“Order” – Large Trilingual Poster Regarding Abandoned Jewish Property Held by Non-Jews to be Surrendered to the Royal Hungarian Finance Directorate in Sombor. Serbian, German, Hungarian. Sombor (Serbia). June 3, 1944.
A poster issued by the Royal Hungarian Finance Directorate in Sombor, signed in print by Financial Inspector Dr. Vitányi Albin, announcing that any citizen in possession of abandoned, deposited, or stolen Jewish property must voluntarily hand it over to the Royal Hungarian Finance Directorate in Sombor within 8 days of the publication of the decree.
Text:
“Order – I am informing all residents, the Hungarian and German military forces stationed, and the military personnel in the Bács-Bodrog district, that the abandoned Jewish property (movable items, valuables, etc.) has, in accordance with the decree of the Royal Hungarian Ministry of Finance dated May 15, 1944, and under No. 147,310/1944. fő, which came into effect, become the property of the Royal Hungarian period.
The collection and temporary storage of Jewish assets has begun. The responsible Royal Hungarian District Financial Commissioner and the subordinate financial guard are in charge. For the collection and safekeeping of the objects and values constituting the property,
I firmly request everyone who holds Jewish property and movable items without official instructions and authorization, that is, those acquired after April 4, 1944, by any means, including gifts, exchanges, safekeeping, illegal concealment, or theft, to submit them voluntarily in writing to the Royal Hungarian Financial Directorate in Zombor within 8 days from the publication of this regulation. … Otherwise, if an investigation after the deadline determines illegal possession, the competent authority will file charges against the accused … I impose an obligation on anyone who discovers that someone is illegally holding or concealing former Jewish property or valuables to report it in writing to the Royal Hungarian authorities. If it is revealed from the investigation that someone failed to provide their information to the authorities, they will be judged as concealers of the property and will face criminal proceedings. Participation. None of those who are compelled by valid state orders to possess items or valuables that were formerly Jewish property are allowed to remove or take them from their place of storage, but everyone is obliged to keep them with care.
I draw the attention of the population to a number of legislative decrees issued and their legal consequences. Zombor, June 3, 1944. Publisher: Financial Inspector Dr. Vitanyi Albin. Sombor.
I draw the population’s attention to several legislative decrees and their legal consequences. Sombor, June 3, 1944. Published by: Financial Inspector, Dr. Vitányi Albin. Sombor.”
After Nazi Germany’s invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, the Bačka region, including Sombor, came under Hungarian control, and persecution of the Jews in the area began. Some members of the Jewish community joined the partisan forces. Eventually, the Jews of Sombor were deported to concentration camps. After the war, the city became part of Yugoslavia, and following Yugoslavia’s dissolution, it was transferred to Serbia. The Jewish community was almost entirely destroyed, and of the nearly 2,000 Jews who lived in Sombor before the war, around 200 returned to reside in the city.
Size: 70×50 cm. Fold marks. Good condition.
