Bram Fischer facts for kids

Abraham Louis Fischer (born April 23, 1908 – died May 8, 1975) was a South African lawyer. He was an Afrikaner, which means he was a white South African of Dutch descent. Bram Fischer is famous for fighting against apartheid, a system of unfair racial separation. He also defended many people, including Nelson Mandela, who were fighting against apartheid.

Bram Fischer: A Hero for Justice

Bram Fischer was a brave lawyer who stood up for what was right in South Africa. He fought against apartheid, a system that treated people differently based on their race. He believed everyone should be equal. He even defended important leaders like Nelson Mandela in court. Because of his actions, he was put in prison. His story shows how one person can make a big difference.

Early Life and Education

Bram Fischer came from an important Afrikaner family. His grandfather, Abraham Fischer, was a prime minister in the old Orange River Colony. His father, Percy Fischer, was a judge.

Bram went to Grey College and Grey University College in Bloemfontein. Later, he studied at University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes scholar. While in Europe, he visited the Soviet Union in 1932. He noticed how similar the struggles of farmers there were to the struggles of black South Africans. This trip helped him decide to fight for change.

In 1937, Bram married Molly Krige. They had three children together. Molly also became involved in politics. Sadly, Molly died in a car accident in 1964. This was a very difficult time for Bram. He became even more dedicated to his secret work with the South African Communist Party (SACP).

Fighting for Equality

Bram Fischer joined the Communist Party of South Africa (SACP) in the 1940s. He quickly became a leader. The SACP worked closely with the African National Congress (ANC). In 1943, Bram helped to change the ANC's rules.

In 1946, he faced charges because of his role in a miners' strike. After the SACP was made illegal in 1950, he became the leader of the secret, underground party in 1953.

Bram Fischer was a key lawyer in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961. In this trial, Nelson Mandela and many other anti-apartheid activists were found not guilty. Mandela later wrote about how Bram would read a left-wing newspaper during the trial.

The Rivonia Trial

Bram Fischer led the legal team defending Nelson Mandela and others in the famous Rivonia Trial (1963-1964). By chance, Bram was not at the farm where many documents were found. Some of these documents were even in his handwriting.

Mandela and his co-defendants were sentenced to life in prison instead of death. This was seen as a big win for the defense team. International pressure also helped. At this time, most people, even Bram's close friends, did not know he was a leader of the SACP.

After the trial, Bram visited the prisoners on Robben Island. He did not tell them about his wife Molly's death, which had happened just a week before. He wanted to protect them. Soon after, Bram himself was arrested. He was held alone for three days and then released. On September 23, 1964, he was arrested again. He faced charges of being a member of the illegal South African Communist Party.

Standing Up for What's Right

Bram Fischer was released on bail to handle a legal case in London. He chose to return to South Africa to face his trial, even though many people urged him to stay in exile. One day, he did not show up in court. Instead, he sent a letter explaining his decision.

He wrote that he could not ask others to make sacrifices if he was not willing to do the same. He went into hiding to continue fighting against apartheid. Nelson Mandela had advised him to stay in court. Mandela felt Bram could inspire people as an Afrikaner lawyer fighting for the powerless. But Bram felt he had to join the underground struggle.

In 1965, Bram Fischer was removed from the list of lawyers allowed to practice. This happened in a trial he could not attend. Many lawyers defended him during this hearing.

His Final Years

Bram Fischer continued his secret activities for almost a year. He was arrested in November 1965, after 290 days in hiding. In March 1966, he was put on trial again. He was charged with promoting communism and planning to overthrow the government. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. He was held at Pretoria Central Prison.

In 1974, other prisoners became worried about Bram's health. He was in pain and looked very thin. They worried he was not getting proper medical care. He needed a crutch to walk, but was not given one. He used a broom instead. In September 1974, he fell and broke his hip. It took 13 days for him to be taken to a hospital. When he returned, he was in a wheelchair and very confused. Doctors found that his hip had cancer.

People around the world asked the government to release him. Political prisoners usually had to serve their full sentence. But Bram Fischer was allowed to leave prison shortly before he died. He was placed under house arrest at his brother's home in Bloemfontein in April 1975. He died a few weeks later.

After his funeral, the prison department took his ashes. They have never been found.

Remembering Bram Fischer

Nelson Mandela wrote in his autobiography that Bram Fischer was one of the "bravest and staunchest friends" of the freedom struggle. He said Bram gave up a life of comfort and was rejected by his own people. This showed "a level of courage and sacrifice that was in a class by itself."

Bram Fischer was given the Lenin Peace Prize in 1967.

He was respected by other prisoners and even by some prison guards. One guard called him the "nicest prisoner" he had ever guarded.

After apartheid ended, a large housing project in Johannesburg was named Bram Fischerville in his honor. It has 22,000 homes.

In 2003, Bram Fischer became the first South African to be given back his right to practice law after his death.

In 2004, Stellenbosch University gave him an honorary degree after he died.

Rhodes House at the University of Oxford holds an annual lecture to honor Bram Fischer.

In December 2012, Bloemfontein Airport was renamed Bram Fischer International Airport.

Books and Films About Bram Fischer

Many works have been created about Bram Fischer's life:

• A Life for Africa: The Story of Bram Fischer (1973) by Naomi Mitchison.
• Burger's Daughter (1979), a novel by Nadine Gordimer, is based on his daughter's life.
• Stephen Clingman wrote Bram Fischer: Afrikaner Revolutionary, which won an award in 1999.
• Sharon Farr's documentary, Love, Communism, Revolution & Rivonia – Bram Fischer’s Story, won an award in 2007.
• A play called The Braam Fischer Waltz was performed in 2013 and 2014.
• In 2017, a film called Bram Fischer' (also known as An Act of Defiance) was released.

See also

In Spanish: Bram Fischer para niños