Oswiecim, 1939. Jacob shortly after Nazi invasion. He carried this photo with him throughout the war and managed to keep it glued with some wet bread to a metal dogtag he had made with his Waldenburg camp number 64242
Small Square, Hennenberg House on the Right. c1939-41.
Jacob Carrying Buckets of Water and Auschwitz Deportation
Chaim Hennenberg, Jacob Hennenberg’s father
Henoch Hennenberg, 1939. Jacob’s paternal grandfather after his beard and peyos were cut off.
Armband Karola stitched at the instruction of her father. She was able to save the armband unworn throughout the war in the ghetto and the concentration camp. Jacob wrote that during WWII [t]he Nazis made armbands with a piece of white cloth and stenciled blue star; and you had to buy it. I don’t remember how much it cost, but you were required to wear it at all times out of your house, so you had to buy it. The Nazis called the armbands with the Star of David, ein schander flecken, or badge of shame. They wanted to identify who was Jewish and make us feel ashamed of our identity, but my father said to my sisters, “You are all professional embroiderers, so we are going to wear this armband embroidered; not the kind that you buy from the Nazis pre-printed. We are going to follow the law as to the size of the Star and the color, but we are going to beautifully embroider it, and we are going to call it the badge of honor.” My father, my sisters, and I, all wore embroidered arm bands. They were never dirty or crumpled up because my father insisted that our armbands be cleaned and pressed. He wanted to instill pride in us.”
Autobahn between Breslau and Klettendorf, 1942. While incarcerated in Klettendorf Forced Labor Camp, Jacob was forced to shovel snow on the highway. Jacob traded his only possession, a camel-hair blanket, in return for the promise that the German policeman would take this photo and send it to his sister Karola in the Chrzanow Ghetto. The picture survived with Karola throughout the War and was returned to Jacob when they were reunited. Jacob and Karola were the only members of their immediate family to survive.
A piece of Jacob’s Waldenburg Concentration Camp Uniform
Chrzanower Shtibl, Auschwitz. Israel Lieb Bochner, son of Rabbi Aba Bochner of Sucha, having his peyos cut by a Jewish boy under the direction of the Nazi smoking a pipe at right. Rabbi Jacob David Bornfriend stands at right with his beard already cut. This photo was taken by someone in the Polish underground resistance and sent to Jacob after the war.
Edwin Hoffman son of Lola. This picture was sent to Edwin’s father in a Budapest jail in 1943. Note at bottom: I resemble a girl, but I am not a girl.
Jagielonska Street, Auschwitz, 1940. An old Jewish man and a young Jewish girl are stopped by German policeman Schtreckenbach. They are standing in front of Adam Kosyczark’s house. In the left background, behind the sled, is Kluger’s house, where Sternberg had a clothing store. Further, is the entrance to Berka Joselewicza Street, and beyond that is Isaak Sadger’s house and hardware store.
![Armband Karola stitched at the instruction of her father. She was able to save the armband unworn throughout the war in the ghetto and the concentration camp. Jacob wrote that during WWII [t]he Nazis made armbands with a piece of white cloth and stenciled blue star; and you had to buy it. I don't remember how much it cost, but you were required to wear it at all times out of your house, so you had to buy it. The Nazis called the armbands with the Star of David, ein schander flecken, or badge of shame. They wanted to identify who was Jewish and make us feel ashamed of our identity, but my father said to my sisters, “You are all professional embroiderers, so we are going to wear this armband embroidered; not the kind that you buy from the Nazis pre-printed. We are going to follow the law as to the size of the Star and the color, but we are going to beautifully embroider it, and we are going to call it the badge of honor.” My father, my sisters, and I, all wore embroidered arm bands. They were never dirty or crumpled up because my father insisted that our armbands be cleaned and pressed. He wanted to instill pride in us."](http://www.jacobhennenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Armband-Karola-made-and-saved-throughout-the-war-640x389-150x91.jpg)
![Armband Karola stitched at the instruction of her father. She was able to save the armband unworn throughout the war in the ghetto and the concentration camp. Jacob wrote that during WWII [t]he Nazis made armbands with a piece of white cloth and stenciled blue star; and you had to buy it. I don't remember how much it cost, but you were required to wear it at all times out of your house, so you had to buy it. The Nazis called the armbands with the Star of David, ein schander flecken, or badge of shame. They wanted to identify who was Jewish and make us feel ashamed of our identity, but my father said to my sisters, “You are all professional embroiderers, so we are going to wear this armband embroidered; not the kind that you buy from the Nazis pre-printed. We are going to follow the law as to the size of the Star and the color, but we are going to beautifully embroider it, and we are going to call it the badge of honor.” My father, my sisters, and I, all wore embroidered arm bands. They were never dirty or crumpled up because my father insisted that our armbands be cleaned and pressed. He wanted to instill pride in us."](http://www.jacobhennenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Armband-Karola-made-and-saved-throughout-the-war-640x389.jpg)
