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Bea Karp

Bea Karp was born Beate Stern in Lauterbach, Germany in 1932. She and her family were forced from their home and transported by passenger train to internment camps in the south of France. Bea and her sister Susie were saved by the Jewish French Underground, Œuvre de secours aux enfants (OSE), and were hidden in numerous chateaus and convents until the end of the war. They were never reunited with their parents who were murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Bea arrived in the US in 1947, later settling in Omaha with her husband and four daughters. Bea spoke extensively about her Holocaust experiences with Nebraska and Iowa schoolchildren and at community gatherings. Hear Bea's testimony in her own words.


310 items

Entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau

  • Date: 2005
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Deportations Map at Auschwitz

  • Date: 2005
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Questionnaire from Commission for the compensation of victims filled out by Beatrice Karp

  • Date: March 20, 2002
  • Format: document

Email from Bea Karp to Susie and Kurt Philipp, March 5, 2002

  • Date: March 5, 2002
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: email

Letter from Pierre Drai to Beatrice Karp, January 22, 2002

  • Date: January 22, 2002
  • Creator(s): Drai, Pierre
  • Format: letter

Speech of J. F. Guthmann, President of OSE-France, on November 12, 2000

  • Date: November 12, 2000
  • Creator(s): Guthmann, Jean-François
  • Format: document

Bea Karp Shoah Foundation Testimony Part 3

  • Date: November 1, 1995
  • Format: testimony

Bea Karp Shoah Foundation Testimony Part 2

  • Date: November 1, 1995
  • Format: testimony

Bea Karp Shoah Foundation Testimony Part 4

  • Date: November 1, 1995
  • Format: testimony

Bea Karp Shoah Foundation Testimony Part 1

  • Date: November 1, 1995
  • Format: testimony

Birth Certificate Request

  • Date: August 5, 1994
  • Format: letter

Jewish Children of France During World War II

  • Date: May 2, 1991
  • Format: book

Bea Karp United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Testimony Transcription

  • Date: June 6, 1990
  • Format: testimony
  • Source: The Jeff and Roby Herr Oral History Archive, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The 'Bag Lady' in the Rolls-Royce

  • Date: June 17, 1985
  • Format: newspaper

Letter From Sente Loewenstein to Bob and Bea Pappenheimer (Bea Karp), July 5, 1985

  • Date: July 5, 1985
  • Creator(s): Loewenstein, Senta
  • Format: letter

Holocaust survivor urges others to remember not to forget, May 7, 1985

  • Date: May 7, 1985
  • Format: newspaper

Chateau Couret

  • Date: 1985
  • Creator(s): Pappenheimer, Robert
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Convent in Millau

  • Date: 1985
  • Creator(s): Pappenheimer, Robert
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Chateau Masgelier

  • Date: 1985
  • Creator(s): Pappenheimer, Robert
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Chateau Chaumont

  • Date: 1985
  • Creator(s): Pappenheimer, Robert
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Chateau Montintin

  • Date: 1985
  • Creator(s): Pappenheimer, Robert
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

That Millions Will Not Have Died in Vain, January 15, 1967

  • Date: January 15, 1967
  • Creator(s): Nelson, Jeff
  • Format: newspaper

Letter from Ernst Papanek to Bea Pappenheimer, December 17, 1965

  • Date: December 17, 1965
  • Creator(s): Papanek, Ernst
  • Format: letter

Letter from Ernst Papanek to Beate Pappenheimer, December 15, 1965

  • Date: December 15, 1965
  • Creator(s): Papanek, Ernst
  • Format: letter

A Courageous Aunt Which I am Very Proud of, 1964

  • Date: 1964
  • Creator(s): Cohn, Ronny
  • Format: document

Bea Karp (Bea Pappenheimer) Receiving Citizenship

  • Date: June 24,1968
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Bea Karp's Certificate of Naturalization

  • Date: June 24, 1958
  • Format: document

Marriage Certificate of Irving Pappenheimer and Beatrice Stern (Bea Karp)

  • Date: July 4, 1957
  • Format: document

Letter from Ernst Adler to Flora Schmidt, December 12, 1955

  • Date: December 12, 1955
  • Creator(s): Adler, Ernst
  • Format: letter

Letter from Ernst Adler to Flora Schmidt, November 30, 1955

  • Date: November 30, 1955
  • Creator(s): Adler, Ernst
  • Format: letter

Letter from Ernst Adler to Mortimer Michael, November 30, 1955

  • Date: November 30, 1955
  • Creator(s): Adler, Ernst
  • Format: letter

Letter from Ernst Adler to C. J. Schneeman, November 30, 1955

  • Date: November 30, 1955
  • Creator(s): Adler, Ernst
  • Format: letter

Sworn Statement of Albert and Flora Schmidt, September 5, 1951

  • Date: September 5, 1951
  • Format: document

Bea Karp's High School Diploma

  • Date: 1951
  • Format: document

Letter from Flora Schmidt to the Department of State, October 25, 1948

  • Date: October 25, 1948
  • Creator(s): Schmidt, Flora
  • Format: letter

Letter from Flora Schmidt to the Office of Alien Property, October 5, 1948

  • Date: October 5, 1948
  • Creator(s): Schmidt, Flora
  • Format: letter

Letter from Beate and Susie Stern to Bertha Gottlieb, August 6, 1948

  • Date: August 6, 1948
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea | Stern, Susie
  • Format: letter

Letter from Miriam Stern to Beate and Susie Stern, December 13, 1947

  • Date: December 13, 1947
  • Creator(s): Stern, Miriam
  • Format: letter

Letter from Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb to Beate and Susie Stern, September 28, 1947

  • Date: September 28, 1947
  • Creator(s): Gottlieb, Bertha | Schmidt, Flora
  • Format: letter

Letter from Beate Stern to Albert and Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb, October 2, 1947

  • Date: October 2, 1947
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: letter

Beate Stern (Bea Karp) Age 15

  • Date: 1947 ca.
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Letter from Beate Stern to Albert and Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb, November 13, 1946

  • Date: November 13, 1946
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: letter

Letter from Albert and Flora Schmidt to Beate and Susie Stern, October 27, 1946

  • Date: October 27, 1946
  • Creator(s): Schmidt, Flora | Schmidt, Albert
  • Format: letter

Letter from Beate Stern to Albert and Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb, September 30, 1946

  • Date: September 30, 1946
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: letter

Letter from Beate Stern to Albert and Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb, September 16, 1946

  • Date: September 16, 1946
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: letter

Letter from Flora and Albert Schmidt to Beate and Suzy Stern, September 10, 1946

  • Date: September 10, 1946
  • Creator(s): Schmidt, Flora | Schmidt, Albert
  • Format: letter

Letter from Bertha Gottlieb to Otto M. Schiff, September 3, 1946

  • Date: September 3, 1946
  • Creator(s): Gottlieb, Bertha
  • Format: letter

Letter from Beate Stern to Albert and Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb, August 22, 1946

  • Date: August 22, 1946
  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: letter

Letter from Albert Schmidt to American Consulate, August 12, 1946

  • Date: August 12, 1946
  • Creator(s): Schmidt, Albert
  • Format: letter

Refugee Committee Interview Sheet, July 30, 1946

  • Date: July 30, 1946
  • Format: document
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