Elisabeth Abegg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elisabeth Abegg
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| Born |
Luise Wilhelmine Elisabeth Abegg
3 March 1882 |
| Died | 8 August 1974 (aged 92) |
| Alma mater | Leipzig University |
| Political party | German Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Germany |
| Parents |
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| Honours | Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Righteous Among the Nations |
Elisabeth Abegg was a brave German teacher. She lived from 1882 to 1974. During World War II, she stood up against the Nazis. She helped hide about 80 Jewish people from danger. Because of her courage, she was later honored as a "Righteous Among the Nations". This special title is given to non-Jewish people who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
Contents
Elisabeth Abegg's Early Life and Education
Elisabeth Abegg was born in 1882 in Strasbourg. At that time, Strasbourg was part of Germany. Her father, Johann Friedrich Abegg, was a lawyer.
In 1912, Elisabeth went to Leipzig University. She studied history and different languages. She earned her doctorate degree in 1916. This means she completed a very high level of study.
After World War I, in 1918, she moved to Berlin. The Alsace region, where Strasbourg is, became part of France again. In Berlin, she helped with relief work after the war. This work was organized by a group called the Quakers. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs and helping others.
In 1924, she became a teacher at a school in Berlin. She was also an active member of the German Democratic Party. This was a political group in Germany.
Standing Up to the Nazis
Elisabeth Abegg was not afraid to speak her mind. She openly criticized the Nazi government. This was after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. Because of her criticism, she was moved to a different school.
In 1938, the Gestapo questioned her. The Gestapo was the secret police of Nazi Germany. They were very powerful and scary. In 1941, she was forced to stop teaching. Around the same time, she officially became a Quaker.
Helping Jewish People During the Holocaust
In 1942, Elisabeth Abegg started to help Jewish people. The Nazis were persecuting Jews, sending them to concentration camps. Elisabeth wanted to find safe places for them to hide.
She built a large network of helpers. This included her Quaker friends and her former students. They all worked together to find homes for Jews in hiding.
Elisabeth temporarily housed many Jewish people in her own apartment. She shared this apartment with her mother and her sister. She also used empty apartments nearby. She helped find permanent homes for them across Berlin and other areas.
She even sold her jewelry to help some Jews escape to Switzerland. She also taught Jewish children who were in hiding at her apartment. From 1942 to 1945, she helped about 80 Jewish people find safety.
Life After the War and Legacy
After World War II ended, Elisabeth Abegg started teaching again in Berlin. She joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany. She also remained active in Quaker groups.
In 1957, a group of Jewish people she had saved wrote a book. It was called And a Light Shined in the Darkness. They dedicated the book to her. Elisabeth Abegg passed away in Berlin on August 8, 1974.
Honors and Recognition
Elisabeth Abegg received several important honors for her bravery.
- In 1957, she received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is a high honor in Germany.
- In 1967, she was recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. This title is given to non-Jewish people who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
- In 1991, a special plaque was placed in her neighborhood in Berlin.
- In 2006, a street in Berlin was named after her. It is called Elisabeth-Abegg-Straße.
Images for kids
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Elisabeth Abegg
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Memorial plaque for Elisabeth Abegg in Tempelhof, Berlin
