Holocaust Survivor Educates in Germany and Poland

Holocaust Survivor Dr. Leon Weintraub Inspires Police Trainees with His Story

Dr. Leon Weintraub, a Holocaust survivor, recently spoke to police trainees at the Lower Saxony Police Academy in Hann. Münden. His visit on February 25 marked another chapter in his decades-long effort to educate about the atrocities of the Nazi era. The 98-year-old physician has long maintained ties to the region, sharing his harrowing experiences with new generations.

Born in 1926, Weintraub was just 14 when he was forced into the Łódź Ghetto. Later, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he managed a daring escape before enduring further Nazi relocations. His survival led him to Göttingen after the war, where he studied medicine at Georg August University. There, he specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology, building a career that later took him to Poland as a senior physician. Rising antisemitism eventually drove him to Sweden.

For over 30 years, Weintraub has travelled across Germany and Poland to give lectures. He has addressed the Lower Saxony state parliament and returned frequently to Hann. Münden for commemorative events. His work extends to guiding police trainees on educational trips to Poland, reinforcing the importance of historical memory. During his latest visit to the academy, he planted a tree—a lasting symbol of gratitude for the institution's commitment to remembrance.

The University of Göttingen will soon honour him with an honorary doctorate from its Faculty of Medicine. Additionally, he is set to receive the Göttingen Peace Prize, recognising his lifelong dedication to education and reconciliation.

Weintraub's story spans survival, medical achievement, and relentless advocacy. His upcoming awards in Göttingen underscore the impact of his work, both in medicine and in preserving Holocaust memory. The tree he planted in Hann. Münden now stands as a quiet reminder of resilience and the duty to remember.