Simon Wiesenthal
Simon Wiesenthal
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Simon Wiesenthal was born as Schlomo Weissnthal on December 31, 1908, in Buchach, Galicia (now part of Ukraine). He is often referred to by his adopted surname "Wiesenthal" after the war.
Birth and Death Dates
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December 31, 1908 - September 20, 2005
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Austrian-born Jew, Holocaust survivor, writer, teacher, and Nazi hunter. Wiesenthal dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals and promoting tolerance and understanding.
Early Life and Background
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Wiesenthal was born into a Jewish family in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Ukraine). His parents, Hugol and Rosa Weissnthal, were merchants who instilled in him a love for reading and learning. In 1920, Wiesenthal moved to Vienna with his family to pursue higher education. He studied architecture at the Technical University of Vienna but dropped out due to financial constraints.
Major Accomplishments
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- Surviving Theresienstadt: Wiesenthal was sent to the Nazi concentration camp in Theresienstadt (Terezin) in 1942, where he survived for three years. His experiences during this time would later shape his mission to bring Nazi perpetrators to justice.
- Tracking down war criminals: After the war, Wiesenthal dedicated himself to tracking down those responsible for atrocities committed during World War II. He worked closely with the Israeli secret service and other agencies to gather evidence and locate suspects.
- Founding the Jewish Historical Documentation Centre: In 1958, Wiesenthal founded the Jewish Historical Documentation Centre in Vienna, which aimed to document Nazi crimes and provide a resource for historians and investigators.
Notable Works or Actions
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Wiesenthal's most notable work is perhaps his book, _The Murderers Among Us: Eichmann and the Krueger Case_, published in 1960. This book exposed the role of Adolf Eichmann in the Holocaust and led to his capture in Argentina.
Impact and Legacy
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Simon Wiesenthal's tireless efforts to bring Nazi war criminals to justice have left an indelible mark on history. His work has:
- Influenced international cooperation: Wiesenthal's collaboration with law enforcement agencies across the globe set a precedent for global cooperation in hunting down human rights violators.
- Fostered education and awareness: Through his centre, Wiesenthal promoted tolerance, understanding, and respect for human rights. His work continues to inspire new generations of educators and advocates.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Simon Wiesenthal is widely remembered for his unwavering commitment to justice, compassion, and education in the face of unimaginable horror. His quotes often serve as a reminder of the importance of standing up against hatred, intolerance, and injustice:
> "The world is divided between those who know that the Holocaust was the most terrible event in human history and those who try to deny it."
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> "You will never win if you don't fight, but you must be willing to lose."
Wiesenthal's life story serves as a testament to the power of courage, resilience, and determination in the face of overwhelming adversity. His legacy continues to inspire people worldwide to stand up for human rights and to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust to ensure they never recur.
Quotes by Simon Wiesenthal
Simon Wiesenthal told me that any political party in a democracy that uses the word ‘freedom’ in its name is either Nazi or Communist.
When history looks back, I want people to know the Nazis weren’t able to kill millions of people and get away with it.
I know I am not only the bad conscience of the Nazis. I am also the bad conscience of the Jews. Because what I have taken up as my duty was everybody’s duty.
The end was surely near, ... The Nazis killed you only when you were naked, because they knew, psychologically, that naked people never resist.
You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and meet the millions of Jews who died in the camps and they ask us, 'What have you done?' there will be many answers. You will say, 'I became a jeweler.' Another will say, 'I smuggled coffee and American cigarettes.' Another will say, 'I built houses.' But I will say, 'I didn't forget you.'
When history looks back, I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it.
