Hubert Pollack

Hubert Isaac Pollack (1903 - 1967) is a Jewish person, who held various positions in the Jewish Community. Studied at the University of Berlin where he earned a PhD in economics and philosophy. His clandestine activity prior to the Holocaust enabled him and his associated to save a large number of Jews. After his immigration to Eretz Israel he served in the Hagana and the Israeli Defense Forces.

Portrait of Hubert Pollack

Biography
Pollack - ID with Gestapo Stamp

Pollack was born in Berlin to Wilhelm and Johanna. He studied at the University of Berlin between the years 1921 - 1927 where he earned a PhD in economics and philosophy. During the years 1923 - 1929 he worked at the offices of Keren Hayesod - The United Israel Appeal in the state of Rhineland Westphalia-Bonn. During the years 1930 - 1933 he managed the office of statistics of the Jewish Community of Berlin. Between the years 1933 - 1939 was a consultant with the Palestine office of the community in Berlin. During those years he worked with Capt. Francis Frank Foley, a British Intelligence officer positioned in Berlin and whose cover title was the director of the visa office at the British Embassy. Together with Capt. Foley and Wilfrid Israel, who was his manager at the "Jewish Assistance Company" (Hilfsverein), they created an organization which operated in total secrecy and was under imminent threat. There was a clear designation of responsibilities: Wilfrid received requests from Jews, made lists of the names, raised the required funds and transferred them to Pollack. Pollack created contacts with Gestapo officers and gave them the names he received from Wilfrid, together with the bribes. Foley supplied the exit visas, prioritizing Jews who already blacklisted by the Gestapo. The story of this organization is related in the film The Essential Link: The Story of Wilfrid Israel [1][2]

In August 1939, in the last minute, aided by Capt. Foley he left Berlin with his family and made his way to Palestine.

Based on Pollack's testimony, parts of which were given during the Eichmann trial in 1961, Yad VaShem awarded Capt. Foley the title of Righteous Among the Nations[3]. For details regarding their mutual operations see the book "Foley: The Spy Who Saved 10,000 Jews" by Michael Smith. Pollack raised donations from survivors and former Berliners to commemorate Francis Foley by planting a tree in his name in an Jewish National Fund (KKL) forest near the entrance to Kibbutz Har'el on the way to Jerusalem. Dr. Pollack served in the Hagana while working for the British Mandate government. He fought during the siege on Jerusalem and continued as a research officer with the Israeli Intelligence Corps until he retired. Pollack died a week after the Six Day War (1967), not knowing that Capt. Foley would be honored by the Jewish people, as he deserved to be.

References
  1. Smith, Michael (1999) Foley: The spy who saved 10,000 Jews. London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-76603-4.
  2. Wilfrid Israel, German Jewry's Secret Ambassador by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, in 1984
  3. Hubert Pollack: captain Foley and other reports, The Wiener Library p.ii.a no. 492 02/34c, London, 1944
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