Gad Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gad Beck
|
|
|---|---|
Gad Beck in 2000
|
|
| Born | 30 June 1923 |
| Died | 24 June 2012 (aged 88) |
| Citizenship | German |
| Occupation | Educator, activist, author |
| Years active | 1947–2012 |
| Known for | An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin |
| Partner(s) | Julius Laufer (1977–2012; Beck's death) |
| Family | Margot Beck (twin sister) |
Gerhard "Gad" Beck (born June 30, 1923 – died June 24, 2012) was an amazing person. He was an educator, writer, and activist from Germany and Israel. Gad Beck was also a brave member of the resistance during World War II. He survived the terrible events of the Holocaust.
Contents
Gad Beck's Early Life
Gad Beck was born Gerhard Beck in Berlin, Germany. He had a twin sister named Margot. His father was Jewish, and his mother, who was originally Protestant, became Jewish.
Growing Up in Berlin
His family lived in a part of Berlin where many Jewish immigrants lived. When he was five, his family moved to the Weissensee area. There, he went to primary school. Sadly, he faced antisemitism (prejudice against Jewish people) from some of his classmates.
In 1934, he started at a Jewish school. But he had to leave school early to work. He became a shop assistant to help his family.
Life During World War II
Because Gad Beck was partly Jewish, the Nazis called him a Mischling. This meant he was not sent away with other German Jews right away. He stayed in Berlin during this dangerous time.
A Brave Rescue Attempt
In 1942, Gad Beck did something incredibly brave. He borrowed a neighbor's Hitler Youth uniform. He marched into a camp where his loved one, Manfred Lewin, was being held. People were sent from this camp to concentration camps.
Gad asked the officer in charge to release Manfred. He pretended Manfred was needed for a construction project. The officer actually let Manfred go! But outside the building, Manfred made a difficult choice. He said he could not leave his family. He felt he needed to stay with them.
So, Gad and Manfred said goodbye. Gad later wrote that watching Manfred leave made him grow up very quickly. Sadly, Manfred and his whole family were killed at Auschwitz.
Joining the Resistance
Gad Beck joined a secret group that helped Jewish people. This group found food and safe places for Jews trying to escape to neutral Switzerland.
In early 1945, a spy working for the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) betrayed Gad and his friends. Gad was questioned and held in a Jewish transit camp in Berlin. Luckily, his parents and sister survived the war. They received help from their Christian relatives on his mother's side.
After the War
After World War II ended, Gad Beck continued to help others. He worked to organize efforts for Jewish survivors. He helped them move to Israel. In 1947, he moved to Israel himself.
Returning to Berlin
In the late 1970s, Gad Beck met Julius Laufer. Julius later joined Gad in Israel. They were partners for 35 years.
In 1979, Gad Beck moved back to Berlin. There, he became the director of the Jewish Adult Education Center. He helped educate many people.
Sharing His Story
In 2000, Gad Beck was featured in a documentary film called Paragraph 175. This film told the stories of people who were persecuted for their identity during the Holocaust. In the film, Gad remembered his "great, great love" who was lost to the Nazis.
Also in 2000, his autobiography was published in English. It was called An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin. This book allowed him to share his powerful story with many people. He went on a successful book tour in the United States.
A documentary film about his life was planned, but it was never released.
Later Life and Legacy
Gad Beck passed away on June 24, 2012, at the age of 88. He died from kidney failure in a Berlin retirement home. His partner, Julius Laufer, survived him. Gad Beck's life showed incredible courage and strength. He dedicated his life to education, activism, and sharing his experiences.
See also
- German Jews
- Homosexuality in Germany
- Persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust
- Pierre Seel
- Albrecht Becker
- Heinz Dörmer
- Karl Gorath
- Wilhelm Heckmann
- Kurt von Ruffin
- Friedrich-Paul von Groszheim
