Hugo Falkenheim
Encyclopedia
Hugo Falkenheim was a German
Medical Doctor and the last Chairman of the Jewish congregation of Königsberg
.
) and studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg
and Straßburg
. He specialized in pediatrics
and passed his doctorate in 1881. After further studies in Vienna
and Leipzig
he returned to Königsberg in 1882, where he worked at the University's pediatric clinic and habilitated in 1885. In 1885 he became the director of the internist and pediatric sections of St. Elisabeth hospital, a position he held until 1935, and in 1896 Professor for pediatrics at the University of Königsberg.
Falkenheim took an active part in the foundation of a Baby nursery and was awarded the title of a Geheimer Medizinalrat
in 1916. Throughout World War I
he served as a physician and was finally promoted to a Generaloberarzt (Res.) (Physician-General of the Reserve) in 1922.
In 1921 he became the director of the pediatric section of the university hospital. Falkenheim retired in 1926.
Falkenheim was also active in the Jewish congregation of Königsberg and the founder of the local section of the Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens
(Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith) in 1908. In 1928 he became the Chairman of the Jewish congregation of Königsberg and managed to organize the flight of a large number of Jewish Königsbergers. Falkenheim himself emigrated via Spain
and Cuba
to the USA in October 1941 just before the remaining Jews were deported and killed in the Holocaust in June 1942.
Falkenheim was married to Margarethe née Caro and died in Rochester, N.Y. in 1945.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Medical Doctor and the last Chairman of the Jewish congregation of Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
.
Biography
Falkenheim was born in Preußisch Eylau (today Bagrationovsk, RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) and studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
and Straßburg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
. He specialized in pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
and passed his doctorate in 1881. After further studies in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
he returned to Königsberg in 1882, where he worked at the University's pediatric clinic and habilitated in 1885. In 1885 he became the director of the internist and pediatric sections of St. Elisabeth hospital, a position he held until 1935, and in 1896 Professor for pediatrics at the University of Königsberg.
Falkenheim took an active part in the foundation of a Baby nursery and was awarded the title of a Geheimer Medizinalrat
Geheimrat
Geheimrat was the title of the highest advising officials at the Imperial, royal or principal courts of the Holy Roman Empire, who jointly formed the Geheimer Rat reporting to the ruler...
in 1916. Throughout World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served as a physician and was finally promoted to a Generaloberarzt (Res.) (Physician-General of the Reserve) in 1922.
In 1921 he became the director of the pediatric section of the university hospital. Falkenheim retired in 1926.
Falkenheim was also active in the Jewish congregation of Königsberg and the founder of the local section of the Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens
Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens
The Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens was founded by German Jewish intellectuals on 26 March 1893 in Berlin, with the intention of opposing the rise of Anti-Semitism in the German Empire...
(Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith) in 1908. In 1928 he became the Chairman of the Jewish congregation of Königsberg and managed to organize the flight of a large number of Jewish Königsbergers. Falkenheim himself emigrated via Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to the USA in October 1941 just before the remaining Jews were deported and killed in the Holocaust in June 1942.
Falkenheim was married to Margarethe née Caro and died in Rochester, N.Y. in 1945.