Note Found In Child’s Shoe At Auschwitz Leads To Discovery Of His Father’s Suitcase

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    Ludwig Steinberg's suitcase found in storage at the Auschwitz museum has been matched with his young son's shoe. (Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum)

    OSWIECIM (JTA) – A note found in a child’s shoe at the Auschwitz museum this summer has led researchers to a suitcase that likely belonged to the child’s father.

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    In July, employees of the Auschwitz museum discovered the name of Amos Steinberg written in a shoe. Amos Steinberg was born in Prague in 1938 and killed with his mother at Auschwitz.

    Late last month, the museum linked the shoe to a suitcase in its collection that belonged to Ludwig Steinberg, who researchers believe is Amos’ father. Ludwig Steinberg, who was deported to Auschwitz on an earlier transport from his wife and son, survived the Holocaust and emigrated to Israel, according to the museum.

    Steinberg’s name was written on the suitcase as was his transport number. Relatives living in Israel came forward with more information, according to the museum.

    Steinberg moved to Israel in 1949, changing his name to Yehuda Shinan. He was a teacher and principal, and worked as a cantor in several synagogues. He died in 1985 and is survived by six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

    “I am deeply grateful to the Steinberg family for the information they have given us and for supplementing our knowledge,” said Piotr Cywinski, the museum director. “With this gesture, objects inextricably linked to Auschwitz lose the anonymity weighing down on them — sometimes unbearable — and acquire a deeper, individual significance. As an object of great documentary value, the shoe is proof of the suffering of a particular person, and along with thousands of other objects that we preserve at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, evidence of the genocide that took place here.”

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    5 Comments
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    Donny
    Donny
    4 years ago

    Why did it take so long to return a suitcase with a name. The recordkeeping is astounding, they should have tracked it down sooner rather than make it a museum piece.

    Donny
    Donny
    4 years ago

    It took them 75 years. While I am aware of the name changes, this was known and there were already computerized records. maybe there were photos or valuables that would have been useful.
    Museum curators never consider the owner’s rights.

    nisht a naar
    nisht a naar
    4 years ago

    My family lived in Auschwitz/Oswiecim for many generations until the war and many were killed, and I have visited my ancestral home and the so-called “museum” (i.e. extermination camp). Can someone please explain to me why it is newsworthy that now, 75 years later, two of the innumerable personal items found there might be linked? And what if they found the right shoe in one building and the left shoe in another building? Am I missing something?

    simon
    simon
    4 years ago

    im touched ,by the interest of the polish people to keep the story alive.