Belgian uniform factory Lustra Arbeits-Ausweis grouping to Jewish tailor David Wichenberg

Interesting document grouping to David Wichenberg, a Polish Jewish tailor living in Brussels. The grouping consists of a German Arbeits-Ausweis issued in connection with Lustra S.A., his prewar Polish military certificate booklet and three accompanying portrait photographs.

The Arbeits-Ausweis names Wichenberg as a married Polish national, born in Warsaw on 29 October 1899 and residing at 67 rue Eloy, Brussels. His occupation is recorded as Schneider, with employee number 102 and Kennkarte number 25365. His wife, Dora Szajgold, born in Warsaw on 6 August 1899, is individually listed under Geschützte Angehörige, or protected dependants, with Kennkarte number 25364.

The printed text states that Lustra S.A., situated at 5 Gaucheretstraat in Brussels, worked exclusively for the German Wehrmacht manufacturing fur winter clothing. It further states that the named holder and dependants were exempt from measures connected with the current SD-Aktion, on the instructions of the representative of the Chief of the Sicherheitspolizei and SD for Belgium and Northern France. The document bears both the Lustra company stamp and an official Sicherheitspolizei and SD stamp with eagle and swastika. The photograph field is empty.

The Polish Zaświadczenie Wojskowe or military certificate names him as Dawid Wichenberg and explicitly records his religion as Jewish and his occupation as tailor. It contains Warsaw military administration and Polish consular entries from Brussels.

The accompanying photographs include a portrait dedicated by Joseph Leffton to the Wichenberg family. A significant personal grouping documenting a Jewish tailor’s administrative protection through employment supplying the Wehrmacht in occupied Belgium.