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

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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 4: RG-42.04, Bernd Steinitz, postwar period, 1945 -- 1960

This collection contains official documents, personal photographs, personal narratives and clippings from the media related to Bernd Steven’s postwar experience in Los Angeles, CA.

Subject/Index Terms:: Personal Documents; personal photographs with family and friends; Military documents

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present); Office of Strategic Services (OSS) (1944 -- 1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-42.04.01, Bernd Steinitz aerial view of city postwar, post 1945

An aerial view of the city of New York, postwar.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; New York (N.Y.); Postwar adaptation, United States

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-42.04.02, Bernd Steinitz, Memorandum for Americans, commemorative narrative, postwar, undated

Memorandum fo Americans written in Bernd Steinitz handwriting.

Subject/Index Terms:: Poetry and literature (post-war); Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 3: RG-42.04.03, Bernd Steinitz (Bernd Stevens), Los Angeles, circa 1939--1945

Bernd Steinitz doing the splits on a beach.

Subject/Index Terms:: Stevens, Bernd; Steinitz, Bernd; Photographs, postwar, 1945 -- 1988

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 4: RG-42.04.04, Bernd Steinitz (Bernd Stevens), US, 1960s, 1960s

A photograph from Bernd Steinitz, possibly his father.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-42.04.05, Bernd Steinitz, group photograph, postwar, LA, circa 1939--1945

Bernd Steinitz, a group photograph with an actress and military men.

Subject/Index Terms:: Hollywood entertainment community and the war effort; wartime photographs

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present); US Military Personnel

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 6: RG-42.04.06, Bernd Steinitz postwar photograph, post 1945

A photograph of a soldier. Bernd Steinitz photo-collection.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 7: RG-42.04.07, Bernd Steinitz affidavit of citizenship, 1981, US, May 21, 1981

An affidavit of citizenship for Bernd K. Stevens.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd; American citizenship

Creators:: State of California

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 8: RG-42.04.08, Bernd Steinitz self-portrait with camera, postwar, postwar

Bernd Steinitz self-portrait with his camera. Postwar.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 9: RG-42.04.09, Bernd Steinitz, magazine clipping, lit building postwar, post war

A magazine clipping of a lit building, postwar.

Subject/Index Terms:: Stevens, Bernd; Steinitz, Bernd; postwar life in Europe

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 10: RG-42.04.10, Bernd Steinitz looking out of car postwar, circa 1950s

Bernd Steinitz driving around and lokoing out of a car.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 11: RG-42.04.11, Bernd Steinitz self-portrait with camera, post war

A self-portrait photograph of Bernd Steinitz.

Subject/Index Terms:: Stevens, Bernd; Steinitz, Bernd; Photographs

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 12: RG-42.04.12, Bernd Steinitz with girls at the beach postwar, post war

Bernd Steinitz with his daughters on the beach, postwar.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; personal photographs with family and friends; Los Angeles (Calif.)

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 13: RG-42.04.13, Bernd Steinitz with two little daughters and the girl who took care of them after he left, postwar, 1950s

Bernd Steinitz with his daughters and the woman who looked after them when he left.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 14: RG-42.04.14, Bernd Steinitz on lawn chair with child, post war

Bernd Steinitz on a lawn chair with a child.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 15: RG-42.04.15, Bernd Steinitz with two girls at the beach postwar, post war

Bernd Steinitz with two girls at the beach, postwar.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd; Postwar adaptation, United States

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 16: RG-42.04.16, Bernd Steinitz girl in toy car, post war

Bernd Steinitz' daughter in a toy car.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 17: RG-42.04.17, Bernd Steinitz girl Anna Maria and Maria Inez left to right, post war

Bernd Steinitz' daughters Anna Maria and Maria Inez, left to right.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 18: RG-42.04.18, Gus Mandelbaum photograph, post war

A photograph of Gus Mandelbaum.

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

Creators:: Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present); US Military Personnel

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 19: RG-42.04.19, Gus Mandelbaum postcard, December 1945

A postcard from Gus Mandelbaum, from Austria on December 18, 1945.

Subject/Index Terms:: postcards; Austria (Europe); US servicemen, the Second World War, letters home

Creators:: Gus Mandelbaum (1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 20: RG-42.04.20, Bernd Steinitz home in California postwar, circa 1950s

A home in California, postwar.

Subject/Index Terms:: Photographs; Steinitz, Bernd; Stevens, Bernd; California (USA); Photographs, postwar, 1945 -- 1988; Postwar adaptation, United States

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 21: RG-42.04.21, Bernd Steinitz mother and daughter postwar, circa 1950s

A photograph of a mother and daughter, postwar.

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

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

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 22: RG-42.04.22, Bernd Steinitz, letter of appreciation from Colonel Livermore, the OSS, August 1945, August 1945

A letter of appreciation from Colonel Livermore of the OSS. Dated August 22, 1945.

Subject/Index Terms:: United States Army Awards and Decorations; letters of recognition and appreciation

Creators:: Office of Strategic Services (OSS) (1944 -- 1945); Colonel Russel B. Livermore (1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 23: RG-42.04.23, Bernd Steinitz, SAGE article about Gus Manders, March 2000

A SAGE article about Gus Manders, March 2000.

Subject/Index Terms:: Steinitz, Bernd; Newspaper Article

Creators:: SAGE article