed, citizens of German occupied territories were also issued with similar documents. Both material and design varied between countries. In Poland, the underground resistance discovered an administrative loophole in the provision of replacement documents for those lost or destroyed and were able to provide hundreds of Polish Jews with false identities. In the face of increasing persecution, ingenuity became a necessity of survival.
Part of a collection of documents and letters spanning pre-war life in Austria, war-time survival experiences and immigration to Australia. The collection includes a Notice of Arrest, a Deutsches Reich Passport stamped with a 'J', censored postcards, food and clothing ration cards, letters written by Wilhelm Schnek to his wife Ada during the time they were separated, and a photograph of Marion Schnek, arriving on the RMS Strathnaver ocean liner on 24 March 1959, illustrated in the Daily Telegraph. One of the letter's in the collection is from Ada's half-brother Louis Kalmus, in which he writes that a letter to their mother, Mina Kallei, came back unopened with the comment, "addressee on a journey or has travelled to Poland". Mina had been deported on 3 December 1941 from Vienna to Riga, "...there is little hope we will hear from them again."
Marion Schnek (mother of donor) was born in Vienna in 1936 to Ada and Wilhelm Schnek. She and her mother escaped one night for France. They were put in prison - "with murderers". She was later in an orphanage and then a castle in France with other children.
Marion's father left Vienna in July 1939 for France; he was held in Bordeaux, then joined the French Foreign Legion and later the British Army where he became an interpreter. After the war, the family moved to London to join him and Marion went to a Catholic school. Her father died circa 1956 when she was 20. In 1959, Marion decided to immigrate to Australia, coming as a '10 Pound Pom'. She met her husband on the boat.
Marion's mother, Ada, born in Lemberg in 1905, was naturalised in Austria in 1933. She worked as a Dental Assistant, but lost her position because of racial persecution. In April 1940, Ada left Vienna with her daughter and was interned in Nice, France. From there she was sent to Marseille and from there, without grounds until 14 July 1940, held in prison. From 14 July 1940, she was held in Hotel Bompard in Marseille, where she remained until August 1942. From there she was deported to Camp De Les Milles on 24 November 1942 and from 25 November 1942 to Camp de Gurs. Later, she was held in Chateaux le Roc and then Chateaux de Goudeau. After the war, in May 1946 she left to join her husband in London. After he died, she got remarried to a German Jew. In 1963, Ada migrated to Sydney to join her daughter; they opened an Austrian restaurant in Double Bay.
Deutsches Reich Kennkartes were constructed from durable linen material to ensure their longevity within a climate of heightened and incessant persecution. The expense of the material and complex manufacturing process of these documents posed difficulties in the production of forgeries. As demonstrated in this example, Jewish citizenry were forced to adopt middle names of either 'Sara' or 'Israel' and a Hebraic 'J' was printed internally and externally, allowing for instant identification.
As the war progressed, citizens of German occupied territories were also issued with similar documents. Both material and design varied between countries. In Poland, the underground resistance discovered an administrative loophole in the provision of replacement documents for those lost or destroyed and were able to provide hundreds of Polish Jews with false identities. In the face of increasing persecution, ingenuity became a necessity of survival.
Part of a collection of documents and letters spanning pre-war life in Austria, war-time survival experiences and immigration to Australia. The collection includes a Notice of Arrest, a Deutsches Reich Passport stamped with a 'J', censored postcards, food and clothing ration cards, letters written by Wilhelm Schnek to his wife Ada during the time they were separated, and a photograph of Marion Schnek, arriving on the RMS Strathnaver ocean liner on 24 March 1959, illustrated in the Daily Telegraph. One of the letter's in the collection is from Ada's half-brother Louis Kalmus, in which he writes that a letter to their mother, Mina Kallei, came back unopened with the comment, "addressee on a journey or has travelled to Poland". Mina had been deported on 3 December 1941 from Vienna to Riga, "...there is little hope we will hear from them again."
Marion Schnek (mother of donor) was born in Vienna in 1936 to Ada and Wilhelm Schnek. She and her mother escaped one night for France. They were put in prison - "with murderers". She was later in an orphanage and then a castle in France with other children.
Marion's father left Vienna in July 1939 for France; he was held in Bordeaux, then joined the French Foreign Legion and later the British Army where he became an interpreter. After the war, the family moved to London to join him and Marion went to a Catholic school. Her father died circa 1956 when she was 20. In 1959, Marion decided to immigrate to Australia, coming as a '10 Pound Pom'. She met her husband on the boat.
Marion's mother, Ada, born in Lemberg in 1905, was naturalised in Austria in 1933. She worked as a Dental Assistant, but lost her position because of racial persecution. In April 1940, Ada left Vienna with her daughter and was interned in Nice, France. From there she was sent to Marseille and from there, without grounds until 14 July 1940, held in prison. From 14 July 1940, she was held in Hotel Bompard in Marseille, where she remained until August 1942. From there she was deported to Camp De Les Milles on 24 November 1942 and from 25 November 1942 to Camp de Gurs. Later, she was held in Chateaux le Roc and then Chateaux de Goudeau. After the war, in May 1946 she left to join her husband in London. After he died, she got remarried to a German Jew. In 1963, Ada migrated to Sydney to join her daughter; they opened an Austrian restaurant in Double Bay.
Production date 1939-10-01 - 1939-10-31
Subjectstigma
Object nameidentity cards
Materiallinen
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 150.00 mm
Language
- German
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Cassia Partane