Objects

A hexagon-shaped blue metal badge. It has visible inscriptions in German: "Ordnungsdienst" and in Polish: "Służba Porządkowa". The central part of the badge features the Star of David. At the top and bottom are the abbreviations: JRW and RŻW. The first one stands for: Judenrat Warschau, the second: Rada Żydowska Warszawa (Jewish Council Warsaw). The badge bears the particulars of the engraver — a visible inscription on the clasp reading: Z. Olszewski. Grawer | WARSZAWA | STARE MIASTO ul. PIWNA 15.

Zygmunt Olszewski's engraving workshop was already operating before the outbreak of World War II, as evidenced by such things as badges made by the owner. In wartime, the workshop produced badges ordered by the Ordnungsdienst (Jewish Ghetto Police), now in the collection of the POLIN Museum, among other things. The business still operates at the same address today.

Natalia Różańska