Sielman Dawid
Sielman Dawid received transit visa no. 1752 at the Japanese consulate in Kaunas on 14 August 1940.
Documents
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What the register records
- Nationality as recorded
- Polnisch
What is known
A Polish citizenship certificate (Zaswiadczenie/Certificat) issued by the Polish Legation in Kaunas (Poselstwo Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w Kownie / Legation de Pologne a Kaunas) for Benno Lapidus, born 20 November 1876 in Warsaw, and Berta Lapidus, born 15 January 1899 in Warsaw. The document certifies they are Polish citizens, issued because they lacked passport booklets, and authorizes them to travel abroad. It was signed by the Charge d'Affaires of His Britannic Majesty acting for Polish interests.
A Sugihara transit visa stamp issued at the Japanese Consulate in Kaunas, Lithuania, dated 15 August 1940, authorizing transit through Japan en route to Surinam, Curacao and other Netherlands colonies. The stamp bears the Consulat du Japon Kaunas Lithuanie seal and Japanese handwritten annotations, including the acting consul's signature.
A Polish Legation certificate (Zaswiadczenie) issued in Kaunas, Lithuania by the British Legation (section for Polish interests) on 30 November 1938 carries a Sugihara visa on its back. The document was outwardly issued to Benno and Berta Lapidus, a name not found in the Sugihara database. Under infrared and altered color analysis, the collector found the original bearer's name was David Sielmann (SIELMAN in the database), suggesting the document was altered—possibly to allow the Lapidus couple to escape using Sielmann's visa.
Zaswiadczenie niniejsze zostalo wydane wobec braku ksiazeczek paszportowych i uprawnia do wyjazdu za granice. Il est certifie par le present que Monsieur(M-me, M-lle) LAPIDUS LAPIDUS okazal w tutejszym Urzedzie dowody, stwierdzajace, ze jest obywatelem polskim. Charge des Interets Polonais
TRANSIT VISA. Seen for the journey through Japan (to Suranam, Curacao and other Netherlands' colonies.) 1940 VIII. 15. Consul du Japon a Kaunas. CONSULAT DU JAPON KAUNAS LITHUANIE
The document was issued to LAPIDUS Benno and LAPIDUS Berta, with personal descriptions of both. The family name LAPIDUS was not found in the Sugihara database! These techniques could reveal the original bearer and name on the document, SIELMANN DAVID. His name can be found in the Sugihara database! Did SIELMANN give away his document to save TWO lives instead of ONE? During these times such a visa was indeed a \ at at any cost & risk!
Where this comes from
- Certificate of Polish citizenship (Zaświadczenie/Certificat), No. L.79, issued by the Legation of the Polish Republic at Kaunas to Benno Łapidus, born 20 November 1876 at Warsaw, and his wife Berta, born 15 January 1888 at Warsaw, both m…
- A visa page with a Sugihara transit visa of 15 August 1940 'for the journey through Japan to Surinam, Curaçao and other Netherlands colonies'; the page carries no holder's name. Image courtesy of passport-collector.com (Tom Topol).
- A document held in the archive's files
- A document held in the archive's files
- A document held in the archive's files
- A document held in the archive's files
- Altered Sugihara Document Saves Jewish Lifes | by Tom Topol
