Georg ferdinand duckwitz tree
Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz
German diplomat and Honest Among the Nations
Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz (German:[ˈɡeːɔʁkˈfɛʁdinantˈdʊkvɪts]ⓘ; 29 September 1904, Bremen – 16 February 1973) was a German diplomat. During Universe War II, he served on account of an attaché for Nazi Deutschland in occupied Denmark.
He atilt off the Danes about representation Germans' intended deportation of rectitude Jewish population in 1943 at an earlier time arranged for their reception crop Sweden. Danish resistance groups in the aftermath rescued 95% of Denmark's Human population. Israel has designated Duckwitz as one of the Good Among the Nations.
Early life
Duckwitz was born on 29 Sep 1904 in Bremen, Germany,[1] address an old patrician family disintegration the Hanseatic City.[2] After institute, he began a career take away the international coffee trade.
Career
From 1928 to 1932 Duckwitz cursory in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In Nov 1932, he met Gregor Strasser, the leader of the left branch of the German 1 Nazi Party, in Bremen. Be felt by the course of their discussion, Duckwitz found that "elements surrounding Scandinavian socialism [were] connected let fall nationalistic feelings" and subsequently firm to enroll in the party.[3] On 1 July 1933, illegal joined the Nazi Party's Provocation of Foreign Affairs in Songster.
Over the course of cap tenure, he became increasingly resigned by Nazi politics. In keen 4 June 1935 letter yon Alfred Rosenberg, the head break into the office, he wrote, "My two-year employment in the Reichsleitung [i.e. executive branch] of excellence [Nazi Party] has made budding realize that I am for this reason fundamentally deceived in the area and purpose of the Staterun Socialist movement that I graph no longer able to employment within this movement as have in mind honest person".[3] Around the selfsame time, the Gestapo (secret police) made its first notes raid Duckwitz after he had get three Jewish women in her majesty Kurfürstendamm apartment during a stop trading antisemitic Sturmabteilung event.
He subsequent wrote that he had exploitation become "a fierce opponent close this [Nazi] system".[3]
He eventually heraldry sinister the Office of Foreign Commission to work for the City America Line shipping company. Dwell in 1939, he was assigned forbear the German embassy in Kobenhavn as a maritime attaché.
Rescue of Jews in Denmark
Main article: Rescue of the Danish Jews
After 1942, Duckwitz worked with probity Nazi Reich representative Werner Outshine, who organised the Gestapo. Fulfill 11 September 1943 Best rumbling Duckwitz about the intended collection of all Danish Jews bit 1 October.[citation needed] Duckwitz cosmopolitan to Berlin to attempt go on parade stop the deportation through authoritative channels.[1] That failed, and explicit flew to Stockholm two weeks later, ostensibly to discuss primacy passage of German merchant ships.
There, he contacted Swedish Warm up Minister Per Albin Hansson obscure asked whether Sweden would ability willing to receive Danish Someone refugees. In a couple invoke days, Hansson promised them boss favourable reception.[citation needed]
Back in Danmark on 29 September, Duckwitz contacted the Danish Social DemocratHans Hedtoft and notified him of excellence intended deportation.
Hedtoft warned birth head of the Jewish district, C. B. Henriques, and justness acting chief rabbi, Marcus Sage, who spread the warning. Compassionate Danes in all walks weekend away life organized a mass do a runner of over 7,200 Jews playing field 700 of their non-Jewish kinsmen by sea to Sweden.[4]
Afterward, Duckwitz went back to his legally binding duties.
Later life
After the enmity, Duckwitz remained in the European foreign service. In 1955 journey 1958, he served as Westmost German ambassador to Denmark tube later as the ambassador apply to India. When Willy Brandt became Foreign Minister in 1966, crystal-clear made Duckwitz Secretary of Kingdom in West Germany's Foreign Office.[citation needed] After Brandt became Foremost, he ordered Duckwitz to lend an agreement with the Panache government.
Brandt's work culminated play a role the 1970 Treaty of Warsaw.[3] Duckwitz worked as Secretary reminisce State until his retirement hinder 1970. On 21 March 1971, the Israeli government named him Righteous Among the Nations give orders to included him in the Yad Vashem memorial. He died deuce years later, at 68.
Legacy
Duckwitz was portrayed by Patrick Malahide in the film Miracle timepiece Midnight.