German Nazi Alien Passport With Stamp EVACUATED
German Nazi Alien Passport With Stamp EVACUATED
Earlier this year I received an inquiry from a reader asking me about the document of his grandmother. The passport is quite interesting because of two characteristics.
- The red “J” stamp
- The large “EVAKUIERT” (evacuated) stamp
The big red “J” stands for Jew. A marking which was introduced by Nazi-Germany to identify Jews. Except you see this mark rarely, almost never on German Alien passports. But then there was the big red stamp “EVAKUIERT”.
It’s said that only 70 people of these 5000 survived the end of the war!
(Alfred Gottwaldt, Diana Schulle: Die „Judendeportationen“ aus dem Deutschen Reich, 1941–1945: eine kommentierte Chronologie. Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 3-86539-059-5, S. 46–51.)
Now, the J-stamp was ordered by the Germans by law to stamp in every passport of a Jew since 5 October 1938. Usually, the date would be written just along the J when stamped. However, it’s missing here.
Page one is clearly stating “The bearer is not a German citizen.” The nationality on page 2 says “stateless.” His grandmother signed with three crosses as the Germans added: “des Schreibens unkundig” (illiterate). I assume his grandmother was one of these 5000 deported which gives this document a significance and makes it an extraordinary document of history when it comes to the Holocaust.
One stamp is saying that the bearer was following the registration obligation and the other one is just a renewal of the passport for another six months till 2 September 1940. Which means she had an expired passport when she was evacuated in February 1941!. It might be even another cause that she was evacuated as she was then illegally in Vienna as a stateless person!
The owner told me further…
“These documents were sent to my father in England when he left his mother and she stuck them on the train to get them to England. Many years later the family that was hiding her and my father back then, was able to locate him and send him her documents. My understanding was the Germans got her and she died in the concentration camps.”
German Nazi Alien Passport With Stamp EVACUATED
FAQ Passport History
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1. What are the earliest known examples of passports, and how have they evolved?
The word "passport" came up only in the mid 15th Century. Before that, such documents were safe conducts, recommendations or protection letters. On a practical aspect, the earliest passport I have seen was from the mid 16th Century. Read more...
2. Are there any notable historical figures or personalities whose passports are highly sought after by collectors?
Every collector is doing well to define his collection focus, and yes, there are collectors looking for Celebrity passports and travel documents of historical figures like Winston Churchill, Brothers Grimm, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Read more...
3. How did passport designs and security features change throughout different periods in history, and what impact did these changes have on forgery prevention?
"Passports" before the 18th Century had a pure functional character. Security features were, in the best case, a watermark and a wax seal. Forgery, back then, was not an issue like it is nowadays. Only from the 1980s on, security features became a thing. A state-of-the-art passport nowadays has dozens of security features - visible and invisible. Some are known only by the security document printer itself. Read more...
4. What are some of the rarest and most valuable historical passports that have ever been sold or auctioned?
Lou Gehrig, Victor Tsoi, Marilyn Monroe, James Joyce, and Albert Einstein when it comes to the most expensive ones. Read more...
5. How do diplomatic passports differ from regular passports, and what makes them significant to collectors?
Such documents were often held by officials in high ranks, like ambassadors, consuls or special envoys. Furthermore, these travel documents are often frequently traveled. Hence, they hold a tapestry of stamps or visas. Partly from unusual places.
6. Can you provide insights into the stories behind specific historical passports that offer unique insights into past travel and migration trends?
A passport tells the story of its bearer and these stories can be everything - surprising, sad, vivid. Isabella Bird and her travels (1831-1904) or Mary Kingsley, a fearless Lady explorer.
7. What role did passports play during significant historical events, such as wartime travel restrictions or international treaties?
During war, a passport could have been a matter of life or death. Especially, when we are looking into WWII and the Holocaust. And yes, during that time, passports and similar documents were often forged to escape and save lives. Example...
8. How has the emergence of digital passports and biometric identification impacted the world of passport collecting?
Current modern passports having now often a sparkling, flashy design. This has mainly two reasons. 1. Improved security and 2. Displaying a countries' heritage, icons, and important figures or achievements. I can fully understand that those modern documents are wanted, especially by younger collectors.
9. Are there any specialized collections of passports, such as those from a specific country, era, or distinguished individuals?
Yes, the University of Western Sidney Library has e.g. a passport collection of the former prime minister Hon Edward Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret. They are all diplomatic passports and I had the pleasure to apprise them. I hold e.g. a collection of almost all types of the German Empire passports (only 2 types are still missing). Also, my East German passport collection is quite extensive with pretty rare passport types.
10. Where can passport collectors find reliable resources and reputable sellers to expand their collection and learn more about passport history?
A good start is eBay, Delcampe, flea markets, garage or estate sales. The more significant travel documents you probably find at the classic auction houses. Sometimes I also offer documents from my archive/collection. See offers... As you are already here, you surely found a great source on the topic 😉
Other great sources are: Scottish Passports, The Nansen passport, The secret lives of diplomatic couriers
11. Is vintage passport collecting legal? What are the regulations and considerations collectors should know when acquiring historical passports?
First, it's important to stress that each country has its own laws when it comes to passports. Collecting old vintage passports for historical or educational reasons is safe and legal, or at least tolerated. More details on the legal aspects are here...
Does this article spark your curiosity about passport collecting and the history of passports? With this valuable information, you have a good basis to start your own passport collection.
Question? Contact me...