Minna Flake

Margareta "Minna" Flake (née Mai; November 27, 1886 – February 12, 1958) was a German born physician and socialist who fled Germany during World War II and settled in New York City.

Prior to the rise of Adolf Hitler, Minna served as the chief health officer of the city of Berlin for more than ten years.

Four years later on April 8, 1933, she was arrested by the Gestapo on charges of hiding Nazi opponents and performing abortions.

[1] Upon her release from custody, and that of her politically active daughter from juvenile custody, she fled Germany via Switzerland and Czechoslovakia to France in May 1933 along with Claude Lévi-Strauss, Victor Serge, André Breton, Jacqueline Lamba, Germaine Krull.

[8] Flake died on February 12, 1958, at Beekman-Downtown Hospital in New York City, leaving a daughter and two grandchildren.