Šime Spitzer (born Shimon Spitzer; 18 October 1892 – October 1941) was a CroatianZionist, notable member of the Jewish community Zagreb and general secretary of the "Federation of Jewish confessional communities of Yugoslavia" (Savez jevrejskih vjeroispovjednih općina Jugoslavije - SJVOJ).
Spitzer was born in Đakovo on 18 October 1892 to a Jewish family. From his early youth, he was a member of the Zionist and Jewish organizations in Croatia. He co-founded in Zagreb, in 1919, together with Aleksandar Licht and other Zionists the "Union of the Jewish confessional municipalities in the Kingdom of SHS" (Savez jevrejskih vjeroispovjednih općina u Kraljevini SHS), later known as "Federation of Jewish confessional communities of Yugoslavia" (Savez jevrejskih vjeroispovjednih općina Jugoslavije - SJVOJ).[1][2][3]
In 1937 he was elected general secretary of the "SJVOJ". Spitzer election induced the rebellion among the Jews from the Jewish communities Sarajevo and Belgrade who favored their own nominee, the Sarajevo-born Mihael Levi. All Sarajevo and some Belgrade members of the central committee of the SJVOJ have resigned. They all asked that Spitzer, a nominee of the Jewish community Zagreb, resign. Leadership of the SJVOJ insisted on Spitzer election.[1][2][3]
In 1937 Spitzer protested at the office of Žika Simonović, Minister of Justice in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, against the antisemitic articles in the newspapers such as: "Balkan", "Mlada Hrvatska", "Erwache" and "Sturm". He also made an outcry toward the fact that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are, again, distributed freely.[1][2][3]
As early as 1933, and especially after the Anschluss in 1938, the expulsion of Jewish citizens became eminent. During the 1930s Spitzer and other notable members of the Jewish community Zagreb helped the refugee Jews from Austria and Nazi Germany. He headed the refugee relief committee in Belgrade. Spitzer and "Federation of Jewish confessional communities of Yugoslavia" cared for 11,200 refugee Jews. After the outbreak of World War II Jews from the Nazi Germany were strictly forbidden to directly immigrate into Mandatory Palestine. As Jews born in Austria and Germany they were considered, by the British authorities, enemy aliens. Only refugees who had already reached a neutral country were able to obtain immigration papers.[1][2][3]
On 31 December 1939 three Yugoslav excursion boats, "Car Nikola", "Car Dušan" and "Kraljica Marija" were carrying refugees to a winter harbor in the city of Kladovo when the Danube river froze. On 22 September 1940, the refugees reached the Šabac in Serbia. There, under Spitzer leadership, ongoing aid was provided to the group. Spitzer tried desperately to obtain passage for the refugees and immigration certificates, so that they could legally proceed to Mandatory Palestine. Unfortunately, after the Axis occupation of Serbia in 1941, most of the refugees were murdered by the German occupation forces. Out of 1,400 Jewish refugees, only between 200 and 280 survived. In October 1941 Spitzer was murdered at the Banjica concentration camp. He was survived by his wife who later made Aliyah to Israel.[1][2][3]
Goldstein, Ivo (2005). Židovi u Zagrebu 1918 - 1941. Zagreb: Novi Liber. ISBN953-6045-23-0.
Israeli, Raphael (2013). The Death Camps of Croatia: Visions and Revisions, 1941-1945. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. ISBN978-1412849753.
January 01, 1970
Šime, spitzer, austrian, mathematician, simon, spitzer, born, shimon, spitzer, october, 1892, october, 1941, croatian, zionist, notable, member, jewish, community, zagreb, general, secretary, federation, jewish, confessional, communities, yugoslavia, savez, je. For the Austrian mathematician see Simon Spitzer Sime Spitzer born Shimon Spitzer 18 October 1892 October 1941 was a Croatian Zionist notable member of the Jewish community Zagreb and general secretary of the Federation of Jewish confessional communities of Yugoslavia Savez jevrejskih vjeroispovjednih opcina Jugoslavije SJVOJ Sime SpitzerBornShimon Spitzer18 October 1892Đakovo Austro Hungarian monarchy now Croatia DiedOctober 1941 aged 49 Banjica concentration campCause of deathMurdered in HolocaustNationalityCroatSpouseYehudit nee Lantzer SpitzerRelativesYaakov and Linka Spitzer parents Life editSpitzer was born in Đakovo on 18 October 1892 to a Jewish family From his early youth he was a member of the Zionist and Jewish organizations in Croatia He co founded in Zagreb in 1919 together with Aleksandar Licht and other Zionists the Union of the Jewish confessional municipalities in the Kingdom of SHS Savez jevrejskih vjeroispovjednih opcina u Kraljevini SHS later known as Federation of Jewish confessional communities of Yugoslavia Savez jevrejskih vjeroispovjednih opcina Jugoslavije SJVOJ 1 2 3 In 1937 he was elected general secretary of the SJVOJ Spitzer election induced the rebellion among the Jews from the Jewish communities Sarajevo and Belgrade who favored their own nominee the Sarajevo born Mihael Levi All Sarajevo and some Belgrade members of the central committee of the SJVOJ have resigned They all asked that Spitzer a nominee of the Jewish community Zagreb resign Leadership of the SJVOJ insisted on Spitzer election 1 2 3 In 1937 Spitzer protested at the office of Zika Simonovic Minister of Justice in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia against the antisemitic articles in the newspapers such as Balkan Mlada Hrvatska Erwache and Sturm He also made an outcry toward the fact that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are again distributed freely 1 2 3 As early as 1933 and especially after the Anschluss in 1938 the expulsion of Jewish citizens became eminent During the 1930s Spitzer and other notable members of the Jewish community Zagreb helped the refugee Jews from Austria and Nazi Germany He headed the refugee relief committee in Belgrade Spitzer and Federation of Jewish confessional communities of Yugoslavia cared for 11 200 refugee Jews After the outbreak of World War II Jews from the Nazi Germany were strictly forbidden to directly immigrate into Mandatory Palestine As Jews born in Austria and Germany they were considered by the British authorities enemy aliens Only refugees who had already reached a neutral country were able to obtain immigration papers 1 2 3 On 31 December 1939 three Yugoslav excursion boats Car Nikola Car Dusan and Kraljica Marija were carrying refugees to a winter harbor in the city of Kladovo when the Danube river froze On 22 September 1940 the refugees reached the Sabac in Serbia There under Spitzer leadership ongoing aid was provided to the group Spitzer tried desperately to obtain passage for the refugees and immigration certificates so that they could legally proceed to Mandatory Palestine Unfortunately after the Axis occupation of Serbia in 1941 most of the refugees were murdered by the German occupation forces Out of 1 400 Jewish refugees only between 200 and 280 survived In October 1941 Spitzer was murdered at the Banjica concentration camp He was survived by his wife who later made Aliyah to Israel 1 2 3 References edit a b c d e Goldstein 2005 pp 118 202 246 340 346 365 366 367 368 376 433 457 458 478 492 502 531 a b c d e In Memoriam Sime Spitzer American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Retrieved 2013 07 04 a b c d e Israeli 2013 p 35 Bibliography editGoldstein Ivo 2005 Zidovi u Zagrebu 1918 1941 Zagreb Novi Liber ISBN 953 6045 23 0 Israeli Raphael 2013 The Death Camps of Croatia Visions and Revisions 1941 1945 New Jersey Transaction Publishers ISBN 978 1412849753 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sime Spitzer amp oldid 1194886332, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
