Bernd Stevens (Steinitz) Collection, 1920-1960 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

By staff

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Bernd Stevens (Steinitz) Collection, 1920-1960

Predominant Dates:1939 -- 1950

ID: RG-42/RG-42

Primary Creator: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Extent: 2.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Materials are arranged by subject/creator, then by identifier, as assigned by the processor.

Subjects: family histories, Immigration from Nazi Germany, integration in to American society, Jewish religious literature and texts, Jewish religious objects, Postwar adaptation, United States, Second World War, 1939 -- 1945, Secret military missions, 1939 -- 1945, Soldiers, US, Steinitz family history, US Military intelligence, Weimar Republic, 1918 -- 193

Forms of Material: Personal memoirs and recollections

Languages: German, English

Abstract

This Record Group contains collections and documents related to Bernd Stevens (originally Bernd Karl Steinitz) life-story. It begins in Weimar Republic and continues through the Nazi period, followed by emigration to the United States. A special chapter of Mr. Stevens biography belongs to his service in the US Army, specifically with the period of his secret missions entrusted him by the OSS (US intelligence service). Owing to his German-Jewish origin, the OSS parachuted him with a special group behind the enemy lines in Austria in 1945. He successfully completed his mission.

His postwar period is related to life in Hollywood, CA with the respective entertainment-related activities. Mr. Stevens authored several memoir publications related to his life-story.

Some of the documents and artifacts from this Record Group are on display in the museum exhibition.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This Record Group comprised four collections, namely of Steinitz family history in Munich and in other places in Bavaria. The second collections includes wartime documents, largely issued the US military agencies. The third collections contains personal family objects of Judaica. The third collection, primarily of photo-documents, reflects the postwar period in the United States. A Judaica collection of this record group comprised two sub-collection: the first consists of Jewish religious texts and objects and the second one includes Nazi-German memorabilia acquired by Bernd Stevens in Germany and Austria while serving in the U.S. Army.

Collection Historical Note

Materials of this Record Group can be largely described as a documented story of a Jewish-German immigrant successfully integrated in to American society, who served to his new country in the battlefield of the Second World War. However the peculiarities of his military service makes these documents rather distinct. In short, a Jewish-German immigrant, a young man in his twenties, became elevated to an officer rank, entrusted a secret mission behind the enemy lines. He successfully fulfilled his duties. First and foremost, going by the name of Lieutenant Peter Hartley, Stevens negotiated a surrender of the German forces in Upper Carinthia, Austria, on the request of the Nazi Gauleiter of Upper Carinthia. After honorably being discharge from the Army, Stevens became attracted to the lifestyle of Hollywood. The photo-documents of the postwar period exemplify his party-going activities. Growing older Mr. Stevens reflected on the past. He was approached by journalists and filmmakers attempting to use his life-story for a Hollywood-style action film, however thisdid not materialize. He however authored several memoir publication in collaboration with a professional writer, though they remained unpublished.

Biographical Note

A collection of documents, artifacts and photographs in general related to the life-story of Karl Bernd Steinitz (Bernd Stevens). Karl Steinitz (also known as Bernd Karl Steinitz) was born in Munich, Germany in 1920. In September 1939 he obtained a German Travel Passport with a permission to leave for USA via Italy. This is reflected in his Passport by official authorization of emigration issued on October 11, 1939. He left Germany on October 12, 1939 by the means of a Tourist Agency “CIT”. On October 13, Bernd Karl Steinitz arrived in Monaco and his stay in Italy was officially authorized by a mark in his Passport. His departure from Italy is also marked in the Passport by October 20, 1939. Bernd Steinitz left Trieste, Italy on the ship to USA. His US entry visa was received one year earlier as marked in his Passport by October 3, 1938. It was issued by American Vice Consul at Stuttgart. Bern Steinitz was also granted an Immigrant Identification Card No. 1117095.

Upon arrival to the United States, Karl Steinitz changed his name to Bernd Stevens. He enlisted voluntarily in the U.S. Army. For the training he was sent to Texas. Soon the U.S. intelligence service (OSS) took interest in him and he was transferred to California for special training to act behind the enemy lines. The documents in this collection reflect one of his secret missions to southern Austria.

Bernd Stevens presently lives in Los Angeles, CA, USa

Subject/Index Terms

family histories
Immigration from Nazi Germany
integration in to American society
Jewish religious literature and texts
Jewish religious objects
Postwar adaptation, United States
Second World War, 1939 -- 1945
Secret military missions, 1939 -- 1945
Soldiers, US
Steinitz family history
US Military intelligence
Weimar Republic, 1918 -- 193

Administrative Information

Repository: Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

Access Restrictions:

No restrictions

Copyrighted materials, credits to and references to the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust are required

Digital copies might be available upon request

Use Restrictions: Copyrighted materials

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Sub-Collection:

[Sub-Collection 1: RG-42.01, Bernd Steinitz, personal and family history, 1920 -- 1940],
[Sub-Collection 2: RG-42.02, Bernd Steinitz, war period, 1942 -- 1945],
[Sub-Collection 3: RG-42.03, Bernd Steinitz, Judaica and US military awards and decorations, 1860 -- 1945],
[Sub-Collection 4: RG-42.04, Bernd Steinitz, postwar period, 1945 -- 1960],
[All]

Sub-Collection 1: RG-42.01, Bernd Steinitz, personal and family history, 1920 -- 1940

This collection contains documents and family photographs related the period in Germany since early 1920s to the late 1930s. It includes official documents and family photographs.

Subject/Index Terms:: Bavaria (Germany: Region); Munich (Germany); family histories; Steinitz family history

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-42.01.01, Bernd Steinitz with brothers and sister, Germany, 1920s

Bernd Steinitz (top) with his brothers and sisters. This photograph was taken in Germany.

Subject/Index Terms:: Germany (Europe); family histories; family photographs; Steinitz, Bernd; Steinitz family history

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-42.01.02, Bernd Steinitz, two children, Germany, circa 1920s

Bernd Steinitz (left) and another child posing for the cameras.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Steinitz family history; family histories; childhood experiences

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 3: RG-42.01.03, Bernd Steinitz, a nurse, circa 1930s

A picture of a nurse.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Prewar photographs

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 4: RG-42.01.04, Bernd Steinitz, Vorturner ernannt, certificate of achievement, December 1936

A certificate of achievement for Bernd Steinitz, Vorturner ernannt. A certificate of achievement for gymnastics leadership.

Subject/Index Terms:: Vorturner ernannt, certificate; Steinitz, Bernd

Creators:: Jewish Gym and Sports Club, Nuremberg

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-42.01.05, Bernd Steinitz, a room

A photograph of a bedroom.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Jewish life, pre-war

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 6: RG-42.01.06, Bernd Steinitz, three kids, Germany, circa 1920s

Bernd Steinitz (right) and two children pose on a grass field.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; family histories; personal photographs with family and friends; Germany (Europe)

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 7: RG-42.01.07, Bernd Steinitz, Munich, early 1930s, early 1930s

A photograph of Bernd Steinitz in the early 30's.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Munich (Germany)

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 8: RG-42.01.08, Steinitz family, Bavaria, 1920s (Stevens), 1920s

Bernd Steinitz (left) with family.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Steinitz family history; family histories; family photographs; Bavaria (Germany)

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 9: RG-42.01.09, Young Bernd Steinitz with siblings, Germany, 1920s (Stevens), 1920s

A young Bernd Steinitz (top) with his siblings.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd; family histories; family photographs; Germany (Europe)

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 10: RG-42.01.10, Bernd Karl Steinitz, Birth Certificate, 1920, November 20, 1920

A birth certificate for Bernd Karl Steinitz.

Subject/Index Terms:: Birth certificates; Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd

Creators:: German registrar

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 11: RG-42.01.11, Bernd Steinitz Deutsches Reich Reisepass, September 30, 1939

A passport for Bernd Karl Steinitz. A Deutches Reich Reisepass issued by Nazi-German.

Subject/Index Terms:: Passports, German; Steinitz, Bernd

Creators:: Goverment of Nazi Germany (1933 -- 1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 12: RG-42.01.12, Bernd Steinitz Deutsches Reich Kennkarte, May 23, 1939

After World War II began, Germany began issuing Kennkarten to citizens of conquered countries. Kennkarten were identity cards also introduced by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland (General Government). They were issued primarily from 1941 to 1943. Forgery by Polish resistance was common.

The color of a Kennkarte was based on ethnicity. Poles had gray ones; Jews and Romas, yellow; Russians and other non–Polish Slavs, blue.

Subject/Index Terms:: Deutsches Reich Kennkarte; False documents, passports; Steinitz, Bernd

Creators:: Goverment of Nazi Germany (1933 -- 1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 13: RG-42.01.13, Bernd Steinitz, family eating a meal at the table, circa 1920s

Bernd Steinitz sitting at the dinner table with his family.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; family histories; family photographs; Steinitz family history

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 14: RG-42.01.14, Bernd Steinitz, formal portrait circa 1937, possibly father, circa 1937

A formal portrait of presumably Bernd Steinitz' father.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Steinitz family history; Photographs, family members

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 15: RG-42.01.15, Bernd Steinitz, three children and one woman in front of trees, circa 1920s

A photograph of a woman with three children posing in front of trees.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd; personal photographs with family and friends; Steinitz family history

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present)