Holocaust Artifacts Unpacked: The ID Tag

After Israel Hilsenrath and his wife, Annie, immigrated to the United States from Germany, they were desperate to locate and bring to America their older children, Susi and Joseph. After Kristallnacht, Israel had paid a smuggler to take Susi and Joseph to France, where they thought they would be safe. After Germany invaded France, the children lost touch with their parents. Israel worked relentlessly to find his children and reunite the family. Through the help of US-based aid organizations, the children were located in France, and Susi and Joseph set sail for New York in September 1941. Their parents and younger brother, Ernest, were waiting for them. The family settled in Washington, DC, and Susi, now Susan Warsinger, is a volunteer at our Museum.