VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

Austro-Hungarian Soldiers at Prayer

As many as 300,000 Jews served in the Austro-Hungarian army in World War I. 40,000 died in the fighting. Here, they are shown gathered in the field for a service, likely on a holiday. The Rabbi/Chaplain is speaking words of encouragement. Some soldiers have Siddurim and even a Talit.

Early soldiers.Russia

Universal conscription to the Russian army was instituted in 1874. This card printed in 1904 pictures Russian soldiers in front of their flag. The caption reads "Oath of Young Soldiers (Jewish)" , presumably to flag and country. By the time of WWI, there were about 350,000 Jews in the Russian army.

Early soldiers.Germany

Jews participated in the Napoleonic wars of 1813-15. They fought in significant numbers in the German-French war of 1870. This postcard portrays the homecoming of a Jewish soldier from those earlier wars.

Family Waits for News

This German postcard, mailed in May 1915, shows a Jewish family reading a letter sent by a soldier - son, husband, father - from the front. The caption expresses universal war-time feelings: "He Keeps Watch / in Enemy Country, At Home the Hearts are worried; For a Greeting from a Loving Hand / They are Anxiously Waiting".

Austria-Hungary.Chaim Grunberg

Ch(aim) Grunberg sent this card, with his own picture on the front, to friends in Oderfurt, Moravia, in the A-H empire. It's dated 14 February 1918. His message: 'My dear friends - this is in remembrance of the WorldFire 1914-1918'. His photo shows him wearing several medals including the Karl Troop combat cross and the Emperor medal for bravery. Moravia is part of Czechoslovakia today.

Austria-Hungary.Ferdinand Lowy

Ferdinand Lowy writes home in German to parents in Vac Hungary, on 20 August 1916. He is in a field hospital in Lvov Ukraine and hopes to be sent back to Hungary..

Austria-Hungary.Rosenzweig

Soldier Salomon (?) writes to Abraham Rosenzweig in Jaffa Tel Aviv Palestine on 11 April 1917. He is part of the A-H field artillery regiment #43. The card was censored in Budapest.

AH.Wounded to Chaplain

Leib Lieber writes in flowery Hebrew to chaplain Moshe Schwarz. His Hebrew date corresponds to 12 August 1916. He is now in a military hospital in Marburg, Germany. "...They feed me only dairy foods...I beg you to send me a package for Pesach (8 months away!? - perhaps he means the fall holidays?)

Jewish Chaplain Badge

A Jewish military chaplain's badge. Made of brass and blackened (though the black wears off over time). Similar to others but the crown differs, resembling an Australian chaplain's badge.

Exemption From Service.a

Dated 9 December 1915, this is an appeal to Minister Harkanyi to exempt 2 workers in a flour mill from military service. They are named Leo Sonnenschein and Gustav Ney. They are considered vital to production in this business. Written with flowery respectful language.

Exemption From Service Request.b

End of the letter, in Hungarian.

A-H.Cartoon Kaparot

This cartoon pictures an Austro-Hungarian soldier reciting the traditional Kaparot formula on the eve of Yom Kippur. Symbolically, a chicken - or money - is held in hand and one recites "This is instead of me...this chicken/money will go to its death/charity and I will go on to long life and peace". The head of the chicken here is the head of the enemy Russian Czar ! At bottom this New Year's card reads 'May you be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year'.

Austria Soldier.Stagestation

Pinchas Aberforst (?) is in the 'stagestation command'. He's writing to Efraim Frisch in Munich in September 1918. Apparently he is stationed in Risano Italy.

Hungarian Officer

Hungarian Officer Message

Austria.Ersatzreserve

This obviously Jewish soldier was part of the 'Ersatzreserve'. These were replacement forces made up of second-line soldiers. They did not participate in basic service but were called up for defense.

Austro Hungary Jews.Prayer service

This unused postcard was printed in Vienna, Austria for use as a New Year's card. It shows a drawing of a prayer service for soldiers in the field. Amid weapons and flags, a few are called to the Torah reading, at which the long-coated chaplain officiates. Everyone else is standing respectfully and listening.

Siddur.Austria-Hungary

An estimated 320,000 Jews fought in the A-H armies. 40,000 lost their lives. To accommodate them, this small siddur was produced.

A-H siddur.title in German

The Austrians spoke German while the Hungarians spoke Hungarian. This siddur was printed with both. Here we see the title and table of contents in German.

A-H siddur.title

Here is the Hungarian title page. The siddur is tiny.

A-H siddur.Kaiser photo

The siddur includes a picture of the empire's leader, Franz Joseph I.

A-H.siddur.Fallen Soldier

Among the prayers is a brief version of the funeral service, intended for fallen soldiers. All of the prayers are excerpted or abridged.

Hungarian Siddur.1915

The Rabbinical Association of Budapest published this Hebrew-Hungarian siddur in 1915.

Hungarian Siddur.Havinenu

it contains the (almost) full Amidah but also the abbreviated Havinenu.

Hungarian Siddur.Kadish

The last Hungarian page includes the Kadish, transliterated.

Austro-Hungarian Soldier

This soldier fought for A-H and earned 6 medals. His name is not known, but he later emigrated to the Holy Land. His photo shows him wearing some of his medals.

A-H Soldier Earns Medals

This soldier fought for A-H and earned 6 medals. His name is not known, but he later emigrated to the Holy Land.

AH.Medals.right side

We see the Karl Troop Combat Cross, the Hungarian WWI combatant medal, the Franz Joseph medal for bravery, and the Jewish Veterans badge.

AH medals.left side

Here we see the Austrian medal for WWI combatants and the Kaiser Franz Joseph merit crosses in both iron and enameled silver.

A-H Jewish P.O.W.

Lieutenant Moishe Rosenbaum is a P.O.W. held in Cortemaggiore, Italy. Sent from Vienna by family member Giza Rosenbaum on 25 December 1916. Card printed in Hungarian and French especially for writing to POWs. Post free. Message in German fuzzy.

Hungarian Soldier Incommunicado

Mr. Meirovits in Budapest writes to an army chaplain 'The Gaon Rav Military Officer Army Chaplain, Dr. Schwarc' 31 August 1916. It is an army postcard. Please give me news about my son Moshe Yehudah who is in the field...He was writing every week and now hasn't written in 2 or 3 weeks and we are heartsick'. The address is Jewish Military Camp # 14.

A-H soldier.Death certificate

Official death certificate for a Jew in the Austro-Hungarian army from the Jewish Military Chaplaincy. Livgvlo ? Hoffman died 10 January 1917. He had fought in the Feldjager Battalion. He was buried in the Central Cemetery in Vienna. The certificate is signed by 'Field-Rabbi' (chaplain) Frankfurter.

AH.Jewish Veteran's medal

Jewish veterans of the first World War organized the 'Bund Judischer Front Kampfer' = the Organization of Jewish Front Fighters. Besides the usual fraternal benefits, they organized in order to protest and counteract rising anti-Semitism in Europe. This was their membership badge.

Germany.Jacob Nussbaum

Jacob Nussbaum had his portrait taken, wearing full dress uniform, in a studio in Darmstadt. He was one of 100,000 Jews who fought for Germany in WWI, of which 12,000 died. About a third of these troops received military decorations.

German soldier.Fritz Jacob

Fritz Jacob had his picture taken in the standard field gray German uniform. Photo taken in Frankfurt.

Germany.Jewish Soldiers

These Jewish soldiers had their picture taken in Roulers, Belgium. That city was occupied by German forces from October 1914 to October 1918.

Germany.Karl Kahn.BH

Karl Kahn writes home from the field on 4 July 1917. He is a grenadier in regiment 119. Interestingly, he begins his message in German with the heading in Hebrew ב"ה

Munsterlager to Jewish Community

Munster was the sight of a complex of 4 different POW camps in NW Germany. They held British, French, and Russian prisoners. This envelope was mailed from there to 'His Excellency, the Head of the Jewish Community of Hannover' which was 45 miles away. Above the postmark we see in faint purple ink the imprint of the censor.

Germany.Chaplain Aaron Tanzer

Rabbi Aaron Tanzer was an Austrian-born man who served as a chaplain in the German army, ministering to German and Austrian Jewish soldiers. He also looked after Jewish POWs held by Germany in camps such as Doberitz. Here he writes from 'Brisk' in Poland to son Fritz, strongly discouraging him from sending any packages. He has what he needs and is painfully aware that at home there a many shortages. "All I want from my children is love...If there is peace at home then I can also be at peace..".

Iron cross certificate

Julius Nussbaum, a sergeant working in an army hospital was awarded the iron cross 2nd class on his 22nd birthday! - 8 October 1918.

German siddur.Title page

Many of the 100,000 Jews in the German army were able to make use of this specially printed Siddur. Small and thin, it could easily fit into the pocket of a soldier's uniform.

German siddur.German Shma

Much of the prayer text is in German translation, such as the 'Shema' shown here.

German siddur.Hallel

As one might expect, the prayers are heavily abbreviated. This page is titled 'Hallel' but gives only one paragraph.

Germany.Siegfried Saalheimer

Saalheimer was one of the 2,000 Jewish soldiers who were promoted to officer. Here is the certificate: "In the name of his majesty the German Kaiser (Wilhelm II King of Prussia) the Iron Cross 2nd class was given to Underofficer Siegfried Saalheimer 11 August 1917". Next to it is the medal.

WWI.JIR.Iron Cross.Nussbaum

German Pilot Frankel

Germany.Wilhelm Frankl

Wilhelm Frankl was one of some 200 pilots who flew for Germany in World War I. He was born in Hamburg in 1893 and became Germany's most successful pilot, shooting down 19 enemy planes. Frankl converted in order to marry a Christian woman. He was killed in combat over France on 8 April 1917.

Germany.Frankl's Medals

Frankl's medals include the Iron Cross and the silver Pilot's Medal. Most significant, he was awarded the rare and prestigious 'Pour La Merite' gold and blue cross, known as the 'Blue Max'. All are shown in his photo. (The blue max shown here is a reproduction).

Book.12000 fallen

The RJF - the Jewish German Veteran Soldier organization - published this volume in 1932. It lists 12,000 Jewish soldiers who fell defending Germany in World War One. The book title is “The Jewish Fallen: The German Army, Navy, and protection troops” 1914 - 1918 Memory Book.

WWI.Book.12000 Fallen soldiers 001 (2)

The book lists 12,000 Jewish soldiers who fell defending Germany in World War One. Soldiers are listed alphabetically in the first section and then again by locality. Listed are name, birthday, birthplace, day of death, troop and rank.

Memorial book.Nurnburg

'War Memorial Book', Nurnburg 1920. Listings of over 200 fallen Jews in the war from Nurnburg, each with vignettes about them and the dates of death from August 1914 to April 1919. Also excerpts from their letters and diaries.

Book.Nurnberg.War memorial

"War Memorial Book of the Israelite Religious Community Nurnberg". 1920 Nurnberg. by Rabbi Dr. Max Freudenthal. 100 pages describing fallen Jewish soldiers and 40 pages of letters and diary entries.

Bulgaria.Peretz

In 1915 Bulgaria entered the War on the side of Germany, hoping to regain Macedonia. thousands of Jews joined; 211 died in the War. The War was a complete disaster for Bulgaria. Soldier Peretz served in 1915-1916. He had this photo taken in uniform.

France. Siddur.title page

'The Soldier's Tefila' reads this French siddur for soldiers. At the bottom we read that this siddur is available from the office of the chief rabbi in Paris.

French siddur.10 commandments

These pages feature the 10 Commandments in French translation.

French siddur.Hebrew

The French caption tells us these prayers should be said before going to war. Looking carefully, we see 2 perakim of Tehillim: Ps. 70 and Ps. 27.

French siddur.Hebrew.Brochot

The first page gives morning blessings, each with a title or description in French: Modeh Ani, Al Netilat Yadayim, Asher Yatzar, and the bracha on Tzitzit..

French siddur.Soldier's Prayer

The French half of the Siddur includes this 'Prayer before Battle'.

France.Marcel Bloch

Marcel Bloch was one of 35,000 thousand French Jews who were drafted in WWI. (An additional 12,000 volunteered.) He became a pilot in 1915 and specialized in shooting down enemy observation balloons. He completed his missions despite severe wounds, his plane returning riddled with bullets.

French Medals

For bravery and heroism in battle, Bloch was awarded medals like these: On the left the Military medal. In the middle the Cross of War. On the right, France's highest award - The Legion of Honor.

French Soldier Marcel Bloch

Italy.Community Prayers for Victory

This booklet of prayers was specially printed for the community in Milan to offer in support of their troops. Shown is a combination of the Hebrew and Italian titles. 'Prayer of the Israelites of Milan for the triumph of the provinces subject to Austria'. Italy in fact fought Austria in WWI, hoping to gain control of some northern provinces.

Italy.Prayer Booklet.Tehillim

This booklet was likely used in a service. It is signed by R. Alessandro da Fano, Milano's chief rabbi. It opens with 2 chapters of Psalms/Tehillim, 61 & 64. "Lord You are a refuge and tower of strength in the face of the enemy".... "Hear oh Lord my voice as I speak, from fear of the enemy preserve my life."

Italy.Prayer Booklet.Special

There follow several special paragraphs of specific prayers. Some excerpts: "We mourn the calamity of the cruel war that has burst upon the world....Hearken to our pleas and save our country Italy...give our soldiers strength...bless and guard our beloved King Victor Emmanuel III and do away with all that rise against him … ...Redeem our Italian brethren and all those who are in distress … .... Amen.

Italy.Soldier's Prayer Before Battle

British Jew.Royal Fusiliers

Henri is in the 42nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, stationed near Plymouth. 'We expect to embark before the end of this month'. June 1918. These troops were sent to Turkey and Africa. British Jews had a very high rate of participation, with 41,000 serving out of a population of 280,000.

Britain.Siddur.Title

Right away in 1914, the British army issued this siddur for 'Jewish Sailors and Soldiers' compiled by chaplain Rev. Michael Adler.

British siddur.King's Message

The English side of the Siddur begins with a message from the King (George V). "You are leaving home to fight for the safety and honour of my Empire … Belgium has been attacked...and France is about to be invaded...I have implicit confidence in you my soldiers...I pray G-d to bless you and guard you and bring you back victorious".

British siddur.Introductory Prayer

The first prayer on the Hebrew side, interestingly, is the well-known Tefilat Haderech - the Traveler's Prayer. Reading it carefully, it seems remarkably appropriate.

British siddur.Havineinu.

Most prayers are abbreviated, although the Shema is complete. The Amidah substitutes the one paragraph summary 'Havineinu' for the middle 13 blessings, as seen here.

Britain.Siddur.Soldier inscription

Shown here is the inscription of the soldier who held this Siddur. Private Simon Abrahams of Liverpool. And 20 years later, he added a newer address.

Britain.Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen age 40, was awarded this British medal. Part of the Royal West Kent Regiment, he died of gas poisoning on 15 November 1918. He is memorialized by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Britain.Canada.Jack Goldstein

Jack Goldstein was born in Romania in 1896 and emigrated to Montreal. He enlisted in the Canadian army in February 1916. Missing in action, he was declared officially dead on 22 February 1918. His name is engraved on the memorial to Canadian war heroes in France.

Britain / Canada.War Medal

This is the British War Medal issued by the Department of Defense for combatants in World War One. It was awarded to Canadian Jack Goldstein posthumously.

Britain.Palestine.David Ben Gurion

A number of future leaders of Israel were members of the Jewish Legion, a part of the Royal Fusiliers of the British army. David BenGurion here wears the uniform of the Legion. During the mandate he headed the Jewish Agency. He declared the State of Israel in 1948 and became its first prime minister.

Britain.Palestine.Jewish Legion

Britain.Palestine.Harry Reisler

Harry Tzvi Reisler was among the hundreds of North American volunteers who made up the 39th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. They were stationed in Egypt but did participate in the 'Battle of Megiddo' in September 1918.

Britain.Palestine.Dog Tag

This appears to be a hand-made dog tag. It is engraved with Harry's name, rank, serial number, battalion and branch of service.

Britain.Palestine.Reisler Insignia

In addition to the dog tag, Reisler wore the Royal Fusilier cap badge, and the Canadian award 'For Service at the Front'. Above the enameled flag, in tiny letters, we read CEF - Canadian Expeditionary Force.

British Medal Roster

Abraham Katz appears on the list

Britain.Jewish Legion R. Fusiliers

Britian.Palestine.Royal Fusiliers

Britain.Palestine.Katz medals

US.Epstein

About 250,000 American Jews served in the US army. 3500 died and 12,000 were wounded. Epstein (Sam?) is in this photo in American uniform. According to the back inscription, he is a part of S.A.T.C. = Student Army Training Corps. He was recruited in college; the program later became known as ROTC = Reserve Officer Training Corps. Students received paid education and training, in exchange for future service.

US.Max Bresnick

US.Max Bresnick

This is a photo of Max Bresnick in full US uniform. He is at Camp Dix, in New Jersey. Camp Dix was built in 1917 to be a staging ground for troops headed overseas. It later became known as the permanent Fort Dix.

US.Max Bresnick message

Max identified his location, name and date on this card. And he wrote a thought in Yiddish: "There's an old saying that 'The world is a stage and people are actors on it'. I say that The world is an actress and if people understood they could force her to perform a nicer role'.

Kleinman Draft, Service, Veterancards

Jacob Kleinman received his draft classification - 1A - from the War department on March 4, 1918. His service I.D. assigned this experienced clothing inspector to the Quartermaster corps. Eventually he was registered with the Veterans Administration.

Kleinman.Discharge

Jacob Kleinman was Honorably Discharged from service on 31 December 1918. His certificate shows he was born in Warsaw ('Russia'), served 3 months, and was discharged because he was the sole support for his family.

Discharge.Record of Service

The discharge paper records his service record. He is described as married, honest, faithful, with excellent character, and never absent. Served September 4 till December 31, 1918.

WWI.JIR.Kleinman.Discharge B

US.4 medal group

This group of medals was earned by an American Jewish serviceman. His Jewishness is indicated by the Jewish War Veteran medals that are part of his group.

US War Medal 'Victory'

This is the American medal given for those who served. On the back it reads "The Great war for Civilization". It lists the theatres of war, and the supportive countries, that fought on the side of the Allies.

US.New York State Service Medal

New York state issued this medal for New Yorkers who served. The front shows a soldier, guided by an image of 'victory'. The back lists countries who were Allies. It is individually numbered at the top. This medal indicates that this group was earned by a New Yorker.

US.Jewish War Veteran medals

The Jewish War Veterans of the USA was organized by Jewish veterans of the Civil War to demonstrate that Jews had proudly served in their country's wars. The pin at the top reads '1776 .. 1918' indicating service by Jews since the American revolution. This unnamed soldier was apparently a member.

US siddur.cover.olive drab

The US issued this siddur in the Fall of 1917. The cover is army-style olive-drab cloth. In 85 double-numbered pages it contains Hebrew prayers for weekday, Sabbath, holidays, prayers for sick and wounded. Also a burial service and prayer for the government. Everything is translated into English on facing pages. A calendar page list holidays for 1917 - 20.

US siddur.prayer for Gov't

This is the prayer for the government.

US siddur.Havineinu

Shema is complete. The Amidah is accurately traditional except that here too the middle is abbreviated to one paragraph - Havineinu.

US.JWB.Award

Jewish General's award: Token of the Jewish Welfare Board in plastic display with engraved dedication to US Army Major General Melvin Krulewitch, Dec. 1958. Krulewitch (1895-1978) served in both World Wars and in the Korean War, in the marine corps, and retired in 1956. A member of the Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan. The JWB was responsible for recruiting and training Rabbis for military service, as well as overseeing Jewish chapel facilities at military installations.

Russian soldiers.group

As many as 450,000 Jews served in the Russian army in WWI. Here is a group of them, in uniform shown with some family members. Russia signed a treaty with Germany that ended their participation in the war, at great cost of money and territories.

Russian Soldier

This real photo of a Russian Jewish soldier was printed as a postcard. A German soldier sent it home from the field to Berlin, postmarked 30 July 1917. "Thanks for the nice letter you sent me. Hopefully your husband is feeling well..".

Russian POWs in German Camp

This is a group of Russian Jewish soldiers held as POWs in Germany. The photo was kept by one of the surviving soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of Russians were captured and over 25 % of them perished in captivity. (Can you count the mustaches.)

Russian Ukranian Recruits

Recruits wearing Russian Uniforms. One sent this card in March 1914, before the war broke out. He wrote in fluent Hebrew 'Swearing in on the 25th ... We'll get leave for our holiday (Passover?)... Mailed from Zhitomir Ukraine to Latvia. Much of Ukraine joined Russia; some fought for Austria-Hungary.

Russian Soldiers.1915

Caucasus Jewish men fight for Russia.

Russia.Machane Yisrael

After 1874 universal Russian conscription, the increasing number of Jews in the army called for some guidance. The 'Chofetz Chaim' (R' Yisroel Meir Kagan) wrote Machaneh Yisroel, a hundred page booklet on religious observance when in the army. Published in1881. If army service was unavoidable, the Jewish soldier was encouraged to stay as faithful to religious observance as possible.

Russia.Machane Yisrael.intro

The introduction reminds the reader to pray for the welfare of the Czar and his family - that would be Alexander III and then Nicholas II. It notes that observance can often be fit in between military duties. A second section charges soldiers to be obedient, sober, civilized and controlled in behavior. The book was reprinted frequently, and as recently as World War II in New York in 1943.

WW!.Jews in the Ranks_edited

Romanian Soldier

Some 20,000 Jews fought in the Romanian army in WWI. This is a photo of one in his uniform. His name is unclear but the Yiddish message on the back points to his Jewishness.

Romanian Soldier.message

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Romanian Soldier.Yiddish message

*****

Romania.Fallen Soldiers

This poster commemorates Romanian Jewish war dead 1916-20. "In Remembrance of Jewish Heroes of the City of Falticeni died in the war for Romania." 54 names from this Romanian city are listed.

Siddur.German.Composite

Siddur.British.composite

Siddur.french.composite

0016a.jpg

WWI.JIR.French frame

WWI.ME.XXX.Katz medals_edited