Marked: Holocaust survivors and their tattoos

he recalled the impact his tattoo had on him. He said that when people asked him what it was he used to say it was his girlfriend’s phone number!

Jewish Holocaust Centre survivor guide, Danka Schnall

Over 160 visitors packed the Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) Smorgon Auditorium on 13 October 2010 for the opening of the exhibition Marked that ran until December 2010.

The exhibition features 22 powerful photographs of 11 survivors and their tattoos, taken by Andrew Harris. An essay containing an overview of the history of the tattoo process was provided by Israeli academic, Dr Gideon Greif, who has conducted extensive research into death camps.

Rosie Meltzer, a member of the JHC Friends group, introduced the speakers. Dr Helen Szoke, Commissioner, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, spoke about how organisations such as the Commission grew out of the horrors of the Holocaust, aiming to enshrine the concept of human rights into law. She related stories of the struggle for indigenous human rights in recent times in Australia and of the importance of vigilance in our community.

Three survivors then gave powerful testimony about receiving their tattoos and living with them. Willy Lermer dramatically recounted his experience of arriving at Auschwitz, going through selection, being taken to a shower where he thought he might be gassed, and his relief when water came out of the showerheads. He then received his tattoo. Danka Schnall took us through her Holocaust experience, including how she lost her father early in the war and then how her mother smuggled her out of the ghetto to be cared for by their former housekeeper. ‘What did I do wrong?’ she asked as her mother sent her away, not realising that her mother was trying to save her. It was the last time she saw her mother who was murdered at Belzec extermination camp shortly after. Danka told the audience that she wants her tattoo number on her tombstone, it is such an important part of her life. John Chaskiel spoke briefly but powerfully as

Jayne Josem, JHC’s Curator and Head of Collections, explained that the exhibition came about because the moment when survivors show visitors their tattoos is so powerful that students often remark that ‘this made it real’. The Holocaust itself can be such an overwhelming topic that seeing this tangible marker brings it home to them. Jayne thanked oral historian, Eileen Wright, who came up with the idea for the exhibition after interviewing the Centre’s survivor guides and hearing their amazing recollections of receiving the tattoos. She produced a soundtrack for the exhibition, featuring these audio clips, with audio engineer, Dean Stranieri.

Most praise went to photographer, Andrew Harris, who initially came to the JHC as a photojournalist to write a story for a travel magazine, but then offered his photographic services to the Centre. He was given this project and worked on it for over two years. His dedication and patience has been exemplary and his photographs reveal the empathy he had for the survivors.

Jayne Josem reflected that the power of the exhibition comes from the eleven survivor guides who agreed to be photographed: Danka Schnall, Tuvia Lipson, Kitia Altman, Willy Lermer, Lulek Bron, Stephanie Heller, Fred Steiner, George Ginzburg, Jack Fogel, Lusia Haberfield and John Chaskiel. These survivors devote their time freely each week to reminding us that despite the fact that they were branded like cattle, it was the Nazis who were in fact inhuman. Their tattoos are not badges of shame, but badges that shame the Nazis.