Nico Gunzburg
Encyclopedia
Nico Gunzburg was a Belgian
lawyer and criminologist. In 1885, his parents fled from Latvia
and settled in Antwerp, Belgium
.
. During his time as a student, he started to engage himself for the Flemish movement
and became President of Geen taal, geen vrijheid (E: No language, no freedom) in 1905-1906 and published his first scientific articles in Dutch. In addition he became involved in the Bond der Vlaamsche Rechtsgeleerden (E: League of Flemish lawyers) and the Vlaamsche Rechtskundige Congressen (E: Flemish legal conferences).
and World War II
Nico Gunzburg lectured at the University of Ghent, mainly on criminology
. Politically he was one of the supporters of the dutchification of the University of Ghent. He took the initiative to start a new committee to discuss the matter. The commission started officially in 1919 and defended the bill of 1911 of Franck
-Van Cauwelaert
-Huysmans
which, after many years of transitional measures, aimed at the usage of a single language (Dutch) for education in Flanders
.
In 1927, he was the first Belgian to publish a handbook on marital law in Dutch. For several years, he was a member of the commission to create a Dutch version of the Belgian constitution and other laws and legal decisions.
"The library of Niko Gunzburg [sic] (1882-1984) of history, law and Jewish culture, were confiscated by the ERR
in January 1941, and shipped to Berlin in February 1941 in ten crates. Niko Gunzburg was a noted professor of law at the University of Ghent, was a leading member of the Jewish community, a prominent Mason
, and he was also a protest-activist against National Socialism in Belgium. Of his large library, only 200 books were returned after the war."
During World War II, he stayed in the United States
where, among other things, he lectured a Syracuse University
. At the request of president Franklin D. Roosevelt
he contributed to the preparation of the Nuremberg Trials
, in which the German war criminals were tried. After the war he stayed America for a while, where he worked within the framework of the United Nations
organization for the displaced people, and prisoners from the concentration camps, afterwards to return to Belgium.
He continued to lecture in Ghent
until 1952, but afterwards he contributed to the newly independent Indonesia
. He taught criminology, cooperated on the reform of the Indonesian police force, became an adviser to the prime minister and also became befriended with president Sukarno
. In 1956, Gunzburg returned to Antwerp where he remained active as a lawyer and as President of Jewish charities.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
lawyer and criminologist. In 1885, his parents fled from Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and settled in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Education
Nico Gunzburg attended high school at the Royal Athenaeum of Antwerp. He went on to study law at the Universite Libre de BruxellesUniversité Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
. During his time as a student, he started to engage himself for the Flemish movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
and became President of Geen taal, geen vrijheid (E: No language, no freedom) in 1905-1906 and published his first scientific articles in Dutch. In addition he became involved in the Bond der Vlaamsche Rechtsgeleerden (E: League of Flemish lawyers) and the Vlaamsche Rechtskundige Congressen (E: Flemish legal conferences).
Career
After he graduated he started working as a lawyer in Antwerp. Between World War IWorld 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Nico Gunzburg lectured at the University of Ghent, mainly on criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
. Politically he was one of the supporters of the dutchification of the University of Ghent. He took the initiative to start a new committee to discuss the matter. The commission started officially in 1919 and defended the bill of 1911 of Franck
Louis Franck
This article is about Louis Franck the lawyer and not about Louis Franck the frontman of Esthetic Education.Louis Marie François Franck was a Belgian lawyer, liberal politician and statesman.-Education:...
-Van Cauwelaert
Frans Van Cauwelaert
Frans van Cauwelaert , was a Belgian Roman Catholic politician and lawyer.Van Cauwelaert was born at Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek...
-Huysmans
Camille Huysmans
Jean Joseph Camille Huysmans was a Belgian politician.Huymans studied German philology at the University of Liège. He was a teacher from 1893 until 1897...
which, after many years of transitional measures, aimed at the usage of a single language (Dutch) for education in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
In 1927, he was the first Belgian to publish a handbook on marital law in Dutch. For several years, he was a member of the commission to create a Dutch version of the Belgian constitution and other laws and legal decisions.
"The library of Niko Gunzburg [sic] (1882-1984) of history, law and Jewish culture, were confiscated by the ERR
Err
Err is the verb form of error or mistake.Err may also refer to:* Err, a character of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force animated comedy* Err, Pyrénées-Orientales, a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France...
in January 1941, and shipped to Berlin in February 1941 in ten crates. Niko Gunzburg was a noted professor of law at the University of Ghent, was a leading member of the Jewish community, a prominent Mason
Mason
Mason may refer to:* Masonry worker, who builds with concrete, brick or stone* Bricklayer, a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork* Mason , a common English surname* Mason , Dutch electronic music duo* Mason , on the Moon...
, and he was also a protest-activist against National Socialism in Belgium. Of his large library, only 200 books were returned after the war."
During World War II, he stayed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where, among other things, he lectured a Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. At the request of president Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
he contributed to the preparation of the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
, in which the German war criminals were tried. After the war he stayed America for a while, where he worked within the framework of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
organization for the displaced people, and prisoners from the concentration camps, afterwards to return to Belgium.
He continued to lecture in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
until 1952, but afterwards he contributed to the newly independent Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. He taught criminology, cooperated on the reform of the Indonesian police force, became an adviser to the prime minister and also became befriended with president Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
. In 1956, Gunzburg returned to Antwerp where he remained active as a lawyer and as President of Jewish charities.