Anti-Nazi resistance and Jews in the foreign armed forces, 1942 -- 1945

Collection Overview

Title: Anti-Nazi resistance and Jews in the foreign armed forces, 1942 -- 1945

ID: RG-72.17/RG-72.17

Creator: Czechoslovak Armed Forces within the Allies Armed Forces (1939 -- 1945)

Extent: 0.0

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

Languages: Czech [cze], Hebrew [heb], Hungarian [hun], English [eng]

Abstract

This collection contains artifacts relating to Nazi resistance in Eastern Europe.

The Jewish Brigade Group

The Jewish Brigade Group was created by the British War Office and was composed of Jewish volunteers from Palestine. Formed in 1944, the JBG was included over five thousand soldiers and assisted in the liberation of Italy in 1945. Towards the end of the war, they assisted in Displaced Person camps. They were disbanded in 1946.

Czechoslovakian Government in Exile

The Czechoslovak government-in-exile was initially established in France by the president of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Benes, after his country was overrun by Germany. In 1940, the government-in-exile moved to London, where it attempted to gain legal recognition for the Czechoslovak republic. They assisted Jewish refugees as well as allowing Jews to enlist in their armed forces to fight the Nazis. At the end of the war, Benes was allowed to return to Czechoslovakia and regain control of the country.

Hungary

World War II proved to be an extremely turbulent time for Hungary. Initially, they were allies to Nazi Germany and provided Hitler with agricultural goods and soldiers while Germany promised to return territory to Hungary. Soon, though, it became clear that Hungary would not benefit from their partnership with Germany and began to seek an alliance with the Allied forces. Before they could form any sort of pact with the Allied forces, Germany invaded and occupied Hungary and took control of the government. In late 1944, the Soviet Union invaded Hungary and in January 1945, an armistice was signed. By April, there were no German soldiers remaining in Hungary.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: No restrictions.

Use Restrictions:

No restrictions.

Digital copies might be available upon request.

Box and Folder Listing

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-72.17.01, Jewish Brigade Group patch, 1944 -- 1945

A patch from the Jewish Brigade Group. Formed by the British military, the Jewish Brigade group was active between 1944 --1945 and was composed of Palestinian Jews.

Subject/Index Terms:: Resistance, Jewish; Resistance, Palestine; British Military; Jewish Brigade Group, 1944 -- 1945; Jewish resistance; Resistance members, Jewish; Resistance forces, Jewish

Creators:: British military authorities (1944 -- 1945); Jewish Brigade Group (1944 -- 1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-72.17.02, Postcard for Easter from the abroad member of Czechoslovak Forces to Washington D.C, USA, written to Leo Goerth, 4 April 1943

A postcard for Easter from an abroad member of the Czechoslovakian government to Washington D.C., USA. During the war, the Czechoslovakian government was in exile in London, so while their mail is stamped in Czech, the postage stamp is British, portraying the likeness of King George VI.

Subject/Index Terms:: Resistance, Czechoslovak; Czechoslovakian government in exile; British Military; Resistance forces, Czech; wartime correspondences; Holiday Greetings; Correspondence in English language

Creators:: Czechoslovak Armed Forces within the Allies Armed Forces (1939 -- 1945); Czechoslovak armed forces fought with the Allied armed forces, 1939 --1945 (1939 -- 1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 3: RG-72.17.03, Envelope from the abroad member of Czechoslovak Forces to New York, USA, written to H.R Monkemeyer, 28 October 1942

An envelope from an abroad member of the Czechoslovakian forces to New York, USA. During the war, the Czechoslovakian government was in exile in London. Like artifact RG-72.17.02, the stamp identifies the piece of mail as coming from the Czechoslovakian, but the postage identifies that it came from Britain with the portrayal of King George VI.

Subject/Index Terms:: British Military; Czechoslovakian government in exile; Resistance, Czechoslovak; Resistance forces, Czech; wartime correspondences; Correspondence in English language

Creators:: Czechoslovak Armed Forces within the Allies Armed Forces (1939 -- 1945); Czechoslovak armed forces fought with the Allied armed forces, 1939 --1945 (1939 -- 1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 4: RG-72.17.04, Hungarian resistance sign, featuring hammer and sickle

A resistance flyer or leaflet from Hungary. The text is written in Hungarian with a mention of Hitler. The hammer and sickle was the insignia for the Communist party, which was one of the first groups to resist against Nazi Germany.

Subject/Index Terms:: Communism in Hungary; Resistance, Hungary; Resistance forces, Hungarian; Hungarian, language; Documents in Hungarian language

Creators:: Hungarian Communist Resistance; Resistance, Hungarian (1940 --1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-72.17.05, Allied expeditionary force. D.P. Index Card

Subject/Index Terms:: Allied Expeditionary Forces; Armed Forces, Allied; Military documents; Identification documents; Proofs of stay at the displaced person camps; English, language; Documents in English language

Creators:: Allied Expeditionary forces in the European watr -theater (1944 -- 1949); Allied Armed Forces, 1939 -- 1945 (1939 -- 1945)