Bernard Goldstein

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Bernard Goldstein (* 1889 in Siedlce near Warsaw; † December 7, 1959 in New York City ) was a Polish politician and a leading member of the General Jewish Workers' Union ( Bund ).

First years

At the age of 13, Goldstein became a member of various socialist groups. In 1905 he was arrested and imprisoned during a demonstration by the General Jewish Workers' Union. After his release, Goldstein was mainly active in the trade unions. He was a representative of the fur workers, for whom he organized strikes and demonstrations. During the First World War he was exiled to Siberia for these activities. However, Goldstein was liberated at the beginning of the Russian October Revolution in 1917. Later he took an active part in the revolution in Kiev . He became a member of the Kiev Soviet and organized militias for him.

Between the wars

After the end of the war in 1919, Bernard Goldstein returned to Warsaw, where he became a member of the central committee of the federal government and the trade unions. In the next few years he mainly formed the federal militias, which had similar tasks to the SPD's Reich banner in Germany . The militia protected the Jews from growing anti-Semitism at federal events, demonstrations and strikes.

In resistance

At the beginning of the Second World War in September 1939, Goldstein fled Warsaw with many Bundists. He returned a few weeks later to help direct the illegal activities. He became a senior member of the party and union. “Comrade Bernard” , as he was called among the Bundists, continued to organize the Bund Militia . He was one of the three commanders along with Adam Sznaidmil and Abraham Blum .

In the ghetto he became a member of various discussion groups such as the “ Red Circle ”, published newspapers and trained the militia. In October 1942 he became a member of the coordinating committee of the new Jewish Fighting Organization (ZOB). In December 1942 he escaped from the Warsaw ghetto , went into hiding and stayed in contact with the Polish resistance. Goldstein survived the war, but left Poland because he was no longer able to work politically under the new Stalinist rulers. He died in New York in 1959.

Publications

  • The stars are witnesses . European Publishing House, Hamburg 1950; New edition Ahriman-Verlag, Freiburg 1992, ISBN 3-922774-69-5

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Goldstein, Bernard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Polish politician
DATE OF BIRTH 1889
PLACE OF BIRTH Siedlce
DATE OF DEATH 7th December 1959
Place of death New York City