Bookplate of David Frankfurter. Pencil

(HOLOCAUST)

Pencil depiction of shackles broken by a Star-of-David. In English, “Ex libris David Frankfurter.” In Hebrew, “Me-avduth le-cheruth” [“From bondage to freedom”]. Later inscription in blue reads, “To Mr. Michael Levin, With blessing, David Frankfurter, 6 Nisan 5740 [1980]”

Bookplate of Unsung Hero of the Holocaust David Frankfurter (1909-1982) created a sensation when he shot and killed Nazi Gauleiter, Wilhelm Gustloff (head of the Foreign Section of the Nazi party in Switzerland) in 1936 in Davos, Switzerland. Although the assassination was not unfavorably received by the largely anti-Nazi population of the country, the Swiss government prosecuted the case strictly, owing to concerns about its status of neutrality. Frankfurter was convicted of the killing and sentenced to an eighteen-year prison term. As World War II came to a conclusion, Frankfurter applied for a pardon which was granted in June 1945, with the stipulation that he leave the country and pay restitution and court costs. After his release he settled in Tel Aviv. The Swiss government rescinded the order of exile 25 years later. The design for the bookplate was created by Frankfurter in the 1940's while imprisoned.