Joachim von Zedtwitz (6 June 1910 – 10 October 2001) was a physician who helped Jews escape Nazis during World War II, for which he received the title Righteous Among the Nations on 14 December 1994.
To make arrangements to have refugees transported to Poland, he worked with Milena Jesenská, teachers from the British Institute in Prague and local guides at Moravská Ostrava.
The refugees travelled to Katowice in Poland where another group of people helped them reach England or France.
[1] He descended from the Zedtwitz family of Germany, who were Bohemian nobility,[2][3] including Count Philipp Ferdinand (1700–1750).
From this effort, he came to know teachers from England—Bill Henson, Mary Johnston, Kenneth Ogier and Harold Stovin—who taught at the British Institute in Prague and volunteered to help Jewish people leave the city.
He spoke perfect German, looked Aryan with blond hair and blue eyes and displayed a swastika sewn into his lapel when he needed to cross borders.
[6] When Germany occupied Poland, Zedtwitz's route was no longer a viable option for leading Jews to their escape.
[5] Zedwitz was arrested on 27 March 1940[5] and was interrogated by the Gestapo, who were concerned with Jesenská and did not seem to know that Zedtwitz had helped Jews.
[9] Zedtwitz was recognized for his anti-Nazi activities by Yad Vashem and was bestowed the title Righteous Among the Nations on 14 December 1994.
[1] Zedtwitz provided information that helped document the request for Righteous Among the Nations status for Jesenská, which was awarded posthumously in 1995.