Born: 1877 (Berlin, Germany)
Died: 1943 (Westerbork Transit Camp, Netherlands)
Biography:
Margarete Hedwig Zuelzer (2 February 1877 – 29 August 1943) was a German biologist and zoologist specializing in the study of protozoa. She was born in Berlin to Julius Zuelzer, a Jewish textile manufacturer, and Henriette Friedlaender. Zuelzer was part of the first generation of women to officially attend university in Germany, where she studied natural sciences at the Humboldt University of Berlin and later at the University of Heidelberg.
Studying science as a woman during that time was highly unusual, and Zuelzer faced numerous challenges. She had to obtain special permission from each of her professors to attend their classes. Despite this, she remained determined and earned her doctorate in 1904. Her dissertation focused on Difflugia urceolata Carter, a type of protozoa. This achievement made her the 37th woman to earn a doctorate at the University of Heidelberg and the sixth to earn one from its faculty of natural sciences.
In 1907, Zuelzer became an assistant at the water treatment center in Berlin. Later, in 1916, she joined the Imperial Ministry of Health (Kaiserliches Gesundheitsamt), which eventually became the Reich’s Ministry of Health (Reichsgesundheitsamt). Her work within the ministry allowed her to contribute significantly to the field of protozoology.
After 1919, Zuelzer was appointed as the head of the Protozoa Laboratory in Berlin-Dahlem. She consistently served as one of the few women on the advisory board and sometimes the only woman. Her contributions to the field of protozoology were highly regarded, and she gained recognition for her expertise.
In an interesting turn of events, from 1926 to 1929, Zuelzer was invited by the Dutch government to conduct a research study on Weil’s disease in the Dutch Indies, specifically in Bali, Sumatra, and Java. It was during this time that she became friends with German-Dutch biologist Wilhelm Schüffner, who would later play a crucial role in her life.
However, the rise of Nazi Germany and its discriminatory policies had a significant impact on Zuelzer’s career. In April 1933, due to the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, which allowed the dismissal of civil servants of non-Aryan descent, Zuelzer lost her position at the Protozoa Laboratory. She attempted to appeal by demonstrating her ancestors’ support of German nationalism, but her efforts were in vain.
In October 1939, Zuelzer was forced to immigrate to the Netherlands, where she found a position at the Institute for Tropical Hygiene, led by her friend Wilhelm Schüffner. The institute provided her with a new opportunity to continue her research and contribute to the field she loved.
During this time, Zuelzer’s sister Gertrud, a renowned painter, faced her own struggles. Gertrud was arrested in September 1942 while attempting to flee from Germany to Switzerland. She was sent to Theresienstadt. Margarete supported her sister by sending packages of clothing and colored pencils, which Gertrud used to draw portraits of other prisoners in exchange for food. These packages became a lifeline for Gertrud, helping her survive the harsh conditions of the camp.
Sadly, Margarete’s situation worsened. In April 1943, she was forced to move into a Jewish ghetto in Amsterdam. Eventually, on 21 May, she was sent to the Westerbork Transit Camp. Before her deportation, Wilhelm Schüffner tried in vain to secure a special position for her. However, Margarete’s fate was sealed.
Margarete Zuelzer died of starvation in the Westerbork Transit Camp on 23 August 1943, at the age of 66. Her dedication and passion for science, despite the obstacles she faced, left a lasting impact on the field of protozoology. Her tragic story serves as a reminder of the profound injustice and devastation caused by the Holocaust.