Gad Beck grew up in Berlin to an underprivileged family. Being 10 when the Nazis rose to power, he experienced ant-semetism first hand while attending a German school. Due to his "mixed' familiar background, his mother having converted to Judaism, Beck was spared from being deported East.
While in Berlin, he was involved in the underground. Being homosexual and Jewish, Beck had multiple connections to several circles of people and resistance groups. He assisted Jews in escaping to Switzerland and also provided food and hiding places. He also held a leading role in the Chug Chaluzi Jewish resistance group. He arranged safe houses, assisted Jews in escaping and delivered money.
In 1942, Beck attempted to save the life of his Jewish lover, Manfred Lewin. He borrowed a Hitler Youth uniform and met Lewin at the detention center where he was being held. Manfred decided that he could not leave his family. He was deported to Auschwitz, where he perished.
In March of 1945, Gad was betrayed and arrested. He was liberated on April 24th, 1945. After the war, Gad Beck immigrated to Palestine while helping other to immigrate at the same time. He fought in the war which led to the creation and establishment of Israel. After establishing a life in Israel, Beck returned to Germany where he became an LGBTQ activist and the Director of the Berlin's Jewish Adult Education Center.
Gad Beck believed it was his mission to rebuild the communities of individuals that the Nazis spent years trying to make disappear. At the age of 88, Beck died in 2012. He was the last, known homosexual and Jewish Holocaust survivor.
While in Berlin, he was involved in the underground. Being homosexual and Jewish, Beck had multiple connections to several circles of people and resistance groups. He assisted Jews in escaping to Switzerland and also provided food and hiding places. He also held a leading role in the Chug Chaluzi Jewish resistance group. He arranged safe houses, assisted Jews in escaping and delivered money.
In 1942, Beck attempted to save the life of his Jewish lover, Manfred Lewin. He borrowed a Hitler Youth uniform and met Lewin at the detention center where he was being held. Manfred decided that he could not leave his family. He was deported to Auschwitz, where he perished.
In March of 1945, Gad was betrayed and arrested. He was liberated on April 24th, 1945. After the war, Gad Beck immigrated to Palestine while helping other to immigrate at the same time. He fought in the war which led to the creation and establishment of Israel. After establishing a life in Israel, Beck returned to Germany where he became an LGBTQ activist and the Director of the Berlin's Jewish Adult Education Center.
Gad Beck believed it was his mission to rebuild the communities of individuals that the Nazis spent years trying to make disappear. At the age of 88, Beck died in 2012. He was the last, known homosexual and Jewish Holocaust survivor.
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Note: Thank you to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for helping to provide content for this article.
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