Leo Katz and Helga Jülich, interpreters at Nuremberg
Video contribution by their granddaughter Evelyn Lueker and their daughter Dr Deborah Katz
At the Round Table Discussion organised by AIIC Switzerland at the University of Geneva 1.10.2019
Hamburg, October 2019, George Drummond.
When preparing for this event I became aware that the contributions by the family members of some of the Nuremberg interpreters would be unique. Our guests were meeting to give their personal views on the role the interpreters played and the impact the Nuremberg experience had on their lives and it was my task to direct the discussion, making sure that all the participants were at ease and felt comfortable sharing their thoughts in public for the first time.
I recalled the only other occasion on which I had met a family member in the person of Evelyn Lueker, granddaughter of Helga and Leo Katz. The place was San Francisco and the occasion was the opening ceremony of the Nuremberg Exhibition – One Trial Four Languages – in the grand hall of the Judicial Council of California on June 5th 2018.
The contact to Evelyn came through my friend and colleague Jacolyn Harmer from Monterey. They met there at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies where Jacolyn teaches and where Evelyn graduated with an MA in International Education Management last year. They became firm friends. Evelyn now lives and works in San Diego.
Knowing that it would not be possible for Evelyn to attend the event in Geneva, I asked her to write a short message that I would read out to the audience. She came up with a much better idea. Evelyn’s mother, Deborah is the daughter of Helga and Leo Katz and she also lives in San Diego. Together they produced a short video interview, describing the events and principles that shaped the lives of their family. It is such a heart-warming message to which the other participants and the entire audience responded, setting the tone for the remainder of the discussion.
I am extremely grateful to Evelyn and Deborah for this valuable contribution which will now become part of the Exhibition and my sincere thanks go to the participants on the panel, Esther Simha, Miranda Richmond-Mouillot, Ursula Gilbert, Alexandre Vassiltchikov and Robert Kaminker for creating a truly historic occasion.
George Drummond
AIIC Legal Interpreting Committee
Coordinator Nuremberg Exhibition Group
Please also read the article on the round table discussion “Family memories – lest we forget” (and have a look at its photo gallery).
Photo gallery
