Westerbork Transit Camp Coupons

A banknote worth 100 cents, printed with green and brown ink on white paper. In the centre is the faded image of a factory complex with a smokestack pouring smoke over the sky.

The gear on the front of the note symbolizes industry and the motto “Jewish labour is essential for Germany’s victory,” expressed by Westerbork commander SS First Lieutenant Albert Konrad Gemmecker.

A banknote worth 100 cents, printed with green and brown ink on white paper. The skyline of a factory complex appears across the middle, with a smokestack pouring smoke over the sky. A large gear surrounds the skyline. The note is signed by the lagerkommandant.

The back of the note shows Westerbork camp. Though the street appears picturesque, camp inmates called it the “Boulevard of Misery” because of the despair they felt during the daily deportations.

Westerbork was established by the Dutch government in October 1939 to intern Jewish refugees who had entered the Netherlands illegally. The Nazi SS took over Westerbork in 1942. It became a transit camp for Dutch Jews who were deported to death camps in Poland.

In 1944, Nazi officials wanted Jewish inmates to work harder. Some had intentionally prolonged or performed poorly on jobs that helped the war effort. Others had also risked their lives by refusing to work at all. To create an incentive for the inmates, the Nazis issued a special set of camp coupons in 1944. These coupons could be used to purchase rations. However, the rations were so small that it provided little incentive for the inmates to work.

Donated to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre by Riky Van Rijswijk 2009.005.001

Westerbork Transit Camp Coupons

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