Heinrich Loewenstein's Jewish Scout Association Membership Card

Heinrich (Henry) Loewenstein's membership card from Jüdischer Pfadfinderbund Makkabi Hazair, a Jewish scouting group.

Following Hitler’s coming to power in 1933, life for Jews grew steadily worse. Many Jewish parents tried to maintain a normal life, but these activities changed as families tried to adjust to the Nazi rule. It often became a matter of daily survival.

In 1936, Henry joined a scouting group for Jewish boys, Jüdischer Pfadfinderbund Makkabi Hazair. Unlike their American counterparts, this group of boy scouts did not focus on tying knots or camping.  Instead, Henry and his fellow scouts shared survival information and tried to find opportunities to escape the Nazis’ regime.