Abraham Blum
Encyclopedia
Abraham Blum (born 1905 in Wilno, died May 1943 in Warsaw
) was Polish-Jewish socialist activist, one of the leaders of the Bund
in the Warsaw Ghetto
and a participant in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
.
Cheder
in Wilno, where he met his wife Luba
. They had two children. Abrasza studied structural engineering at a technical school in Gent
, Belgium. By 1929 they resided in Warsaw. Initially he belonged to a communist youth organization but later became active in the Jewish socialist Bund, including its youth branch, the Cukunft. Beginning in 1930 he was one of the directors of the party's paper. He organized secular Jewish schools for the Bund.
, and with support from Warsaw's mayor Stefan Starzyński
, he helped to organize all-Jewish detachments that defended the Polish capital against the German assault. Along with other Bund activists Blum continued to edit the party's newspaper, the Folkszajtung ("the People's Gazette") ensuring that it did not cease publication during the siege
. As the occupation of Warsaw commenced most of the Bund's senior leadership was forced to evacuate the city, as they may have been too well known to the Germans, and the local leadership of the party was taken over by younger members, many of them from the Cukunft. Blum, who was their leader, has been credited with ensuring the Warsaw Bund's survival during this difficult time.
, he was one of Bund's representatives in negotiations with the Anti-Fascist Block (an alliance between leftist-Zionist, communist and socialist Polish Jewish parties).
He was considered by many Bundists and other leftist activists, including Marek Edelman
for whom Blum was a "spiritual leader", to be one of the main intellectuals of the Block. Between 1942 and 1943 he worked in a brush factory on Franciszkanska Street. He was the Bund representative in the political bureau of the Jewish Fighting Organization (ŻOB).
He took an active part in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. He escaped the final liquidation of the ghetto by the Germans through the sewers. He first hid in the private apartment of Eugenia Wasowska-Leszczynska on Żurawia street and then in the apartment of Władysława Kowalska-Meed (nom de guerre "Władka") on Barok St. 2 in Warsaw. He was discovered by the janitor of the building who reported him to the Gestapo
(the janitor was later sentenced to death on this account by the Polish Home Army). Abraham tried to escape through the window on a rope made from bedsheets but broke his legs in the fall from the third story and was captured. He was captured and murdered by the Gestapo.
, and until 1949 the director of the Nurse School no. 3 in Warsaw.
His symbolic grave is located on the main alley of the Jewish cemetery at Okopowa street
.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
) was Polish-Jewish socialist activist, one of the leaders of the Bund
General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland
The General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland was a Jewish socialist party in Poland which promoted the political, cultural and social autonomy of Jewish workers, sought to combat antisemitism and was generally opposed to Zionism.-Creation of the Polish Bund:...
in the Warsaw Ghetto
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Jewish Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. It was established in the Polish capital between October and November 15, 1940, in the territory of General Government of the German-occupied Poland, with over 400,000 Jews from the vicinity...
and a participant in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was the Jewish resistance that arose within the Warsaw Ghetto in German occupied Poland during World War II, and which opposed Nazi Germany's effort to transport the remaining ghetto population to Treblinka extermination camp....
.
Early life and activism
He was a student in the reformedReform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
Cheder
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
in Wilno, where he met his wife Luba
Luba Blum-Bielicka
Luba Bielicka Blum was a Polish-Jewish socialist activist of the Bund, and a nurse in the Warsaw Ghetto.-Early life:...
. They had two children. Abrasza studied structural engineering at a technical school in Gent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium. By 1929 they resided in Warsaw. Initially he belonged to a communist youth organization but later became active in the Jewish socialist Bund, including its youth branch, the Cukunft. Beginning in 1930 he was one of the directors of the party's paper. He organized secular Jewish schools for the Bund.
German invasion of Poland
During the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September 1939 he participated in the defense of Warsaw. Together with the leader of the Bund, Szmul ZygielbojmSzmul Zygielbojm
Szmul Zygielbojm was a Jewish-Polish socialist politician, leader of the Bund, and a member of the National Council of the Polish government in exile...
, and with support from Warsaw's mayor Stefan Starzyński
Stefan Starzynski
Stefan Starzyński was a Polish politician, economist, writer and statesman, President of Warsaw before and during the Siege of Warsaw in 1939.-Soldier:Starzyński was born on August 19, 1893 in Warsaw...
, he helped to organize all-Jewish detachments that defended the Polish capital against the German assault. Along with other Bund activists Blum continued to edit the party's newspaper, the Folkszajtung ("the People's Gazette") ensuring that it did not cease publication during the siege
Siege of Warsaw (1939)
The 1939 Battle of Warsaw was fought between the Polish Warsaw Army garrisoned and entrenched in the capital of Poland and the German Army...
. As the occupation of Warsaw commenced most of the Bund's senior leadership was forced to evacuate the city, as they may have been too well known to the Germans, and the local leadership of the party was taken over by younger members, many of them from the Cukunft. Blum, who was their leader, has been credited with ensuring the Warsaw Bund's survival during this difficult time.
Warsaw Ghetto, the uprising and death
After Poland's capitulation and the capture of Warsaw by German forces he was forced into the Warsaw Ghetto. From the end of November 1942 he was on the Bund's Coordinating Commission of the Jewish National Council. Most likely, together with Maurycy OrzechMaurycy Orzech
Maurycy Orzech was a Polish-Jewish economist, journalist, politician and a leader of the Jewish Bund in interwar Poland. He was one of the commanders of the Bund during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.-Interwar Poland:...
, he was one of Bund's representatives in negotiations with the Anti-Fascist Block (an alliance between leftist-Zionist, communist and socialist Polish Jewish parties).
He was considered by many Bundists and other leftist activists, including Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman was a Jewish-Polish political and social activist and cardiologist.Before World War II, he was a General Jewish Labour Bund activist. During the war he co-founded the Jewish Combat Organization. He took part in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, becoming its leader after the death of...
for whom Blum was a "spiritual leader", to be one of the main intellectuals of the Block. Between 1942 and 1943 he worked in a brush factory on Franciszkanska Street. He was the Bund representative in the political bureau of the Jewish Fighting Organization (ŻOB).
He took an active part in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. He escaped the final liquidation of the ghetto by the Germans through the sewers. He first hid in the private apartment of Eugenia Wasowska-Leszczynska on Żurawia street and then in the apartment of Władysława Kowalska-Meed (nom de guerre "Władka") on Barok St. 2 in Warsaw. He was discovered by the janitor of the building who reported him to the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
(the janitor was later sentenced to death on this account by the Polish Home Army). Abraham tried to escape through the window on a rope made from bedsheets but broke his legs in the fall from the third story and was captured. He was captured and murdered by the Gestapo.
Family and legacy
His wife, Luba Blum-Bielicka, was a director of a nursing school in the Warsaw Ghetto. Together with their children, she survived the German occupation of Poland and the Holocaust. After the war she was the director of the orphanage in OtwockOtwock
Otwock is a town in central Poland, some southeast of Warsaw, with 42,765 inhabitants . It is situated on the right bank of Vistula River below the mouth of Swider River. Otwock is home to a unique architectural style called Swidermajer....
, and until 1949 the director of the Nurse School no. 3 in Warsaw.
His symbolic grave is located on the main alley of the Jewish cemetery at Okopowa street
Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery
The Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Located on Warsaw's Okopowa street and abutting the Powązki Cemetery at , the Jewish Cemetery was established in 1806 and occupies 33 hectares of land. The cemetery contains over 200,000 marked graves, as well...
.