Born: 1892
Died: 1944 (Auschwitz, Poland)
Biography:
Gisi Fleischmann (Slovak: Gizela Fleischmannová; 21 January 1892 – 18 October 1944) was a Zionist activist and the leader of the Bratislava Working Group, one of the best-known Jewish rescue groups during the Holocaust.
Fleischmann worked for various Jewish organizations and made significant contributions to the Zionist movement in Slovakia. She founded the Slovakia chapter of the Women’s International Zionist Organization and served on the executive committee of Histadrut in Slovakia. Additionally, she represented the Joint Distribution Committee.
Tragedy struck Fleischmann’s life on 4 September 1939 when her brother, Gustav Fischer, a lawyer, was brutally beaten to death in Bratislava. Shortly after his murder, Gustav’s wife, Lili, took her own life. These personal losses only strengthened Fleischmann’s determination to fight against the injustices faced by Jews under Nazi occupation.
During the Holocaust, Fleischmann played a pivotal role as the leader of the Bratislava Working Group, an underground organization dedicated to rescuing Jews from deportation and extermination. One of the group’s most ambitious initiatives was the Europa Plan, which aimed to negotiate the release of large numbers of European Jews from Nazi captivity. In late 1942, Fleischmann and the Working Group reached an agreement with the Nazis, requiring a substantial ransom of one to two million dollars to halt most transports. However, a 10% down payment was demanded by the Germans, which proved to be a significant obstacle.
Fleischmann went to Hungary on several occasions to meet with Jewish leaders in hopes of raising the funds needed to save lives. She also sought support from Saly Mayer, the Swiss representative of the JOINT (Joint Distribution Committee), and Hechalutz representatives. Unfortunately, their efforts fell through, and the down payment was never made. Some speculate that Heinrich Himmler’s intervention in August 1943 played a role in the plan’s failure.
Despite the setback, the Bratislava Working Group made a substantial contribution to the rescue of Jews. They were instrumental in distributing the Auschwitz Report, written by Slovakian Jews Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler, in the spring of 1944. The report, which detailed the horrors of Auschwitz, reached influential figures like George Mantello in Switzerland, triggering protests and putting pressure on Hungary’s regent, Miklós Horthy, to halt the transports. This ultimately led to the rescue of numerous Hungarian Jews by figures such as Raoul Wallenberg and Carl Lutz.
Tragically, following the Slovak National Uprising of August to October 1944, the Germans invaded Slovakia and deported the remaining Jews. The Bratislava Working Group, unable to negotiate or bribe the German military authorities, could not prevent the massive roundup and deportation. Fleischmann was arrested on 15 October 1944 and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp three days later. There, she was murdered, becoming yet another victim of the Holocaust.
Gisi Fleischmann’s legacy lives on as a symbol of courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to the preservation of Jewish lives during one of history’s darkest times. Her efforts, along with those of the Bratislava Working Group, saved countless lives and played a crucial role in exposing the atrocities of the Holocaust.