Personal Archive of Dr. Heinz E. Samson

Dr. Heinz Ewald Samson was born on September 20, 1920 in Norden, East Frisia, Lower Saxony, Germany. His parents, Heinrich and Paula Samson, were owners of a large seed business in the city of Norden.

Following the enactment of the Nuremberg Race Laws in 1935, Heinz was expelled from school at the age of 15 and thereby prevented from completing his studies.

The family business was expropriated and Heinz's father was arrested and imprisoned on several occasions. In 1939, after threats from the Gestapo, Heinz left his family home in Norden with only ten Reichsmarks in his pocket. He made his way to England, where he waited for his family to join him. Tragically, Heinz's sister Gerda was deported to Auschwitz on October 24, 1942 and his parents were deported to Minsk on November 10, 1942, never to return.

After settling in London, Heinz studied tool making at Vickers Armstrong. Later he became a member of the Royal Air Force and took part in the Battle of England.

After the end of World War II he worked as a toolmaker. In 1950 he founded his own company, H.E. Samson Ltd. After initial difficulties, he managed to build up a large steelworks in London followed by companies in Birmingham, Sheffield, Swansea and Dublin (Ireland).

Due to illness, Dr. Heinz E. Samson had to sell his company in 1988. He and his wife Editha moved to Switzerland.

The couple engaged in social, cultural and charity activities. The Jerusalem College of Technology and a wing of the Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem are among the most outstanding projects Dr. Heinz E. Samson helped funding. He has also been a benefactor of Yad Vashem, the World Center for Holocaust Research, Documentation, Education and Commemoration.

Dr. Heinz E. Samson died on September 3, 2009 in Switzerland.