Registration Certificate of Boy Scouts Association-Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

This is the certificate that Willy Schurtmann obtained from the Boy Scouts Association when he took refuge in Shanghai. It is a piece of tri fold paper.

On the front cover is the Bright Flower of the World Scout Organization, with the phrase of “The Boy Scouts Association Shanghai Branch” and “13th Shanghai (United) Group” on it. Detailed information of the holder, such as his name, date of birth, place of birth, date of joining the Group, the training courses he had taken and the rank, has been recorded on the inside pages. The last page has the signatures of the Group Scoutmaster and the District Commissioner, as well as the date of issue.

Willy fled to Shanghai from Vienna with his parents in 1938, and the family lived in an apartment on Moulmein Road (now North Maoming Road). He studied at the Shanghai Jewish School, which followed the curriculum and management system of British schools. In 1943, the family was forced to move into the Designated Area in Hongkou, and Willy was allowed to continue going to the school which was located outside the Designated Area. On August 22, 1945, he joined the 13th Shanghai (United) Group of the Boy Scouts Association.