On January 30, 1933 German President Paul von Hindenburg reluctantly named Adolf Hitler to the post of Chancellor of Germany. Not even 2 months later one of the most impactful actions to destroy the rule of law was taken: Jewish judges, prosecutors and lawyers were disbarred and denied access to the courts. Individual rights and the supremacy of the law began to disappear and the distinction between Jews and non-jews was made for all aspects of social and professional life. Even today ,it is not understood why other lawyers tolerated this early action. Given that most records were destroyed, all we have is the stories of those who survived.
The German American Heritage Museum of the USA™ is honored to present the exhibit, ” Lawyers without Rights”, a collaboration of the American German Bar Association and the German Federal Bar (Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer). The exhibit honors the lives of some of the affected lawyers, many of whom came to the United States and lead exemplary lives, like our own 1998 Distinguished German-American of the Year, Dr. Otto L. Walter, who dedicated his life to fight for reconciliation. Others took active interest in public service and some even returned to Germany to influence change. Their lives are remembered through the exhibit, and through them, the lives of all victims of the Nazi period.
Join us at GAHMUSA in learning more about this important story and the relevance it has for our country.
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