Stonewall News Northwest: A Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin

I just read the most incredible book EVER! It is a quick read and you can order it from Aunties Book Store here in Spokane!

Beck lived through horrors of Nazi persecution of Jews and survived. It is truly amazing that any Jew survived during this time but to be a openly gay Jew in addition is truly amazing. Throughout the entire memoir, Beck meets every situation with daring, ingenuity and a refined sense of humor. The story of this inspiring person is one of tragedy, adversity, love and even joy at the prospects of living for just one more day.

Because Gad was one third Christian, by the legal definition of race as created by the Nazi’s, he was considered of mixed race or "mischling" and was not deported with the first full blooded Jews. Beck remained in Berlin and became a leader in the Chug Chaluzi, a youth oriented resistance group. Through his activities within the Chug, Beck was able to assist Jews to live illegally in Berlin and also began an underground railroad to help Jews escape to Switzerland. “As a homosexual, I was able to turn my trusted non-Jewish, homosexual acquaintances to help supply food and hiding places.” Gad Beck.

Beck assisted in organizing the emigration of Jewish survivors to Palestine after the war. In 1947 he joined his family in Palestine and after a period of 15 years of settled stability, Beck returned to Berlin. In the 1960s Beck founded the German-Israeli Student Association (BDIS) and was a highly demanded public speaker. In 1976, Beck met Julius Laufer who remained his lifelong companion.

Beck experienced moments in his life where he was forced to completely redefine himself and re-engineer his underground and illegal activities in order to adjust to the changing realities of Jewish persecution. Beck was a resilient leader who never despaired in the face of adversity; he met challenges head on and persevered during the most heinous of atrocities in human history.

The most significant turning point that Beck underwent was after an entire family was called up on “the list”. This family was dear to the Beck’s and had been personal friends for many years. Their son, Manfred, was one of Beck’s most cherished lovers and was also a grade school classmate. “The list” was a register of up to one thousand Jews who were required to appear at a local school (Beck’s former grade school). The Jews on “the list” were told that they were being deported to work on munitions at a Nazi factory. Not until later did Beck and the Jews remaining in Berlin learn that these Jews were sent to their deaths at concentration camps.

For the resue mission, Beck disguised himself by dressing in a Nazi uniform. He walked into the school and demanded that the Jew “Manfred” be released. The Nazi supervisor of the detainment center allowed Manfred to be taken into custody by Beck.

“I walked out of my old school building onto the street. The buildings were familiar, the sidewalk, the streetlamps. I was back in my world, with my Manfred next to me. I was filled with such a combination of triumph and security as we walked down the street together, past the former Old Age Home, past the entrance to the cemetery, with its couple of trees. Only a few minutes. I beamed at him, held out a twenty-mark bill – quite a bit for those times – and said quietly, ‘Here’s some money. Now go to my uncle in Teltow like we discussed and wait for me. I’ll come as soon as I can.’

“He stood there, took the twenty marks, and looked at me. “Gad, I can’t go with you. My family needs me. If I abandon them now, I could never be free.” No smile, no sadness. He had made his decision. We didn’t even say goodbye. He turned around and went back.

In those seconds, watching him go, I grew up.”

Gad never saw Manfred again and never overcame the loss of his first true love.

His attraction to men allowed him to use sex as a tool to achieve some of his goals, from getting food and supplies to facilitating the evacuation of Jews to Switzerland. The escapades were mutually beneficial and Beck seemed to enjoy being creative in achieving his goals.

In the most harsh of circumstances Beck still maintained a positive attitude and dealt with these situations with humor. In one case, an Italian refugee caught his eye as he was working at clearing rubble as a slave laborer for the Reich.

“For an Italian he was unusually tall and thin, with black curly hair, fiery eyes, and soft lips that turned up at the corners happily. Even back then that was an important detail for me. I keep away from people with turned-down mouths. Much too much trouble to get them turned up.”

This Italian became the object of his desire and served as a distraction from the slave conditions. Even in the midst of the labor camp Beck treated this situation with humor as well;