Jakub Bromberg’s birth certificate

This is my birth certificate, the first page of it. This is a document which tells about my birth, when and where I was born, who my parents were, what name they gave me...This is a duplicate which was issued after the war, in 1946. 

I was born in 1919, on 21st April, the day after Hitler's birthday. This was at home, in Bodzentyn. We were all born there, in the same beds we slept in. A midwife helped Mother during labor, a Pole, Kazubinski's wife. I was the fourth child. I split the younger and the older siblings. And I am the only one left. When I was three I went to cheder and these first years I spent at home. I remember when I was little, I used to run away from Mother, because I didn't like having my bath in a tub. I couldn't even walk yet, so I'd run away on all fours. I will never forget that. I remember even what shirt I used to wear - a flannel shirt with a pink flower pattern. I usually recall myself as being the one in the bad way. I wasn't allowed to go out and play. I had to stay at home and mind the younger brothers and sister. I had to sit next to the cradle and rock it. 

Centropa Collection acquired by USHMM

The Centropa archive has been acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. 

USHMM will soon offer a Special Collections page for Centropa.

Academics please note: USHMM can provide you with original language word-for-word transcripts and high resolution photographs. All publications should be credited: "From the Centropa Collection at the United States Memorial Museum in Washington, DC". Please contact collection [at] centropa.org.