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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.


311 items

Bea Pappenheimer (Bea Karp) and Bob Pappenheimer

  • Format: photograph

Bea Karp and Her Daughters

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Bea Karp (Beate Stern) and Susie Stern

  • Format: photograph

Bea Karp with Her Four Daughters

  • Format: photograph

Pappenheimer Wedding Photo

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Bea Karp with Grandchildren

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Bea Karp Speaking at SAC

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Bea Karp Posing with Students

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Bea Karp

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Bea Karp Honored at Creighton University

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Bea Karp with Students

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Bea Karp with Students

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Bea Karp (Beate Stern) and Susie Stern

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Gurs Concentration Camp – Vichy France

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Outlaw Grocery Store

  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Pappenheimer, Deborah

Stolpersteine Stones

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Bea Karp Speaking at School

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Bea Karp Speaking for Week of Understanding

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Bea Karp's Children

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  • Source: My Broken Doll, page 126

Bea Karp and Susie Stern

  • Format: photograph
  • Source: USC Shoah Foundation

Bea Karp and Susie Stern

  • Format: photograph
  • Source: USC Shoah Foundation

Letter from Jeanette Gottlieb and Hildegard Gottlieb

  • Creator(s): Gottlieb, Jeanette | Gottlieb, Hildegard
  • Format: letter

Susie Stern's exit visa application

  • Format: document

Susie Stern's exit visa application (pink form)

  • Format: document

Beate Stern exit visa application

  • Format: document

Telegram from OSE Paris to Louise Gordon

  • Format: telegram

Telegram from OSE Limoges about status of visas

  • Format: telegram

Letter from Esther and Roewel to Bea Karp

  • Creator(s): Esther | Roewel
  • Format: letter

Letter from Bertha Gottlieb and Flora and Albert Schmidt to Siegfried and Miriam Stern

  • Creator(s): Gottlieb, Bertha | Schmidt, Flora | Schmidt, Albert
  • Format: letter

Letter from Suzanne Bardon responding to OSE request

  • Creator(s): Bardon, Suzanne
  • Format: letter

Telegram from OSE Paris to Louise Gordon

  • Format: telegram

Letter from Union OSE, March 24

  • Format: letter

Bea Karp's Account of Her and Susie's Location from March 1943 to July 1945

  • Format: document

Telegram from Siegfried Stern Regarding Beate and Susie Stern's Travels

  • Format: telegram

Telegram from Louise Gordon and Flora Schmidt Regarding Beate and Susie Stern's Travels

  • Format: telegram

Telegram to Louise Gordon about Beate and Susie Stern's Travels

  • Format: telegram

Letter from OSE Paris to British Red Cross

  • Format: letter

Letter from Beate and Susie Stern to Bertha Gottlieb

  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea | Stern, Susie
  • Format: letter

Letter from Susie Stern to Bertha Gottlieb

  • Creator(s): Stern, Susie
  • Format: letter

Letter from the Gottliebs to Beate and Susie Stern

  • Format: letter

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

  • Creator(s): Karp, Bea
  • Format: letter

Letter from Bertha Gottlieb to Beate and Susie Stern

  • Creator(s): Gottlieb, Bertha
  • Format: letter

Letter from Bertha Gottlieb

  • Creator(s): Gottlieb, Bertha
  • Format: letter

Letter from Susie Stern to Albert and Flora Schmidt and Bertha Gottlieb

  • Creator(s): Stern, Susie
  • Format: letter

Beate Stern Child Emigration Application

Suse Stern Immigration Document

  • Format: document

Susie Stern Immigration Document

  • Format: document

Dedicate Memorial to Jewish Victims of 'Hitler Holocaust'

  • Creator(s): Leslie, Jerry
  • Format: document

Form for compensation based on French-American Agreements of 2001

  • Format: document

Bea Karp's Questionnaire for the indemnification of victims

  • Format: document
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