Narrow Results By
Tureen
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn45704
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Tureen : gilded : white, gold ; Ht: 6,3 cm x W: 18,3 cm x De: 31,5 cm
- Date
- [ca. 1920]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Tureen : gilded : white, gold ; Ht: 6,3 cm x W: 18,3 cm x De: 31,5 cm
- Other Title Information
- Food Service T&E
- Date
- [ca. 1920]
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- Soup tureen with lid and under plate. Oval white soup bowl with smaller oval base and golden geometric pattern around the border of the tureen. Golden handles with a triangular shape on each side of the tureen. White oval lid with golden geometric pattern around the border of the lid. Golden handle in trapezoid shape on top of the tureen. White oval under playe with smaller oval base and golden geometric pattern around the border of the plate. Narrative: These tureen, tureen lid, and plate belong to Adolf and Kaethe Maass. They were sent, along with pieces of furniture, to their son Gerhart in Montreal prior to the Second World War. Adolf and Kaethe Maass were both killed in Auschwitz concentration camp (Poland).
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.04
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Membership card
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn45705
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- textual record
- Physical Description
- Membership card : Bound : Ink : Red, Black, White, Green, Purple, Brown ; Ht: 13 cm x W: 10,5 cm
- Date
- 1942
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- textual record
- Physical Description
- Membership card : Bound : Ink : Red, Black, White, Green, Purple, Brown ; Ht: 13 cm x W: 10,5 cm
- Other Title Information
- Documentary Artifact
- Date
- 1942
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Language
- German
- Notes
- 48 pages, bound at left edge. There is a black and white portrait of a man on the 9th page, and his information is on the 8th page. Some pages have a Parteiadler printed in the background, while others have text covering them. Pages 17-19 have NSDAP party contributions stamps on them (1939-1942).
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.05
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Norway, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Box
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn45706
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Box : cut, veneered (maequetry), inlaid, hinged, glued : brown, green, yellow, orange ; Ht: 11,5 cm x W: 20 cm x De: 26,4 cm
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Box : cut, veneered (maequetry), inlaid, hinged, glued : brown, green, yellow, orange ; Ht: 11,5 cm x W: 20 cm x De: 26,4 cm
- Other Title Information
- Container
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Rectangular box with hinged lid which can be locked. Yellow-Orange seashell pattern in a green oval is veneered in the middle of the box lid. Green felt covers the bottom of the box. Diamond-shaped key hole on the front of the box; a small metal skeleton key is inserted into the hole. Narrative: This box belongs to Gerhart Maass. It was sent to him by his parents, Kaethe and Adolf Maass, along with pieces of furniture, in Montreal prior to the Second World War. Adolf and Kaethe Maass were both killed in Auschwitz concentration camp (Poland). Gerhard Maass used this box to keep the programs from the symphonic music concerts he went to (See S2 Special Interests in Gerhard Adolf Maass fonds to see the programs).
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.06
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Germany, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military badge
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn48070
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military badge : cut, woven, sewn, hand, machine, coiled : black, red-orange, gold, olive green
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military badge : cut, woven, sewn, hand, machine, coiled : black, red-orange, gold, olive green
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Square cardboard patch covered in fabric; on one side, the fabric is black, on the other side the fabric is red-orange; a star, with a high-relief centre, is found in the middle, overlapping both sides. The reverse is lined with olive green fabric.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.33
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military badge
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn48071
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military badge : woven, embroidered : black, red
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military badge : woven, embroidered : black, red
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Thin, arching felted fabric with embroidered text (see inscription).
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.34
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military badge
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn48072
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military badge : woven, sewn, machine, hand, embroidered : olive green, beige, black
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military badge : woven, sewn, machine, hand, embroidered : olive green, beige, black
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Irregularly-shaped rectangular patch (wider at the bottom than at the top) made of olive-green embroidered fabric, with a vertical seam donig down the reverse side. Going vertically down the middle, obverse side, are 3 embroidered diamonds, with a 4-sided cross-like shape in the middle.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.35
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Identification tag ?
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn48073
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Identification tag ? : cut, perforated, coiled : red, blue, beige
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Identification tag ? : cut, perforated, coiled : red, blue, beige
- Other Title Information
- Documentary Artifact
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Two red circular badges and one blue octagonal-shaped badge tied together with a piece of string; each badge has the same inscription, engraved on one side only.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.36
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military epaulet
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn48074
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military epaulet : Woven, sewn, machine, hand, embroidered, cutwork : olive-green, yellow, silver, bronze, beige, orange
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military epaulet : Woven, sewn, machine, hand, embroidered, cutwork : olive-green, yellow, silver, bronze, beige, orange
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Rectangular-shaped with a pointed bottom. Yellow embroidered edging along the sides and bottom, with a metal embroidered border. In the middle, top to bottom, is an embroidered bar, a cross of swords and a star burst; a button hole runs vertically above the point. A thin strap is attached to the reverse, to attach the epaulet to the jacket shoulder.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.37
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Pin
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn51223
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : cast (moulded) : Bronze, Black
- Date
- 1914-1918
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : cast (moulded) : Bronze, Black
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- 1914-1918
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- Miniature stick pin with combination of three symbols attached in single row: WWI Iron cross 1914/1918, Hindenburg Cross with Swords and Wound Badge. Attached on the back is a straight vertical pin.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.25
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Germany, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Clock
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn51339
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Clock : watch making, veneered (face of the clock) : brown ; Ht: 25,5 cm x W: 15 cm x De: 52,5 cm
- Date
- 1892
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Clock : watch making, veneered (face of the clock) : brown ; Ht: 25,5 cm x W: 15 cm x De: 52,5 cm
- Other Title Information
- Timekeeping T&E
- Date
- 1892
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- The clock features an enamelled face, black roman numerals, gold detailing and decorative inlaid wood. Narrative: This clock belonged to Adolf and Kaethe Maass. It was sent, along with pieces of furniture, to their son Gerhart in Montreal prior to WW2. Gerhart Adolf Maass (Hambourg 1918-Montreal 2009), also known as “Gerry”, was the youngest son of Adolf Maass and Käthe Elsbach. In 1935, summoned by his parents to leave Germany, Gerhart had no other idea in mind than coming to Canada. He was well supported by a distant cousin of his father, Rudolf van der Walde, who owned an import business in Hamburg with several subsidiaries around the world. The idea was that once hired, Gerhart could be transferred to the Canadian office of the company. After having worked in Sweden for the Swedish subsidiary, and only after obtaining permission to come to Canada, Gerhart had to return to Germany in 1938 in order to renew his passport and seek a visa at the Canadian Consulate in Hamburg. Gerhart came to Canada in November 1938 and tried to help his parents out of Germany, but in vain. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and in 1944 received his certificate of naturalization, which allowed him to be accepted into the Secret intelligence services. Gerhart served in France, Holland and Germany where he was stationed in the town of Oldenburg, in the British Zone and became the personal assistant of Major Morris DF. He returned to Herford at the end of the war, and recovered the family business (Elsbach co.) which had been confiscated by NSDAP authorities in 1938. After Liberation, he accessed the archives of the Gestapo in Hamburg and found hundreds of documents relating to his family. He learned that after being sent to Theresienstadt ghetto, his parents were deported and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. Gerhart was the last Canadian soldier stationed in Oldenburg and was given the Canadian flag hanging over the entrance of the camp; he later donated it to the Canadian War Museum. Gerhart returned to Canada in September 1946 and settled in Montreal.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.03
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Lenzkirch, Germany, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Medal
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn51340
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Medal : sculpture, engraving : bronze, black, white, red ; Ht: 4,3 cm x W: 3,7 cm
- Date
- 1934
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Medal : sculpture, engraving : bronze, black, white, red ; Ht: 4,3 cm x W: 3,7 cm
- Other Title Information
- Documentary Artifact
- Date
- 1934
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- Cross of honor for Combattants (with swords) 1914-1918 - also called the Hindenburg Cross. Mounting : Claw support with ring suspender. The ribbon goes through the ring suspender. Medal : The medal is made of bronze or bronzed iron. It is a Maltese cross with a pair of swords crossing the the arms of the cross in the shape of an X. The handles of the swords are at the bottom, while the end of the swords are on top. Obverse : The center of the cross features a wreath of oak leaves tided at the bottom with a ribbon. The wreath is composed of five bunches of three leaves on each side and a pair of laurel berries at each joint. In the center of the wreath is 1914-1918 engraved. 1914 is on top of 1918. Reverse : Plain with the mark PLS. Ribbon : The ribbon's stripes are, from left to right, black, white, black, red, black, white, and black. Narrative: This was a commemorative medal inaugurated on July 13, 1934 by Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg. It was awarded retroactively to the veterans of the Imperial German military who had fought at the front during World War I. It came in three versions: 1. Honor Cross for Combatants (Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer) – for soldiers who fought on the front. (with the swords) 2. Honor Cross for War Participants (Ehrenkreuz für Kriegsteilnehmer) – for non-combatant soldiers. (without the swords) 3. Honor Cross for Next-of-Kin (Ehrenkreuz für Hinterbliebene) (without the swords and a different coloured ribbon). A total of 6,250,000 Crosses were awarded to combatants, 1,200,000 were awarded to non-combatants and 720,000 medals were awarded to next-of-kin. The vast majority were officially distributed in late-1934 to early-1936 and were accompanied by an award certificate. After the annexation (Anschluss) of Austria in 1938, Austrian veterans of World War I were also eligible for the Cross of Honor.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.32
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Germany, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Bookmark
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59950
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Bookmark : cast (moulded) : Red, Yellow, Blue, Bronze
- Date
- 1939
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Bookmark : cast (moulded) : Red, Yellow, Blue, Bronze
- Other Title Information
- Written Communication T&E
- Date
- 1939
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Language
- English
- Notes
- The top of the bookmark has crest with a single maple leaf in the middle. Underneath, is a circular piece with raised effigies of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The bottom is a rounded triangle, with a recessed area in the middle, which holds a page. The box is rectangular and has two illustrations of the Royal Crown along the left side. Narrative: Gerhart Adolf Maass (Hambourg 1918-Montreal 2009), also known as “Gerry”, was the youngest son of Adolf Maass and Käthe Elsbach. In 1935, summoned by his parents to leave Germany, Gerhart had no other idea in mind than coming to Canada. He was well supported by a distant cousin of his father, Rudolf van der Walde, who owned an import business in Hamburg with several subsidiaries around the world. The idea was that once hired, Gerhart could be transferred to the Canadian office of the company. After having worked in Sweden for the Swedish subsidiary, and only after obtaining permission to come to Canada, Gerhart had to return to Germany in 1938 in order to renew his passport and seek a visa at the Canadian Consulate in Hamburg. Gerhart came to Canada in November 1938 and tried to help his parents out of Germany, but in vain. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and in 1944 received his certificate of naturalization, which allowed him to be accepted into the Secret intelligence services. Gerhart served in France, Holland and Germany where he was stationed in the town of Oldenburg, in the British Zone and became the personal assistant of Major Morris DF. He returned to Herford at the end of the war, and recovered the family business (Elsbach co.) which had been confiscated by NSDAP authorities in 1938. After Liberation, he accessed the archives of the Gestapo in Hamburg and found hundreds of documents relating to his family. He learned that after being sent to Theresienstadt ghetto, his parents were deported and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. Gerhart was the last Canadian soldier stationed in Oldenburg and was given the Canadian flag hanging over the entrance of the camp; he later donated it to the Canadian War Museum. Gerhart returned to Canada in September 1946 and settled in Montreal.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.12
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Lapel Pin
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59951
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Lapel Pin : cast (moulded) : Red, Yellow, Gold
- Date
- [Prior to 1939]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Lapel Pin : cast (moulded) : Red, Yellow, Gold
- Other Title Information
- Adornment
- Date
- [Prior to 1939]
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Language
- English
- Notes
- Pin surmounted by a triangle flag pointing to the right, with a rope attachment along the left flat edge. Narrative: Original owner Gerhart Maass was a young boy in Nazi Germany when he was excluded from the local sailing club because he was Jewish. Not one to be discouraged so easily, young Gerhart created his own yacht club, from which he was the sole member. He got this membership pin made for himself.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.13
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Germany, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Medal
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59952
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Medal : cast (moulded) : Silver ; Ht: 1 x W: 3,5 x De: 4
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Medal : cast (moulded) : Silver ; Ht: 1 x W: 3,5 x De: 4
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Language
- English
- Notes
- In the middle there is a spear and a sabre with an 8 pointed star at the top crossing. On top of this there is a raised backwards S shaped banner with a long banner under it; both have raised letters on them. On the back there are two pins with threading on them. Narrative: Gerhart Adolf Maass (Hambourg 1918-Montreal 2009), also known as “Gerry”, was the youngest son of Adolf Maass and Käthe Elsbach. In 1935, summoned by his parents to leave Germany, Gerhart had no other idea in mind than coming to Canada. He was well supported by a distant cousin of his father, Rudolf van der Walde, who owned an import business in Hamburg with several subsidiaries around the world. The idea was that once hired, Gerhart could be transferred to the Canadian office of the company. After having worked in Sweden for the Swedish subsidiary, and only after obtaining permission to come to Canada, Gerhart had to return to Germany in 1938 in order to renew his passport and seek a visa at the Canadian Consulate in Hamburg. Gerhart came to Canada in November 1938 and tried to help his parents out of Germany, but in vain. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and in 1944 received his certificate of naturalization, which allowed him to be accepted into the Secret intelligence services. Gerhart served in France, Holland and Germany where he was stationed in the town of Oldenburg, in the British Zone and became the personal assistant of Major Morris DF. He returned to Herford at the end of the war, and recovered the family business (Elsbach co.) which had been confiscated by NSDAP authorities in 1938. After Liberation, he accessed the archives of the Gestapo in Hamburg and found hundreds of documents relating to his family. He learned that after being sent to Theresienstadt ghetto, his parents were deported and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. Gerhart was the last Canadian soldier stationed in Oldenburg and was given the Canadian flag hanging over the entrance of the camp; he later donated it to the Canadian War Museum. Gerhart returned to Canada in September 1946 and settled in Montreal.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.14
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Canada, North America
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Medal
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59953
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Medal : cast (moulded) : Gold, Brown ; Ht: 1 x W: 4 x De: 3,5
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Medal : cast (moulded) : Gold, Brown ; Ht: 1 x W: 4 x De: 3,5
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Language
- English
- Notes
- Across the bottom is a banner with raised edges, and raised words. On top of that there are two branches that curve outwards, and in between them in a poppy which has the royal crown on top of it. On the back are two loops, with a butterfly pin threw the center of both. Narrative: Gerhart Adolf Maass (Hambourg 1918-Montreal 2009), also known as “Gerry”, was the youngest son of Adolf Maass and Käthe Elsbach. In 1935, summoned by his parents to leave Germany, Gerhart had no other idea in mind than coming to Canada. He was well supported by a distant cousin of his father, Rudolf van der Walde, who owned an import business in Hamburg with several subsidiaries around the world. The idea was that once hired, Gerhart could be transferred to the Canadian office of the company. After having worked in Sweden for the Swedish subsidiary, and only after obtaining permission to come to Canada, Gerhart had to return to Germany in 1938 in order to renew his passport and seek a visa at the Canadian Consulate in Hamburg. Gerhart came to Canada in November 1938 and tried to help his parents out of Germany, but in vain. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and in 1944 received his certificate of naturalization, which allowed him to be accepted into the Secret intelligence services. Gerhart served in France, Holland and Germany where he was stationed in the town of Oldenburg, in the British Zone and became the personal assistant of Major Morris DF. He returned to Herford at the end of the war, and recovered the family business (Elsbach co.) which had been confiscated by NSDAP authorities in 1938. After Liberation, he accessed the archives of the Gestapo in Hamburg and found hundreds of documents relating to his family. He learned that after being sent to Theresienstadt ghetto, his parents were deported and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. Gerhart was the last Canadian soldier stationed in Oldenburg and was given the Canadian flag hanging over the entrance of the camp; he later donated it to the Canadian War Museum. Gerhart returned to Canada in September 1946 and settled in Montreal.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.15
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Canada, North America
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Medal
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59954
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Medal : cast (moulded), engraved : Silver ; Ht: 0,2 x W: 3,2 x De: 3,2
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Medal : cast (moulded), engraved : Silver ; Ht: 0,2 x W: 3,2 x De: 3,2
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Language
- English
- Notes
- Circular with a five pointed star in the middle. The edges have a raised line pattern on both sides. Narrative: Gerhart Adolf Maass (Hambourg 1918-Montreal 2009), also known as “Gerry”, was the youngest son of Adolf Maass and Käthe Elsbach. In 1935, summoned by his parents to leave Germany, Gerhart had no other idea in mind than coming to Canada. He was well supported by a distant cousin of his father, Rudolf van der Walde, who owned an import business in Hamburg with several subsidiaries around the world. The idea was that once hired, Gerhart could be transferred to the Canadian office of the company. After having worked in Sweden for the Swedish subsidiary, and only after obtaining permission to come to Canada, Gerhart had to return to Germany in 1938 in order to renew his passport and seek a visa at the Canadian Consulate in Hamburg. Gerhart came to Canada in November 1938 and tried to help his parents out of Germany, but in vain. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and in 1944 received his certificate of naturalization, which allowed him to be accepted into the Secret intelligence services. Gerhart served in France, Holland and Germany where he was stationed in the town of Oldenburg, in the British Zone and became the personal assistant of Major Morris DF. He returned to Herford at the end of the war, and recovered the family business (Elsbach co.) which had been confiscated by NSDAP authorities in 1938. After Liberation, he accessed the archives of the Gestapo in Hamburg and found hundreds of documents relating to his family. He learned that after being sent to Theresienstadt ghetto, his parents were deported and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. Gerhart was the last Canadian soldier stationed in Oldenburg and was given the Canadian flag hanging over the entrance of the camp; he later donated it to the Canadian War Museum. Gerhart returned to Canada in September 1946 and settled in Montreal.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.16
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Europe?
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Pin
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59955
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : Stamped, etched : Gold, Red, Brown ; Ht: 3 x W: 3,5
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : Stamped, etched : Gold, Red, Brown ; Ht: 3 x W: 3,5
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Language
- Latin
- Notes
- Pieces have a flower like base, with the Iron cross raised on top of it. On top of the Iron Cross there are two circles both raised, the first circle has a vine pattern around its circumference, and the top circle has Latin words on it, and three tear drop etchings in the middle. The back of the cuff links are hallow, with two raised circles attached, and a key hole pin through both. Narrative: Mounted to the Uniforms shoulder Straps to indicate rank. The “pip” or rank indicator for Officers is based on the Star of the Military Division of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath. Three Joined as One: It refers to the union of England, Scotland and Ireland to become the United Kingdom.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.17
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Places
- Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Badge
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59956
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Badge : Sewn : Red, Blue, Yellow
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Badge : Sewn : Red, Blue, Yellow
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- The front has two crossed swords in the foreground, and a cross in the background. The top is flat, and the sides curve downwards into a point.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.18
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Pin
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59957
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : cast (moulded) : Gold ; Ht: 0,2 x W: 1,3 x De: 1,5
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : cast (moulded) : Gold ; Ht: 0,2 x W: 1,3 x De: 1,5
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- V shaped with an eight leaf clasp on the back.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.19
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
Military Pin
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn59958
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : cast (moulded) : Gold, Red ; Ht: ,3 x W: 2,3 x De: 2
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Military Pin : cast (moulded) : Gold, Red ; Ht: ,3 x W: 2,3 x De: 2
- Other Title Information
- Personal Symbol
- Date
- [ca. 1939-1945]
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- The pin forms a SR shape, and within the block letters is a horizontally lined pattern. On the back are two clasps, which have been bent inwards, and are flat against the pin.
- Accession No.
- 2010.07.23
- Name Access
- Maass, Joan
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
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