Johannes (Hans) Fittko
Germany

Hans was born in Finsterwalde, Germany, in 1903 and died in Chicago in 1960. Though his formal education ended at the age of 12, he read widely in history and wrote about political issues. In time he became accepted as a journalist and was involved in activities opposing the Hitler regime. He had to flee his homeland in 1933.

In October 1940, the Emergency Rescue Committee recruited Hans and his wife, Lisa. This was a group organized to help political refugees cross safely from occupied France to Spain. Those seeking to escape were people noted for their work in the arts, literature and science. Lisa has said this of their work with the escapees: "We never asked anyone if they were Jewish, but, of course, many were. I am Jewish. Hans was not. Ours was a purely humanitarian action against a Fascist regime."

The safe route established by Hans and Lisa went from Banyuls sur Mer in France, across the Pyrenees Mountains to Port Bou, Spain. Without any expectation of payment for their services, the Fittkos saw more than 100 people to safety across the mountains. All this took place from October 1940, until April of 1941.