Heinz Galinski
Encyclopedia
Heinz Galinski was president of the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland
also known as Central Council of Jews in Germany from 1988 until his death in 1992.
Galinski was born in Marienburg (Malbork)
in West Prussia
. In 1943, he was deported to Auschwitz. After also spending time in the concentration camps Buchenwald
and Bergen-Belsen
he was liberated by British troops
on 20 April 1945. Unlike many other Holocaust survivors, Galinski remained in Germany
after the end of World War II
. From 1949 to 1992, he was chairman of the Jewish congregation of Berlin
. In 1987, Galinski became an honorary citizen of this city. In 1988, he then succeeded Werner Nachmann
as the head of the most important Jewish organization in Germany the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland; he kept this position until his death in 1992 in Berlin.
Beginning in 1989, the Heinz-Galinski-Preis was awarded in his name. In 1995, the Heinz-Galinski Schule, a Jewish Elementary school in Berlin
opened in his name.
In September and November 1998 Galinski's grave was the victim of two bombings, which both completely destroyed his grave stone. The motivation behind these attacks was probably anti-Semitism
, but the crimes have not been solved.
Galinski's daughter Evelyn Hecht-Galinski
is an outspoken critic of Israel
i politics.
Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland
The Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland is a federation of German Jews organizing many Jewish organisations in Germany. It was founded on July 19, 1950, as a response to the increasing isolation of German Jews by the international Jewish community and increasing interest in Jewish affairs by the ...
also known as Central Council of Jews in Germany from 1988 until his death in 1992.
Galinski was born in Marienburg (Malbork)
Malbork
Malbork is a town in northern Poland in the Żuławy region , with 38,478 inhabitants . Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously assigned to Elbląg Voivodeship...
in West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
. In 1943, he was deported to Auschwitz. After also spending time in the concentration camps Buchenwald
Buchenwald concentration camp
Buchenwald concentration camp was a German Nazi concentration camp established on the Ettersberg near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937, one of the first and the largest of the concentration camps on German soil.Camp prisoners from all over Europe and Russia—Jews, non-Jewish Poles and Slovenes,...
and Bergen-Belsen
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
he was liberated by British troops
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
on 20 April 1945. Unlike many other Holocaust survivors, Galinski remained in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. From 1949 to 1992, he was chairman of the Jewish congregation of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1987, Galinski became an honorary citizen of this city. In 1988, he then succeeded Werner Nachmann
Werner Nachmann
Werner Nachmann , was a German entrepreneur and politician, and was president of the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland also known as Central Council of Jews in Germany, from 1969 to 1988....
as the head of the most important Jewish organization in Germany the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland; he kept this position until his death in 1992 in Berlin.
Beginning in 1989, the Heinz-Galinski-Preis was awarded in his name. In 1995, the Heinz-Galinski Schule, a Jewish Elementary school in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
opened in his name.
In September and November 1998 Galinski's grave was the victim of two bombings, which both completely destroyed his grave stone. The motivation behind these attacks was probably anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, but the crimes have not been solved.
Galinski's daughter Evelyn Hecht-Galinski
Evelyn Hecht-Galinski
Evelyn Hecht-Galinski is a Jewish-German activist, an outspoken critic of Israel's policies towards Palestinians and a member of the group European Jews for a Just Peace...
is an outspoken critic of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politics.