Landshut, Heinrich

Heinrich, son of Berta and Avraham-Aharon Landshut, was born on November 1, 1885 in the city of Soldeu, Germany, and finished the university in Kiel, Germany. By profession he was a chemist. He owned pharmacies in Strasbourg (Alsace, then under German rule) and Frankfurt on the River Main. Heinrich immigrated to Israel in August 1933 and settled in Jerusalem, where he opened the Alba pharmacy and later became the manager of the drug factory Ara. From 1936 he was a member of the Hagana and participated as an officer in all the exercises and maneuvers. He was courageous, fearless, ready at all times to sacrifice his life for the protection of the land. With the outbreak of the War of Independence, at the age of 63, he took his place as an officer in the defense of Jerusalem. At the request of his family and friends to consider his age, he replied: “It is more appropriate to endanger the lives of the elderly than the lives of the young people, who are given the task of building our country after the war.” He was shot down by enemy snipers at Mekor Chaim, Jerusalem, on the eve of Succot, October 17, 1948. He was buried in Sheikh Bader Aleph. He left a wife and two daughters. On the 17th of Elul 5706 (August 30, 1950) he was transferred to eternal rest in the military cemetery at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.