Germany

Where It All Started

A Deadly Operation

In the 1920s, prior to World War 2, over 522,000 Jews lived in Germany, representing less than 1% of the total population of the country. They were skilled and educated, so they were considered an upper class. They also enjoyed social and legal equality. Many Jews were active in politics as well.
 
Throughout the 1930s, the Nazi trend gained more notoriety. There were no centralized laws and regulations against Jews, but local municipalities and authorities set their own rules.
 
When the Nazi regime took over, around 304,000 Jews left Germany. Over 200,000 Jews were left in the country and faced the consequences of the Nazi regime.
 
Between 160,000 and 180,000 Jews were killed throughout World War 2 in Germany. During their deportation, emigration was no longer an option, as it was banned. By the spring of 1943, only 20,000 Jews were left. At that point, Germany was declared judenrein, meaning it was considered cleansed.

Holocaust Museum of Corfu
Holocaust Museum of Corfu
Items

Discover Germany

Opera Glasses​

Holocaust Museum of Corfu

Daniel Eisner was deported from Würzburg on the 25th of April, 1942. His house was looted and then sold by the Nazi regime to locals. A Christian friend managed to save a few belongings prior to new people moving in, just in case Daniel returned. These opera glasses were his. He never returned. They were kept in the Diesch family since then.

· Donated by Hubert Diesch

Pocket Watch​

Holocaust Museum of Corfu

Most Jews were arrested in Baden-Baden at the end of 1942. Their homes were looted by Nazi officers and locals before being sold. Some of them were set on fire and destroyed. This pocket watch was saved from the rubble by Kornelia and kept in a box with a few other things from those times. The box was found in a drawer by her family after she passed away.

· Donated by Ewald

Pendant​

Holocaust Museum of Corfu

Clergy, nuns and lay leaders were also targeted by the Nazi regime. Some of them ended up in camps. Prior to being deported, they had to surrender all valuables. This pendant was found in a box in a Nazi office from Berlin, along with other belongings. The box was stolen by an underground resistance group. This pendant was preserved by Ferdinand.

· Donated anonymously

Many More Items​

Holocaust Museum of Corfu

Our collection has countless other items to display. We are currently in the process of saving donations to open a physical museum, so we can display the entire collection. Any donation through the button below will be greatly appreciated and can help us preserve the memory of the Holocaust alive. Thank you.

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Rebecca Aaron was the last Holocaust survivor in Corfu. May her memory be a blessing.
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