List of victims of Nazism


This is a list of victims of Nazism who were noted for their achievements. Many on the lists below were of Jewish and Polish origin, although Soviet POWs, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Serbs, Catholics, Roma and dissidents were also murdered. This list includes people from public life who, owing to their origins, their political or religious convictions, or their sexual orientation, lost their lives as victims of the Nazi regime. It includes those whose deaths were part of the Holocaust as well as individuals who died in other ways at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. Those who died in concentration camps are listed alongside those who were murdered by the Nazi Party or those who chose suicide for political motives or to avoid being murdered.
The list is sorted by occupation and by nationality.

Performing arts

Literature and publishing

Visual arts and design

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Friedl Dicker-Brandeis1896–1944Austrianartistgas chamber in Auschwitz
Josef Čapek1887–1945Czechpainter, draughtsman, illustrator, writertyphoid fever at Bergen-Belsen
Abraham Icek Tuschinski1886–1942, AuschwitzDutchdesigner of the Tuschinski Theatergas chamber at Auschwitz
Max Jacob1876–1944Frenchartistpneumonia at Drancy
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner1880–1938 DavosGermanpaintersuicide due to persecution
Julius Klinger1876–1942Austrianartist/designer-
Elfriede Lohse-Wächtler1899–1940GermanpainterAktion T4 victim at Sonnenstein Euthanasia Centre
Samuel J. de Mesquita1868–1944Dutchpainter and designergas chamber at Auschwitz
Felix Nussbaum1904–1944Austrianpaintergas chamber at Auschwitz
Karl Pärsimägi1902–1942EstonianpainterAuschwitz
Charlotte Salomon1917–1943Germanpaintergas chamber at Auschwitz
Jan Rubczak1884–1942Polishpainter, graphic artistgas chamber at Auschwitz

Music

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Pavel Haas1899–1944Czechcomposergas chamber at Auschwitz
Heinz Alt1922–1945GermancomposerDachau
Ernst Bachrich1892–1942AustriancomposerMajdanek/Lublin concentration camp
Al Bowlly1898-1941South African/Britishvocalistkilled by a Luftwaffe parachute mine in London
Žiga Hirschler1894–1941CroatiancomposerJasenovac concentration camp
Rudolf Karel1880–1945Czechcomposerdysentery at Theresienstadt
Gideon Klein1919–1945Czechcomposerkilled during liquidation of Fürstengrube, a sub-camp of Auschwitz
Hans Krása1899–1944,Czech composergas chamber at Auschwitz
Mario Finzi1913–1945Italianpianistintestinal infection at Auschwitz shortly after liberation
Leon Jessel1871–1942, BerlinGermancomposertorture by Gestapo
Erwin Schulhoff1894–1942Czechcomposer, jazz pianisttuberculosis at Wülzburg concentration camp
Viktor Ullmann1898–1944Czechcomposer, pianistgas chamber at Auschwitz
Karlrobert Kreiten1916–1943Germanpianisthanged at Plötzensee Prison
Alma Rosé1906–1944Austrianviolinist, conductorpossibly poisoning, at Auschwitz
Józef Koffler1896–1944, KrosnoPolishcomposer, teacher, columnistprobably shot by Einsatzgruppen
Leo Smit1900–1943Dutchcomposergas chamber at Sobibór
Marcel Tyberg1893–1944Austriancomposer, pianist, conductorgas chamber at Auschwitz
Leone Sinigaglia1868–1944Italiancomposersuffered a fatal heart attack at the moment of his arrest
Gershon Sirota1874–1943Polishcantor, tenorkilled in Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Ilse Weber1903–1944Czechcomposer, playwrightgas chamber at Auschwitz

Humanities

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Mildred Harnack1902–1943Americanliterary historian, translator, resistance fighterbeheaded at Plötzensee Prison
Elise Richter1865–1943AustrianRomance philology professor-
Simon Dubnow1860–1941Belarusianhistorian, writer, activistkilled at the Riga ghetto during the Rumbula massacre
Norbert Jokl1877–1942, Roßau CzechAlbanologist-
Marc Bloch1886–1944Frenchhistorian, resistance leadertortured and shot by Gestapo at Saint-Didier-de-Formans
Valentin Feldman1909–1942Frenchphilosopher, resistance leaderexecuted by firing squad
Jean Gosset1912–1944Frenchjournalist, resistance fighterdied in Neuengamme concentration camp
Georges Politzer1902–1942Frenchphilosopher, resistance leaderexecuted by firing squad
Boris Vildé1908–1942Frenchethnographer, resistance fighterexecuted by firing squad
Avgust Pirjevec1887–1944Slovenianliterary historian-
Walter Benjamin1892–1940Germanphilosophersuicide at Portbou to avoid deportation
Friedrich Münzer1868–1942, TheresienstadtGermanclassical scholar-

Mathematics

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Georg Alexander Pick1859–1942AustrianPick's theoremTheresienstadt
Jean Cavaillès1903–1944Frenchphilosopher of science, resistance leaderexecuted by firing squad
Albert Lautman1908–1944Frenchmathematical philosopher, resistance leaderexecuted by firing squad
Otto Blumenthal1876–1944GermanWork in number theory, editor of Mathematische AnnalenTheresienstadt
Felix Hausdorff1868–1942GermanOne of the founders of modern topology and contributed significantly to set theory, descriptive set theory, measure theory, function theory, and functional analysis.suicide, Bonn
Friedrich Hartogs1874–1943GermanFoundational work in several complex variablessuicide, :de:Großhesselohe|Großhesselohe
Robert Remak1888–1942GermanWork in group theory, number theory, mathematical economicsAuschwitz
Adolf Lindenbaum1904–1941PolishWork in set theoryGhetto Vilnius
Antoni Łomnicki1881–1941PolishPolish mathematicianMassacre of Lwów
Stanisław Ruziewicz1889–1941PolishRuziewicz problemMassacre of Lwów
Stanisław Saks1897–1942PolishWork in measure theorymurdered in prison by the Gestapo, Warsaw
Juliusz Schauder1899–1943PolishSchauder fixed point theorem, Schauder basisexecuted by the Gestapo, Lviv
Włodzimierz Stożek1883–1941PolishPolish mathematicianMassacre of Lwów
Alfred Tauber1866–1942SlovakTauberian theoremsTheresienstadt

Natural sciences

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Ernst Cohen1869–1944Dutchchemist, work on the allotropy of metalsgas chamber at Auschwitz

Medicine and psychology

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński1874–1941Polishpaediatrician, poet, translatorMassacre of Lwów
Antoni Cieszyński1882–1941Polishphysician, dentist, surgeonMassacre of Lwów
Władysław Dobrzaniecki1897–1941Polishphysician, surgeonMassacre of Lwów
Gisela Januszewska1867–1943AustrianphysicianTheresienstadt
Janusz Korczak1878–1942Polishpediatrician, educator, child welfareTreblinka
Adolf Reichwein1898–1944Germandoctor, educator, politicianexecuted, Berlin-Plötzensee
Sabina Spielrein1885–1942Russianphysician, psychiatrist, psychoanalystMassacre of Zmievskaya Balka
Elisabeth von Thadden1890–1944,Germaneducatorexecuted, Berlin-Plötzensee
Martha Goldberg1873–1938Germansocial activist, doctor's assistantKristallnacht

Law, business

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Klaus Bonhoeffer1901–1945Germanjurist, resistance fighterexecuted, Berlin
Betsie ten Boom1885–1944 RavensbrückDutchbook keeperPernicious anemia
Casper ten Boom1859–1944 Scheveningen PrisonDutchwatchmakertuberculosis, mistreatment
Hans von Dohnányi1902–1945Germanjurist, resistance fighterexecuted, Sachsenhausen
Reinhold Frank1896–1945 Berlin-PlötzenseeGermanlawyer, member of July 20 Plotexecuted
Martin Gauger1905–1941, NS-Tötungsanstalt SonnensteinGermanjurist, pacifist, member of the Kreisau Circle-
Maurice Halbwachs1877–1945Frenchsociologist, economist, philosopher, developer of collective memoryBuchenwald
Franz Kaufmann1886–1944GermanjuristSachsenhausen
Wilhelm Mautner1889–1944AustrianeconomistAuschwitz concentration camp
Helmuth James Graf von Moltke1907–1945Germanjurist, founder of the Kreisau Circleexecuted, Berlin-Plötzensee
Alfred Müller1888 – 1945, DachauCroatianentrepreneur-
Leo Müller1894 – 1941, JasenovacCroatianentrepreneur-
Karl Sack1896–1945Germanjurist, member of the July 20 plotexecuted, Flossenbürg
Rüdiger Schleicher1895–1945Germanresistance fighterexecuted, Berlin
Armin Schreiner1874–1941CroatianindustrialistJasenovac
Kazimierz Prószyński1875–1945PolishinventorMauthausen
Elisabeth de Rothschild1902–1945Frenchwife of Baron Philippe de RothschildRavensbrück
Ludwik Maurycy Landau1902–1944Polisheconomistexecuted, Warsaw

Theology, spirituality, religion

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Kaj Munk1898–1944Danishtheologian, playwrightmurdered by an SS-Sonderkommando, Hørbylunde/Denmark
Dietrich Bonhoeffer1906–1945, FlossenbürgGermanLutheran pastor, theologianHanged with thin wire
Regina Jonas1902–1944, AuschwitzGermanwoman Rabbi-
Jochen Klepper1903–1942Germantheologian, journalistsuicide shortly before deportation, Berlin
Friedrich Lorenz1897–1944Germanpriest, member of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculateexecuted, Halle an der Saale
Paul Schneider1897–1939, BuchenwaldGermanclergymanlethal injection
Edith Stein1891–1942, AuschwitzGermanCarmelite nun, Ph.D. in Philosophy, Catholic saint gas chamber
Sándor Büchler1869–1944, AuschwitzHungarianrabbi, historian-
Giovanni Fornasini1915-1944, MarzabottoItalianparish priest, MOVM, Servant of Godshot by a member of the Waffen SS
Avraham Yitzchak Bloch1891–1941LithuanianChief Rabbi, rosh yeshiva of the Telz Yeshivamurdered in a massacre of the male population of Telz
Elchonon Wasserman1875–1941, KovnoLithuanianrabbi, rosh yeshiva-
Riccardo Pacifici1904-1943Italianrabbigas chamber at Auschwitz
Azriel Rabinowitz1905–1941Lithuanianrabbi, rosh yeshiva at the Telz Yeshivamurdered in a massacre of the male population of Telz
Maximilian Kolbe1894–1941, AuschwitzPolishfriar, Catholic saintlethal injection after voluntarily taking place of another prisoner
Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski1913–1945, DachauPolishpriest-
Karl Ernst Krafft1900–1945, during transport to BuchenwaldSwissastrologer, occultist-
Kalonymus Kalman Shapira1889–1943, Aktion ErntefestPolishRabbi-
Menachem Ziemba1883–1943, The Warsaw Ghetto UprisingPolishRabbi-
Maria Skobtsova1891–1945, Ravensbrück concentration campRussianRussian Orthodox nun, saintgas chamber

Sport

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Eddy Hamel1902–1943, AuschwitzAmericanfootball player, AFC Ajax-
Otto Herschmann1877–1942, Izbica concentration campAustrianfencer & swimmer; 2-time Olympic silver medalist-
Heinrich Wolf1875–1943, ViennaAustrianchess player-
Vera Menchik1906–1944British-Czechchess player; world championkilled in a V-1 rocket bombing raid in South London
Karel Treybal1885–1941Czechchess player; chess Olympianexecuted, Prague
Estella Agsteribbe1909–1943, AuschwitzDutchgymnast ; Olympic gold medalist-
Gerrit Kleerekoper1897–1943, SobibórDutchcoach Dutch gymnastics team 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games-
Salo Landau1903–1944, Gräditz concentration campDutchchess player-
Helena Nordheim1903–1943, SobibórDutchgymnast ; Olympic gold medalist-
Ans Polak1906–1943, SobibórDutchgymnast ; Olympic gold medalist-
Jud Simons1904–1943, SobibórDutchgymnast ; Olympic gold medalist-
Alfred Flatow1869–1942, TheresienstadtGermangymnast; 3-time Olympic gold medalist & 1-time silver medalist-
Gustav Flatow1875–1945, TheresienstadtGermangymnast; 2-time Olympic gold medalist-
Lilli Henoch1899–1942, Riga GhettoGerman4 world records, 10 German national championships-
Werner Seelenbinder1904–1944Germanwrestler; Olympianexecuted, Brandenburg an der Havel
Johann Trollmann1907–1943, NeuengammeGermanboxer; German national champion-
János Garay 1889–1945, MauthausenHungarianfencer; Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalist-
Oszkár Gerde1883–1944, MauthausenHungarianfencer; 2-time Olympic gold medalist-
Attila Petschauer1904–1943, Davidovka concentration campHungarianfencer; 2-time Olympic gold medalist & 1-time silver medalist-
András Székely1909–1943,Hungarianswimmer, Olympic silver and bronze -
Bronisław Czech1908–1944, AuschwitzPolishskier: Olympian-
Roman Kantor1912–1943, Majdanek concentration campPolishfencer; Olympian-
Józef Klotz1900–1941PolishPolish national soccer team-
Janusz Kusociński1907–1940Polishathlete;1932 Los Angeles men's athletics gold medalistexecuted in Palmiry
Dawid Przepiórka1880–1940Polishchess player; chess Olympianexecuted, Warsaw
Leon Sperling1900–1941, Lemberg GhettoPolishleft wing on national soccer team-
Ilja Szrajbman1907–1943, Majdanek concentration campPolishswimmer, Olympic 4×200-m freestyle relay-
Victor Perez1911–1945, AuschwitzTunisianboxer; world flyweight champion-
Ernest Toussaint1908–1942, Hinzert concentration campLuxembourgianboxer-

Politics, resistance

Military

NameLifespanNationalityAchievementsCause of death
Charles Delestraint1879–1945Frenchgeneral, resistance leaderassassinated in Dachau concentration camp
Ludwig Beck1880–1944, BerlinGermanGeneral, Putschistexecuted
Wilhelm Canaris1887–1945, FlossenbürgGermanmilitary information serviceexecuted
Erich Fellgiebel1886–1944, Berlin-PlötzenseeGermanofficer and resistance fighter in the Third Reichexecuted
Werner von Haeften1908–1944, BerlinGermanjurist, adjutant of Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenbergexecuted
Erich Hoepner1886–1944, Berlin-PlötzenseeGermandemoted Colonel General, member of Military opposition
about Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg		executed
Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim1905–1944, BerlinGermanColonel, Putschistexecuted
Friedrich Olbricht1888–1944, BerlinGermanGeneral, Putschistexecuted
Hans Oster1887–1945, FlossenbürgGermanChief of staffexecuted
Erwin Rommel1891–1944GermanArmy, Field Marshalforced suicide
Harro Schulze-Boysen1909–1942, Berlin-PlötzenseeGermanofficer, publicistexecuted
Claus von Stauffenberg1907–1944, BerlinGermanChief of staff of General Army Office, Putschistexecuted
Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel1886–1944, Berlin-PlötzenseeGermanmilitary commander in occupied Franceexecuted
Henning von Tresckow1901–1944, near Ostrov, RussiaGermanMajor General, Putschistsuicide
Erwin von Witzleben1881–1944, Berlin-PlötzenseeGermanretired Field Marshalexecuted
Dimitri Zouralisd. 1941GreekArmy, Commanderexecuted
Maurizio Giglio1920-1944, RomeItaliansoldier, policeman, secret agent, MOVMshot, one of the victims of the Ardeatine massacre
Dmitry Karbyshev1880–1945, MauthausenRussianArmy, engineer commanderexecuted
Rudolf Viest1890–1945, FlossenbürgSlovakDivision General, commander of the Slovak National Uprisingexecuted
Ján Golian1906–1945, FlossenbürgSlovakBrigadier General, commander of the Slovak National Uprisingexecuted