Stevens, Bernd (1920 -- present) | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

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