Lot 109
Schindler, Oskar (1908-1974) German industrialist, Nazi party member, and war profiteer who spent his entire fortune and risked his life during World War II to save over 1200 Jews by employing them at his enamelware factory (Deutsche Emaillewaren-Fabrik) in Kraków and protected them by bribing German officials. Today some 6,000 to 7,000 descendants of the Jews Schindler saved live in the U.S., Europe, and Israel.
Jewish ghetto money signed by Oskar Schindler on the verso, 4¾ x 2½ in., n.p., n.d. The note is worn but the signature is bold, the ink having faded to brown. This is a two mark (zwei mark) note used in the Litzmannstadt Ghetto in Lodz, Poland. Since the inhabitants of the ghetto were not permitted to use German money, they were forced to use separate ghetto money, which they produced and which had no value outside the ghetto. This note is dated in print: Litzmannstadt den 14 Mai 1940 and is signed in print by M. Rumkowski as Der Aelteste der Juden in Litzmannstadt. "Quittung" at top right means "receipt"; a Star of David is at upper left and the background is made of connected Stars of David to resemble a barbed wire fence. A menorah is on the verso. Out of the approximately 300,000 people who lived in the ghetto during its existence, only 877 were living when it was liberated by the Russians in January 1945.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000
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| Realized $3,480 |
