Genocide • 20260519

Settela Steinbach — The Girl with the Headscarf • 1MEMO_20260519_1 • Settela•Com • Frame from camera original film reel of the Westerborkfilm (1).

On May 19, 1944, at the Westerbork transit camp, a glimpse of Sinti girl Settela Steinbach wearing a headscarf appears between the sliding doors of a cattle car awaiting deportation to Auschwitz (1,2,3).
In May 1945, her father, Moeselman Steinbach, wrote to “Repatriation” in the Netherlands: “…I very politely request you to inform me whether my wife and 10 children have arrived, or only children (Gypsy children) from the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.” (4).

The 9-year-old dutch Sinti-girl Anna Maria ‘Settela’ Steinbach peeks outside , at the last moment just before the sliding door is closed , standing inside a cattle car with 74 people on May 19 , 1944 in the Westerbork transit camp in Holland , when this deportation train leaves for Auschwitz-Birkenau – where Settela is murdered a few months later in one of the gas chambers (5).

While Settela peeks outside , her mother cries behind her in that cattle car : “Get out of there, or soon your head gets in between!”

She is wearing a headscarf made from a torn sheet because the Nazis shaved her head upon arrival at Westerbork transit camp on May 16, 1944, following the “Gypsy raid” carried out that same day at the Zwaaikom caravan site in Eindhoven, the Netherlands (6).

Settela Film • 20220630

Settela was filmed only a few seconds by the Jewish prisoner filmmaker Rudolf Breslauer as part of a documentary film being made in 1944 on the Westerbork camp .
Those seconds , also in slow-motion are shown in the 2022 Settela Film • 20220630 (7)

The toddler Settela in the arms of her older sister Elisabeth Steinbach at the Heksenberg Sinti caravan site in 1935 • Photo Jan de Jong • 1MEMO_20260518_4

Anna Maria (‘Settela’) Steinbach was born 23 December 1934 in Buchten, Netherlands, and photographed at age ~1 , in the arms of her older sister Elisabeth Steinbach, with others of the Steinbach family, and other families, at the nearby Sinti caravan site ‘Heksenberg’, October 1935, by photographer Jan de Jong (8) • 1MEMO_20260518_4

Settela was deported together with her brothers and sisters (Willy “Celestinus”, Willem, Elisabeth, Johanna, Philibert, Florentina, Willem, Anna), and mother Toetela (Emilia) Steinbach (born 23 March 1902 in Antwerp, Belgium), with other Steinbach and other nomad families – all together ca 245 Sinti and Roma and ca 450 Jews – on May 19th 1944 from the dutch Camp Westerbork to the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps (5,6).

Toetela’s eldest child Moekela (Magdalena; born 14 Sep 1922) had gone to Belgium and had been deported earlier – 15 Jan 1944 – with her 6 months old baby Jeanette – Toetela’s granddaughter – on the Z-Transport from transit camp Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen to Auschwitz, were they were murdered on arrival.

Settela’s father Heinrich (‘Moeselman’) Steinbach (born Nov 11, 1901 in Gründorf in Germany) died alone of grief June 6, 1946 in Maastricht in the Netherlands – his wife and 10 children had not survived the camps.

To : “Repatriation” in Maastricht (Netherlands) — “Dear Sirs, I very politely request you to inform me whether my wife and 10 children have arrived, or only children (Gypsy children) from the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
From May 15, 1944, my children and wife were taken there; no Jews. And Weiss had to come along too. — Heinrich Steinbach. Caravan site Eindhoven , North Brabant” • 1MEMO_20260519_2 • Settela•Com

One year earlier , May 22, 1945, two weeks after the liberation of Holland, Heinrich Steinbach — living at the caravan site in Eindhoven (North Brabant, Netherlands) — inquires about the fate of his wife and ten children on a postcard written to the “Repatriation” in Maastricht (Netherlands). The text on the postcard reads — translated from dutch (4) :

“Dear Sirs, I very politely request you to inform me whether my wife and 10 children have arrived, or only children (Gypsy children) from the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

From May 15, 1944, my children and wife were taken there; no Jews. And Weiss had to come along too.

Heinrich Steinbach. Caravan site Eindhoven N.B.”

Notes

1 – Settela Steinbach in Westerbork Film 🎦 2021 | 20220302 | Michel van der Burg | Settela•Com | ISSN 2949-9313 (accessed 2026 May 18) URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiLNDziwEtc&t=1012s

4 – May 1945 Postcard Heinrich Steinbach • 1MEMO_20260519_2 • Settela•Com | ISSN 2949-9313 | Source : Collectie HCL, archief Militair Gezag, Maastricht.
‘Moeselman’ Heinrich Steinbach — living at the caravan site in Eindhoven (North Brabant, Netherlands) — inquires about the fate of his wife and ten children on a postcard written to the “Repatriation” in Maastricht (Netherlands). The dutch text on the postcard reads :
“Geachte Heeren, Ik verzoek u zeer beleeft om mijn te willen berichten op mijn vrouw en 10 kinders aan gekomen zein of alleen kinders (zigeunerkinders) uit contrasie kamp uaschwietsch Polen.
Van 15 mei 1944 zein mijn kindeers en vrouw naar toe gebracht, geen joden. En ook Weiss moet ook mee komen. Heinrich Steinbach. Woonwagenkamp Eindhoven N.B.”

6 – ‘Zigeunerrazzia’ 16 mei 1944. Peter Jorna. Stichting 18 September (Eindhoven) URL https://stichting18september.nl/zigeunertransport/

8- Sinti Caravan Site • 20260518 | Michel van der Burg | Settela•Com | ISSN 2949-9313 | URL https://settela.com/2026/05/18

TAGS #Settela #girl #headscarf #Steinbach #Westerborkfilm #Westerbork #Breslauer #Roma #Sinti #gypsy #zigeuner #nomad #caravan #razzia #raid #Eindhoven #postcard #Holocaust #Porajmos #genocide #children #camp #deportation #Jew #Netherlands #railcar #train #station #transitcamp #UNESCO #film #letter #Heksenberg #Zwaaikom #Auschwitz #SettelaCom #MiraclesMedia #michelvanderburg

Willy & Settela | Born Nomad

Poster image above : Willy – Settela’s older brother – photographed by Jan de Jong, when playing the violin at the age of around 7 years old.

Willy & Settela | Born Nomad | 20210519 | Settela•Com
(silent film)

In 1935 the nomadic Sinti families Steinbach were photographed by Dutch photographer Jan de Jong in their caravan camp on the heath around the Heksenberg hill in the southern Netherlands. Jan de Jong was working for De Spaarnestad publishing house of the dutch weekly, catholic, illustrated magazine “Katholieke Illustratie” , that used his high quality pictures in this May 1936 spread (REF 1), with a somewhat simple romanticized short story on their origin and culture – entitled ‘Zwervers van geboorte’ or ‘Born nomad’ (my translation).

Members of other Steinbach families, I recognized in this magazine spread in the caravan window image with caption ‘Buurpraatje’ (my tr. ‘Neighbor chat’), are Anna Steinbach in the window (born 24 March 1916 – killed 31 July 1944 in Auschwitz) talking with Maria Steinbach (born 6 Nov 1912 – killed 31 July 1944 in Auschwitz) .

The 15 year old Willy (Celestinus) Steinbach (born 13 Feb 1929 in Heerlen) was deported together with his 9-year old sister Settela ((Anna Maria) Steinbach (born 23 Dec 1934 in Buchten), their brothers, sisters (Willem, Elisabeth, Johanna, Philibert, Florentina, Willem, Anna), and mother Toetela (Emilia) Steinbach (born 23 March 1902 in Antwerp, Belgium), with other Steinbach and other nomad families – all together ca 245 Sinti and Roma and ca 450 Jews – on May 19th 1944 from the dutch Camp Westerbork to Auschwitz — and some, like Willy, later to other camps.
Toetela’s eldest child Moekela (Magdalena; born 14 Sep 1922) had gone to Belgium and had been deported earlier – 15 Jan 1944 – with her 6 months old baby Jeanette – Toetela’s granddaughter – on the Z-Transport from Mechelen to Auschwitz, were they were murdered on arrival.
Note : I found Jeanette on the Transport lists in the image bank of Kazerne Dossin, Mechelen – but not yet her mother Magdalena.
Settela’s father Moeselman (Heinrich) Steinbach (born Nov 11, 1901 in Gründorf in Germany) died alone of grief June 6, 1946 in Maastricht in the Netherlands – his wife and 10 children had not survived the camps.
Their deporatation was filmed for the Westerbork Film by Rudolf Breslauer (REF 2).
This post is based on the story of the Steinbach families as researched in detail and published in book (REF 3) and film (REF 4) by Rob Hendrikx and Marouska Steinbach.

Update May 20, 2021 – Minor corrections in text , plus more detailed family information added. Poster image film replaced with clearer portrait image of Willy.

TAGS #Willy #Settela #brother #1Memo #MiraclesMedia #michelvanderburg #Holland #Westerbork #Porajmos #Holocaust #genocide #WesterborkFilm #violin #Celestinus #boy #headscarf #Sinti #Roma #Jew #Celestinus #Steinbach #JandeJong #Heksenberg #caravan #photography #nomad

Below – because of space and linking constraints on social media – the references, source and full credits on websites only – eg. of Settela•Com

CREDITS & REFERENCES

1 – Source – photography Jan de Jong – in ‘Zwervers van Geboorte’ | Katholieke Illustratie 7 mei 1936 No 32 (Haarlem, Spaarnestad) via Delpher archive URL https://bit.ly/3f1jv90

2 – Westerbork Film | Full version RVD 1986 | 20190605 | Michel van der Burg | Settela•Com (accessed 2021 May 19) URL: https://wp.me/p91enH-1x

3 – Story based on book : Settela en Willy en Het geheim van de Heksenberg (2e druk) by Rob Hendrikx and Marouska Steinbach (Heerlen : Historisch Goud – Rijckheyt, centrum voor regionale geschiedenis en Stichting Historische Kring “Het Land van Herle”, April 2017) ISBN 9789082241686. URL https://www.landvanherle.nl/product/settela-en-willy-en-het-geheim-van-de-heksenberg-2e-druk/

4 – Story based on Films : ‘Settela en Willy’ by Rob Hendrikx & Marouska Steinbach | lifepowervideo YouTube user | (accessed 2021 May 19) Deel 1 Historische Gebeurtenissen link https://youtu.be/1wI9_vt9RlY | Deel 4 Holocaust Slachtoffers https://youtu.be/wVta6g6Mo1o

Willy & Settela | Born Nomad | 20210519 | Michel van der Burg | Settela•Com

Updates

20220604 – Format changes credit line , references

Handcarters ~ Karnner

https://vimeo.com/channels/1memo/154186901
The Handcarters , the ‘Karnner’ , Tyrolean people living a nomadic life because of poverty, and sometimes political or religious persecution or curiosity, would pile their belongings and kids onto handcarts to hit the road to places were they supplied the population with goods and services, or worked for example as a knife sharpener, tinker, basket maker or broom binder.

This Tyrolean minority is not forgotten during the fifth season on ‘Foolish Thursday’ (“Unsinniger Donnerstag”) in Tirol , were the colorful “Igler Karrner” dressed up as old men and women pulling a cart – go out on the town in a cabaret-like show with characteristic masks, music and dancing in the small village of Igls, near Innsbruck in Tyrol (Austria). ~ Video : January 31, 2008 | Film : February 4, 2016 by Michel van der Burg | 1-memo.com

More films and information at this site in post Tiroler Fasnacht – Carnival – in Igls

Tiroler Fasnacht – Carnival – in Igls

Tyrolean nomads are not forgotten during the fifth season.

Tirol, Igls (Innsbruck, Austria) at least once a year does not give up its gypsies – the indigenous nomads or ‘Jenische’. They play an important role in the carnival – especially in the uplands , where this minority once had its main centers . The ‘ Karner ‘ travellers with handcarts have survived as traditional figures of Tyrolean Fasnacht on Unsinnigen Donnerstag (‘Foolish Thursday’) when borderless liberty, the other, and free-spirited persons are celebrated.

Or watch film via link direct on YouTube

Tiroler Fasnacht - Carnival - Karner 2008. Image : BUM10040V01 michelvanderburg.com — Tiroler Fasnacht – Carnival – Karner 2008. Image : BUM10040V01 michelvanderburg.com

EN – “Tiroler Fasnacht 2008 in Igls” — Tirolean carnival
On ‘Foolish Thursday’ (“Unsinniger Donnerstag”) the ‘Karrner’ – men dressed up as old men and old women pulling a cart – go out on the town in a cabaret-like show with characteristic masks, music and dancing in the small village of Igls, near Innsbruck in Tyrol (Austria). Video reportage (January 31, 2008) : Michel van der Burg (michelvanderburg.com) — Some Rights Reserved (CC BY 4.0). See the ‘Further readings’ below.

DE – Tiroler Fasnacht 2008 in Igls
“Unsinniger Donnerstag” — Karrner (Männer verkleidet als alte Männlein oder alte Weiblein die einen Karren mit sich ziehen) machen die Strassen von Igls unsicher. Eine traditionsreiche Straßenfastnacht mit Musik und schöne Larven (Masken), und Fasnachtkostüme durch die Dorfmitte in Igls (Innsbruck, Tirol, Österreich) am 31 Jänner 2008. Video reportage : Michel van der Burg (michelvanderburg.com) — Einige Rechte vorbehalten (CC BY 4.0). Extra Info Unten.

Storyboard video reportage 'Tiroler Fasnacht - Unsinniger Donnerstag 2008 in Igls'. Image : BUM10038V01 michelvanderburg.com — Storyboard video reportage ‘Tiroler Fasnacht – Unsinniger Donnerstag 2008 in Igls’. Image : BUM10038V01 michelvanderburg.com

Further readings

* Extra info carnival figures in “der Igel” #12 – 2010
* Fasnacht in Nordtirol und Südtirol (2010) Thomas Nußbaumer
* Tiroler Jenische – marginalisierte Protagonisten der fünften Jahreszeit by Lisa Burtscher (Jan 28, 2013 in provinnsbruck.at)
* Unbekanntes Volk – Sinti und Roma – by Martha Verdorfer
* Jenische – DE , wikipedia.org

Video from previous years

Watch Fasnacht in Igls, Innsbruck at this site in previous years :
2005 (1 min)
2006 (2 min)
2007 (4 min)

Notes

First posted via blog www.imichel.com on May 06, 2008 (with info updates on 20090630, 20101130, 20120122.
Mar 5, 2014 Update with links to videos from previous years (2005-2007)