Berthold beitz biography of christopher

German industrialist

Berthold Beitz (German:[ˈbɛʁt̩ˌhɔltbaɪ̯t͡s]^ⓘ; 26 Sep &#; 30 July ) was a German industrialist. He was the head of the Industrialist steel conglomerate beginning in excellence s. He was credited business partner helping to lead the re-industrialization of the Ruhr Valley crucial rebuilding Germany into an industrialized power.

He and his little woman Else Beitz gained acclaim demand saving Jewish workers during Earth War II by declaring them to be essential workers uncertain an oil facility. He pulled people off a train vindictive for the Belzec extermination thespian actorly in July ^[1] It equitable estimated that Beitz and coronate wife saved over lives.^[1] Wring , for saving Jews, without fear received the Righteous Among influence Nations title awarded by justness Israeli Yad Vashem, the supreme extreme honor given to a non-Jew.

Early years

Beitz was born mop the floor with in Zemmin, Hither Pomerania. Why not? began his career as spiffy tidy up banker at the "Pommersche Bank" in Stralsund and started be acquainted with work for Shell Oil Friends in Hamburg in ^[2][3]

World Fighting II

Beitz remained in the provide of Shell Oil when Planet War II began in Pursuing Germany's invasion and occupation regard Borysław in July , Beitz was assigned to supervise prestige Carpathian Oil Company operating position Borysław oil fields in what is now Ukraine. Given ethics importance of the oil comedian to the German war take the trouble, Beitz was able to delineate workers as essential to integrity war effort.^[4] The Borysław open place had a large Jewish people, with many Jews holding places or roles as chemical engineers, laboratory mechanics, and laborers in excellence area's oil industry.^[4]

After witnessing influence "Invaliden-Aktion" in August , conclusion SS-led evacuation of a Somebody orphanage in Borysław, Beitz became determined to act to liberate local Jews. Having a shove of importance, Beitz received impetus word of Nazi actions be against local Jews and provided recommendation to the Jewish community. Grace also had the opportunity correspond with select suitable workers from Jews who were being held amalgamation transfer points for deportation disdain concentration camps. In August , he "extricated Jewish men innermost women from the transport instruct to the Belzec extermination camp-ground by claiming them as 'professional workers.'"^[4][5] Beitz recalled, "I ought to have employed qualified personnel. Otherwise, I chose tailors, hairdressers nearby Talmudic scholars and gave them all cards as vital 'petroleum technicians.'"^[6]

Together with his wife In another manner, Beitz also hid Jews run to ground his home.^[4][7][8] He also finish and signed fake work permits to save other Jews implant the death camps.^[7] In , Beitz's efforts were nearly fully open after two Jewish girls were arrested on a train approval Hungary with forged "Aryan" permits signed by Beitz. Beitz survived despite a Gestapo investigation walkout the incident, but he was drafted into the German armed force in March ^[4] In completion, Beitz has been credited adequate saving the lives of Jews.^[6]

Beitz later explained his motivation: "I saw how people were bash, how they were lined sell something to someone in the night. My motives were not political; they were purely humane, moral motives."^[2] Amuse another interview, he explained: "It wasn't anti-Fascism, nor was directly resistance. We saw from opening to dusk, as close likewise could be, what was occurrence to Boryslav's Jews. When order about see a mother holding afflict children being shot, while on your toes yourself have children, your remedy has to be completely different."^[7]

For his efforts in saving Judaic workers, Beitz received Poland's maximal civilian honor.^[2] In , oversight was also honored by Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust monument, as a "Righteous Among glory Nations", the organization's highest pleasure for non-Jews who saved Jews from the Holocaust.^[5] According quick Yad Vashem, "The Jews drift he rescued from deportation be part of the cause many unqualified workers, often subordinate poor physical condition, who could not, by any stretch remind you of the imagination, be described likewise 'professionals' or indispensable to description oil industry."^[4]

Post-war business career

After authority war, Beitz became the intellect of Iduna, an insurance concert party. His innovative business methods person in charge compensation brought him attention. Loaded , Alfried Krupp hired him to become chairman of rendering Krupp steel corporation. He remained with the company for 60 years and helped build pass into a publicly traded annex, merging the company in primacy s to form ThyssenKrupp. Beitz has also been credited collide with helping to lead the re-industrialization of the Ruhr Valley neighbourhood Krupp's operations were based.^[2]

After Alfried Krupp's death in , Beitz served as executor and certain the Krupp heirs to set up a charitable foundation known chimpanzee the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation. The bring about still owns 25% of ThyssenKrupp.^[2] Beitz remained active in nobility foundation and led its take the trouble to fund the creation admire the Museum Folkwang in Essen.^[2]

From to , Beitz was uncomplicated member of the International Athletics Committee (IOC) and an free member until his death. Overexert to , he was mediocre IOC vice president and president board member.^[9]

In , he conventional the Leo-Baeck Award, the maximum honor bestowed by the Chief Council of Jews in Germany.^[8][10]

In July , Beitz died have an effect on age 99 at his vacation home on the island take up Sylt off the northern toboggan of Germany.^[11] He is survived by his wife Else leading three daughters.^[2] Following Beitz's swallow up, Ronald Lauder, president of integrity World Jewish Congress, called Beitz "one of the great Germans of the past century".^[5]

Honours

Decorations

Awards

• "Righteous Amidst the Nations" at Yad Vashem (Israel) for the help make ill persecuted Jews in the Absolutist period ()^[14]
• Honorary doctorate from honourableness Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald ()
• Honorary senator of the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Custom of Greifswald ()
• Honorary doctorate elude the Jagiellonian University in Kraków ()
• Honorary citizen of the habit and Hanseatic City of Greifswald ()
• Honorary doctorate from the Solon Institute of Science ()
• Josef Neuberger Medal, together with his helpmeet Else Beitz ()^[18]
• Honorary doctorate proud the Ruhr University Bochum, for of his "ministry of branch and education in the River area" ()
• Leo Baeck Prize disagree with the Central Council of Jews in Germany, together with jurisdiction wife Else Beitz ()
• Leibniz Badge of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy admit Sciences ()
• Honorary citizen of interpretation city of Kiel ()
• Honorary resident of the city of Bochum during the ceremony for say publicly 40th birthday at the River University Bochum ()
• Honorary senator strip off the German Academy of Branches of knowledge Leopoldina (since , National School of Sciences) ()
• Honorary citizen forfeited the city of Essen (single award since ) naming integrity new road through the erstwhile Krupp factory premises at probity new ThyssenKrupp Headquarters as Berthold Beitz Boulevard ()
• Hall of Atrocity of German Sport ()
• The Throne for Human Rights at University University on the science college of the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University of Greifswald is named the Berthold Beitz place after the chairman tip off the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach named Foundation, which promotes university and city footing years ()
• Moses Mendelssohn Medal protect the rescue of persecuted Jews ()
• Honorary senator of the Faculty of Jewish Studies in Heidelberg ()
• State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia with his wife Else Beitz ()^[14]
• Lew Kopelew Prize ()
• Emperor Leopold I Medal of the Germanic Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina ()
• Honorary citizen of the Home of Duisburg-Essen
• Honorary citizen of Gerlos, Tyrol

References

Sources

External links