Zionism in Germany, 1918-1932

Prof. Aryeh Olitzki was born into an orthodox family. His father's first wife and her new-born daughter died of tuberculosis. His father remarried and he was their only child. His father was born in Lithuania (then Russia). He studied Hebrew, history of science, philosophy, etc. in a German university. He was an ordained rabbi and served in various communities before settling in Allenstein. From the age of 12, Aryeh was a member of Blau-Weiss; his father and grandfather were sympathetic to Zionism. Most of the family eventually went to live in Tel Aviv. Olitzki was active in Blau-Weiss, where he was an instructor, but more so in K.I.V. His father encouraged him to learn Hebrew. He studied at the Hebraeische Sprachschule in Berlin. Olitzki was called to army service during World War I, and then studied medicine. His goal during this period in his life was to serve as an army physician. He fought on various fronts and never suffered from antisemitism. Meeting Jews from the east strengthened his Zionism. The army engaged in the west included many Moroccan and Algerian Jews. Socialism, which was then very popular, greatly influenced his attitude and as a result he was active in Poalei Zion. He did not belong to any political party in Germany. He immigrated to Palestine in 1924, after he was released from the army, and was warmly received by his family. He got his first appointment as a physician in Palestine. ; Gershom Scholem: Olitzki first met him when they both were working on their final exams. One of Olitzki's closest friends was his neighbour Prof. Samburski. He joined the Haganah. He also cooperated with the British Police. During WWII, it was a strange for him to be supporting Russia and France against Germany because Russia had committed pogroms and France was associated withof the Dreyfus Trial. When the British forces invaded Palestine, the Jewish soldiers within the German army realized that they were not fighting on the right side.