Heinz Galinski

File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-P094007, Berlin, Heinz Galinski vor jüdischem Gemeindehaus.jpg

Heinz Galinski

File:Wohnhaus galinski.jpg

Galinski's residence in Berlin until his deportation in 1943

File:Galinski gedenkplatte.jpg

Memorial plate

Heinz Galinski (28 November 1912 – 19 July 1992) was president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany (Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland) from 1988 until his death in 1992.

Early Life

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.

Career

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 Central Council of Jews, the most important Jewish organization in Germany; he kept this position until his death in 1992 in Berlin.

Awards

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 Israeli politics.

See also

• Galinski
• Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime

Notes and references

Preceded by Werner Nachmann

President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany 1988–1992

Succeeded by Ignatz Bubis