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Simeon Dubnov, Aged Jewish Historian, Executed by Nazis in Riga Ghetto

June 10, 1943
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Prof. Simeon Dubnov, famous Jewish historian, has been executed by the Nazis in the ghetto of Riga, Latvia, it was learned here today by the Federation of Jewish relief organizations.

The execution took place on December 1, 1941, the information received by the Federation reveals. The Jewish historian was 83 years old when he was murdered. Shortly before the outbreak of the war he was invited by Jewish organizations to come to the United States. At the last minute, however, he decided to decline the invitation and did not make use of the visa which was granted him by the American consulate in Riga.

Exactly a year ago today it was reported that Dubnov died “somewhere in Russia” where it was stated he was among the evacuees from the Nazi-held Baltic countries. The Russian authorities checked this report and informed Jewish organizations in England and America that no record could be found to indicate that he had retreated with the Russians prior to the Nazi occupation of Riga.

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