Home > Books In Print > The Flag With Fifty-Six Stars: A Gift From The Survivors of Mauthausen

 

Books In Print

 

 

The Flag With Fifty-Six Stars: A Gift From The Survivors of Mauthausen

2005 | Holiday House

2006 California Collections for Middle School
2006 Notable Children's Book of Jewish Content

 

 

On May 6th, 1945 when the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Army marched into the Mauthausen Concentration camp, they were presented with an extraordinary gift. Despite their desperate and starving conditions, a group of prisoners had surreptitiously sewed scraps of sheets and jackets together to make a U.S. flag. Even though the inmates had added an extra row of stars, Colonel Richard Seibel had the flag flown over the camp as a tribute to the humanity, perseverance, and spirit of the survivors of Mauthausen. The meticulously researched paintings by Bill Farnsworth poignantly depict the events. Source notes, a biography, further resources and a reproduction of the actual flag are included.