JHV 34, "The Heil Hitler Violin"

History and Discovery

• The Inscription: In 1936, the non-distinguished instrument was likely brought to a repair shop in Germany or a German-influenced area by a Jewish musician or amateur for a minor fix. Without the owner's knowledge, the repair person opened the instrument and inscribed “Heil Hitler, 1936” along with a large swastika directly onto the upper interior deck. 

• Unaware Ownership: The craftsman closed the violin and returned it to the owner, who played and used the instrument for years, completely unaware of the hidden message inside.

• Discovery in Washington, D.C.: Decades later, an American violin maker in Washington, D.C., purchased the instrument. Upon opening it, the maker discovered the hidden inscription.

• Donation to Violins of Hope: Though the maker's first instinct was to burn the instrument, they instead contacted Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein in Tel Aviv and donated it to the Violins of Hope project.