Gertrud Lutz

Overview

Gertrud Lutz Fankhauser born Rechthalten, Fribourg, Switzerland March 7, 1911 (d. 1995). Swiss humanitarian. As wife of Swiss consul, she looked after German civilians interned in Palestine, 1939-41. Helped rescue over 60,000 Jews in Hungary, 1942-45; hid 50 in basement, Budapest, 1944-45. Offered postwar children’s aid in Yugoslavia and Finland. Served as first head of UNICEF Poland, 1949-51; UNICEF Brazil, 1951-65; Turkey, 1965-66. Later headed UNICEF Europe and North Africa. Cared for a million children in Biafra War, 1967-68. Awarded Yad Vashem Righteous of the Nations, 1964.

Quotations

“[A]fter the war. . . I wanted to devote all my time and strength towards helping children and mothers.” (Reinhard Freiberg interview, April 24, 1984; photo frodo.at)