Jump to content

Prison Camp Model, or...........?


Jack's Son
 Share

Recommended Posts

I have been sitting on this piece for about a year and a half, while trying to learn its secrets. I have been aided by one of our members with huge amounts of research and internet help. So far, we have learned a lot about the Prison Camp System, Displaced Persons Camps, but very little about the origins of this model.

 

We do know that there are not too many of these models floating around. In fact this is the only one we can find. We have some thoughts about its history, but I'll keep those thoughts quiet until everyone who wishes to discuss the model has had a chance to express their thoughts.

 

If anyone wishes to get involved with the camps research, please contact me via PM.

 

Thankspost-8213-1335679582.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a unique piece of history you have there JS...I've never seen its like! I wish you luck with your research. Hopefully a member(s) will be able to add some missing pieces to the proverbial jigsaw?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a unique piece of history you have there JS...I've never seen its like! I wish you luck with your research. Hopefully a member(s) will be able to add some missing pieces to the proverbial jigsaw?

Thank you! I hope I get a volunteer! (Or maybe two.) :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know if you speak any German, but here is a link to the German Wikipedia page on the city of Hallein: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallein

 

According to the information on this page, it appears that the SS created a support camp for Dachau in Hallein. The (mostly Polish) prisoners in the camp had to produce forced labor in a quarry.

After the war the camp was in the American occupation zone and was transformed to a Displaced Person camp (for survivors of the Holocaust, escapees etc.).

By its inhabitants, by than mainly people of the Jewish faith, the camp was named 'Beth Israel' and it existed until the mid 1950's.

After that it became the training ground of the football club Hakoah Hallein, an exclively Jewish club. They were trained by Heinrich Schönfeld who later emigrated to the US.

 

Hopefully this provides you with some new leads.

 

Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sjef,

Thank you for this information! This is the kind of help I was hoping for, and with a new name to study, more of the history of the piece may unfold.

Please check back in from time to time and look for more updates! :thumbsup:

 

JS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brian Dentino

JS, that is one really cool and unique item. If this item could talk I am sure that it would share some unique, and quite sad, views of this dark chapter in history. Very interesting item....thanks for sharing it here for us to enjoy. The detail is amazing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rakkasan187

JS,

 

I am wondering if this is in fact a model that was made for the SS to show visiting officials such as RFSS Henrich Himmler or the International Red Cross the layout of the compound?

 

Or, maybe it was constructed for the purpose of taking it from place to place, it would have been easy for the camp commandant to travel with this model to other areas to show the layout to other camp commandants as well.

 

Or, It may have been found by a former camp inmate and kept, or another thought is that someone built it after the camp was liberated and as a gift from the former inmates it was presented to the American commander prior to either his departure to the states or the inmates departure.

 

I know, lots of "Or"s but no boats.. (Sorry, had to drop that...) :huh:

 

A very interesting model either way..

 

Hope that more light can be shed on this item..

 

Leigh..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree JS

 

Thats very cool.THe only other one I gave seen isa larger scale camp model at Camp Dodge that was built to represent a POW camp one of the men at the museum spent time in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...