Letter Opener from the Pithiviers Transit Camp

The letter opener pictured here was sent as a souvenir from Simon Blumenfeld to his son Louis in July 1942. Blumenfeld, who was interned in the Pithiviers transit camp, sent it to Louis on the occasion of his 9^th birthday. At the time, Louis and his mother, Paula, were still in Paris. Pictures of Simon and Louis appear on the letter opener, along with Louis’ name.

Simon Blumenfeld was deported to Auschwitz on July 17, 1942. His wife Paula was deported on August 3, 1942. Louis was separated from his mother, and deported from Drancy on August 24, 1942.

Similar letter openers were recovered from the Pithiviers transit camp. They were created by an artist named Issac Schonberg,who specialized in miniatures. Apparently Simon Blumenfeld requested that Issac make it as a gift for his son. Schonberg was deported from Pithiviers to Auschwitz in July 1942. Like the Blumenfelds,  Isaac Schonberg perished in Auschwitz.