Номер объектаM1994/022:006
Создатель Michael Garda (maker)
ОписаниеPen knife (pocket knife or razor knife) with a single folding blade. Made by Michael Garda in Mauthausen concentration camp. A hole at one end enables it to be attached for safekeeping; the word 'EXTRA' is engraved in the metal.
USHMM has a similar item by Yona Wygocka Dickmann who fashioned a jackknife from aluminium and part of a saw after the SS transferred her from Auschwitz to forced labor at an airplane factory in Freiburg, Germany, in November 1944. She used the knife to extend her daily ration of bread by cutting it in half.
Part of a collection of memorabilia donated by Michael Garda.
Michael Garda (Goldwasser) was born in Krakow on 24 October 1909. He grew up in Krakow and married Irena (Irene) Garda (nee Sternreich). He shared the fate of thousands of other Jews who were incarcerated in the Krakow Ghetto, which was established on 20 March 1941. The ghetto became the site for separating the ‘able workers’ from those deemed ‘unworthy of life.’ It was liquidated between June 1942 and March 1943, with most of its remaining inhabitants sent to Belzéc, Plaszów and Auschwitz. Michael was one of the ‘lucky’ ones. He was deported to Plaszów and could have arrived in Plaszów as early as 28 August 1942, as part of the first wave of deportations. He remained there for almost two years. He was deported from Plaszów to KL Mauthausen, arriving on 10 August 1944.
Upon arrival he became prisoner: MG: 86587. KL Mauthausen and its nearly 100 sub-camps served a dual function: Political: used for the imprisonment and murder of the Nazis’ political and ideological enemies and Economic: providing slave labour to many companies for production and profit. Inmates were forced to work in quarries, munition factories, arms factories and plants assembling aircraft. Michael spent five back-breaking months labouring in the quarries. He retained small stones as proof of the cruelty of the Nazi guards, “The guards would throw stones in our soup saying this would thicken it up if we complained about it being watery”.
He was transferred from Mauthausen to one of its sub-camps Gusen 1, on 4 January 1945. Assigned to barrack 7. At Gusen, he worked as a locksmith, in the Steyr Werke factory that produced aircraft parts. Whilst working at the Steyr Werke factory, he surreptitiously fashioned a small pen knife/pocket- knife or razor knife, from scrap materials or ‘organised’—stolen or obtained— on the black market. A couple of his fellow slave labourers, most likely— as expressions of appreciation for help he must have given— followed the same methods, to fashion identification bracelets for him. By April 1945, in the face of Allied successes, Nazi authority in the camp began to collapse. SS guards were leaving the camp in droves. Prisoners gradually began to realise that they were free. The United States 11th Armoured Division arrived at the camp on 5 May 1945. In the wake of defeat, German civilians and army personnel, including soldiers destroyed their links to and support of the Nazi Party. The pin depicted in (M1994/022: 001) would have been affixed to civilian clothing or party uniforms of members of the Nazi Party [NSDAP]. A party member must have thrown his pin away. Michael Garda picked it up, probably once he returned to Krakow after his expatriation on 23 July 1945.
USHMM has a similar item by Yona Wygocka Dickmann who fashioned a jackknife from aluminium and part of a saw after the SS transferred her from Auschwitz to forced labor at an airplane factory in Freiburg, Germany, in November 1944. She used the knife to extend her daily ration of bread by cutting it in half.
Part of a collection of memorabilia donated by Michael Garda.
Michael Garda (Goldwasser) was born in Krakow on 24 October 1909. He grew up in Krakow and married Irena (Irene) Garda (nee Sternreich). He shared the fate of thousands of other Jews who were incarcerated in the Krakow Ghetto, which was established on 20 March 1941. The ghetto became the site for separating the ‘able workers’ from those deemed ‘unworthy of life.’ It was liquidated between June 1942 and March 1943, with most of its remaining inhabitants sent to Belzéc, Plaszów and Auschwitz. Michael was one of the ‘lucky’ ones. He was deported to Plaszów and could have arrived in Plaszów as early as 28 August 1942, as part of the first wave of deportations. He remained there for almost two years. He was deported from Plaszów to KL Mauthausen, arriving on 10 August 1944.
Upon arrival he became prisoner: MG: 86587. KL Mauthausen and its nearly 100 sub-camps served a dual function: Political: used for the imprisonment and murder of the Nazis’ political and ideological enemies and Economic: providing slave labour to many companies for production and profit. Inmates were forced to work in quarries, munition factories, arms factories and plants assembling aircraft. Michael spent five back-breaking months labouring in the quarries. He retained small stones as proof of the cruelty of the Nazi guards, “The guards would throw stones in our soup saying this would thicken it up if we complained about it being watery”.
He was transferred from Mauthausen to one of its sub-camps Gusen 1, on 4 January 1945. Assigned to barrack 7. At Gusen, he worked as a locksmith, in the Steyr Werke factory that produced aircraft parts. Whilst working at the Steyr Werke factory, he surreptitiously fashioned a small pen knife/pocket- knife or razor knife, from scrap materials or ‘organised’—stolen or obtained— on the black market. A couple of his fellow slave labourers, most likely— as expressions of appreciation for help he must have given— followed the same methods, to fashion identification bracelets for him. By April 1945, in the face of Allied successes, Nazi authority in the camp began to collapse. SS guards were leaving the camp in droves. Prisoners gradually began to realise that they were free. The United States 11th Armoured Division arrived at the camp on 5 May 1945. In the wake of defeat, German civilians and army personnel, including soldiers destroyed their links to and support of the Nazi Party. The pin depicted in (M1994/022: 001) would have been affixed to civilian clothing or party uniforms of members of the Nazi Party [NSDAP]. A party member must have thrown his pin away. Michael Garda picked it up, probably once he returned to Krakow after his expatriation on 23 July 1945.
Дата 1944 - 1945
Наименованиеpenknives
Материалaluminium
Размерность
- height: 15.00 mm
blade length: 58.00 mm
holder length: 73.00 mm
Язык
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Michael Garda