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  4. Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved for his son in the family's hideout

Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved for his son in the family's hideout

In the fall of 1944, Zigmund and Rosina Stern fled from Bratislava with their nine-year-old son Alfred, and began to wander through remote villages in Slovakia looking for hiding places. They sent their twelve-year-old son, Richard, to his grandparents in Budapest where they hoped he would be safe.  They found a hideout for four months in the home of Maria and Jan Matulova, and then hid for a further three months in the home of the Potancok family in the village of Povraznik.

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Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved while in hiding in Slovakia, 1944
Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved while in hiding in Slovakia, 1944

Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection
Gift of Noah (Alfred) Stern and Miriam Chenchinski , Israel

Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved while in hiding in Slovakia, 1944
Alfred and Richard Stern during the war. Alfred survived with his parents in hiding. Richard was murdered in Auschwitz.
Alfred and Richard Stern during the war. Alfred survived with his parents in hiding. Richard was murdered in Auschwitz.

Alfred and Richard Stern during the war. Alfred survived with his parents in hiding. Richard was murdered in Auschwitz.
Zigmund Stern.
Zigmund Stern.

Zigmund Stern.
Rosina Stern.
Rosina Stern.

Rosina Stern.
Maria Matulova with her husband Jan.
Maria Matulova with her husband Jan.

Maria was recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations for hiding the Stern family in her home.
 

Maria Matulova with her husband Jan.
Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved while in hiding in Slovakia, 1944
Chess pieces that Zigmund Stern carved while in hiding in Slovakia, 1944
Alfred and Richard Stern during the war. Alfred survived with his parents in hiding. Richard was murdered in Auschwitz.
Alfred and Richard Stern during the war. Alfred survived with his parents in hiding. Richard was murdered in Auschwitz.
Zigmund Stern.
Zigmund Stern.
Rosina Stern.
Rosina Stern.
Maria Matulova with her husband Jan.
Maria Matulova with her husband Jan.
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