in ADEFA Dress

Passport

Köln, Germany, January 5, 1939

Image Slideshow

Document: Green cover of a passport with an eagle holding a wreath with a Swastika in the middle. Text reads “Deutsches Reich reisepass.”
Cover of Max Meyer’s passport.
Document: The inside of a green cover on the left. On the right is a page titled “Deutsches Reich reisepass, Nr. 00191.” The page reads: “Name des passinhabers Max Israel Meyer. Staatsangehörigkeit: Deutsches Reich.” The words “Begleitet von Seiner Ehefrau und von Kindern” are crossed out.
Inside page of passport with a red “J” stamped to indicate Max Meyer was Jewish.
Document: Attached to the left page is a portrait of a young man wearing a suit. A second space is empty and labeled “Ehefrau.” The page has a stamp of an eagle carrying a swastika and is labeled “Köln” and dated 5 Jan. 1939. The right page has a table titled “Personenbeschreibung.”
Pages 2 and 3 of the passport.

The Meyer family obtained transit visas that would allow them to escape Germany. However, Jews were forbidden from taking any assets or belongings with them when they left Germany, except for a suitcase of clothes. Before the Meyers were allowed to leave, the Nazis forced them to sell their business to a non-Jewish owner for a fraction of its true value. The family also had to pay a heavy flight tax. The Meyers fled Germany in 1939, leaving most of their assets behind.

Donated to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre by Paul Meyer. 96.015.003 

Transcript

A partial translation from the original German.

[Cover] 
German Reich 
Passport 

[Page 1] 
German Empire passport, Nr. 00191 
Name of holder: Max Israel Meyer 
Nationality: German Empire 

Accompanied by his wife and children. [Crossed out] 

[Page 2]
Signature of the passport holder: Max Israel Meyer 

It is hereby certified that the holder is the person represented by the photograph above and has personally executed the signature below.

Cologne 5 January 1939 
(Stamp of the Chief of Police of Cologne) 

[Page 3] 

Personal Description 
Occupation: Sales representative 
Place of birth: Cologne 
Birthday: 22 February 1913 
Place of residence: Cologne 
Shape: Tall
Face: Oval 
Eye colour: Brown 
Hair colour: Black
Special markings: None 

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