Petr Ginz

Infobox Person
name = Petr Ginz


image_size = 150px
caption = Petr Ginz
birth_date = birth date|1928|2|1
birth_place = Prague, Czechoslovakia
death_date = death date and age|1944|28|9|1928|1|2
death_place = Auschwitz Birkenau
other_names =
known_for =
occupation =

Petr Ginz (February 1 1928–1944) was a young Czechoslovak boy of Jewish descent who was deported to the Terezín concentration camp during the Holocaust. At age fifteen, Ginz was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he died in a gas chamber.

Life

Petr was born into the family of Ota Ginz, a Jewish clerk from Prague and significant Esperantist, and Marie Ginz (born Dolanská) [http://www.holocaust.cz/cz2/history/people/ginz Petr Ginz's story] ] . His parents met each other at an Esperantist congress. Petr was a very intelligent boy; at age 12 he wrote his first novel, "Návštěva z pravěku" ( _en. Visit from Prehistory), written in the Jules Verne style [http://www.reflex.cz/Clanek12766.html Reflex about Ginz] ] . He also illustrated it with his own paintings. He was interested in the sciences and yearned for knowledge. Because of his parents' interest in Esperanto, Petr became a native speaker of the language.

According to the anti-Jewish laws of the Third Reich, children from mixed marriages were to be deported to a concentration camp at the age of 14. Young Petr was transported to the Terezín concentration camp in 1942. His efforts in sciences and thirst for knowledge remained and he tried to study even in the concentration camp. He was placed in the "Domov č.1" (Home No.1, building L417). He became one of the most significant people of the community.Fact|date=November 2007 He established and prepared for publication the periodical magazine "Vedem". He also wrote an Esperanto-Czech dictionary.

From the texts that remained, and from the testimonials of friends who survived, emerges the great breadth of his interests, abilities and character. He was interested in literature, history, paintings, geography, sociology and also in the technical fields. The magazine "Vedem" was published every Friday for a whole two years.

Petr Ginz was assigned to one of the last transports to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he died in a gas chamber.

Vedem

The magazine was founded shortly after his arrival to Terezín in 1942. Besides Ginz, several other boys from the "Domov č.1." also contributed. Petr Ginz became a chief editor and he contributed under the code name "nz" or "Akademie" (Academy). Petr gave most of his writings and paintings to his sister before his transport, so a majority are preserved today. His sister was deported to Terezín in 1944; she survived until the liberation.

Diary

Before his transport Petr wrote a diary between 1931 and 1942 about his life. This diary was lost for a long time but when found was published by his sister Eva (now Chava Pressburger) as "Diary of my brother". The diary was published in Spanish, Catalan and Esperanto, as well as the original Czech. It was published in English in April 2007. It was reviewed in "The New York Times" on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 by Ashley Parker.

Drawing

A copy of a drawing by Petr of the planet Earth as seen from the moon was taken by Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon onto the Space Shuttle "Columbia", which disintegrated upon its reentry into the Earth's atmosphere [ [http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/02/01/shuttle.columbia/ Colombia tragedy] ] .

Petr Ginz's drawing and its fateful history have inspired other pieces of art. One example is [http://www.rp-f.com/see.php?
] .

The asteroid 50413 Petrginz was named in his honor.

References

External links

* [http://www.delbarrio.eu/2007/02/diary-of-petr-ginz-will-soon-be.html Petr Ginz]
* [http://www.science.co.il/Ilan-Ramon/Moon-Landscape.asp The drawing]
* [http://www1.yadvashem.org/exhibitions/temporary_exhibitions/childsplay/temp_index_no_childsplay_peter_ginz.html Yad Vashem Museum]