Hannah Steiner

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Hannah Steiner (27 April 1894–1944) was a Czech social worker, and co-founder and first president of the Czech branch of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO).

Hannah Steiner
Born27 April 1894
Died1944 (aged 49–50)
OccupationSocial worker
Known forCzech kindertransport

Early life and education

Hannah Steiner (née Dub), was born on 27 April 1894, in Česká Lípa.[1] For three years, as a teenager, she studied in London.[1][2] There, she joined the Zionist movement, before returning to the Czech lands via Palestine.[1][2]

In 1920 she married Ludwig Steiner, a secondary school teacher, and they lived in Prague.[2] She subsequently led the transformation of the Zionist Women’s and Girls’ Club to co-found Czechoslovakia's branch of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) in 1925, and became its first president.[2][3] Her work with the Czech branch of WIZO earned her membership to the World WIZO organization.[1] Her work then chiefly concentrated on education and vocational training.[1] She also edited the periodical that she established, titled Blätter der Jüdischen Frau.[1]

Later life

Steiner's role increasingly focussed on German refugees following Hitler's rise to power.[1] Along with Marie Schmolka, she led programmes in refugee relief.[1]

In December 1938, along with Schmolka and Martin Blake, she asked Nicholas Winton to hold off his skiing holiday in the Alps and visit Prague instead.[4]

Arrest and death

Steiner was arrested by the Gestapo, released, and later sent to Theresienstadt Ghetto, along with her husband.[5] They were subsequently sent to Auschwitz where they were killed in the gas chambers.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Brade, Laura E. (2017). Networks of escape: Jewish flight from the Bohemian lands, 1938-1941. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina. pp. 85–86. A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of History.
  2. ^ a b c d "Steiner, Hannah | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ Summers, Dr Anne (6 March 2020). "The Women's International Zionist Federation feminists who fought for equality". www.thejc.com. The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  4. ^ Brade, Laura E.; Holmes, Rose (2017). "Troublesome Sainthood: Nicholas Winton and the Contested History of Child Rescue in Prague, 1938–1940". History and Memory. 29 (1): 3–40. doi:10.2979/histmemo.29.1.0003. ISSN 0935-560X. JSTOR 10.2979/histmemo.29.1.0003. S2CID 159631013.
  5. ^ a b "Yom Hashoa: Remembering Hannah Steiner – A Woman of Great WIZO Spirit". www.wizo.org. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.