Feliks Chiczewski

Feliks Chiczewski (18 May 1889–1972) was a Polish diplomat. He distinguished himself during the expulsions of Polish Jews (known as the Polish Action) from Leipzig by the Nazi regime in October 1938. His actions as consul general resulted in up to Jews being spared from deportation. Rising tensions between the German and Polish foreign ministry lead to mass expulsions from the state of Saxony, the closest to the Polish border, beginning on 27 October 1938. of Leipzig's Jews were of Polish origin, making it the second largest population of Eastern European Jews in Germany. As warnings about the upcoming arrests and subsequent expulsions began to spread on 27 October, many Jews sought shelter at the Polish Consulate, which was a large villa that had been rented from the Ury family. The police checked identification papers of some people entering the villa, others were arrested outside of the consulate. Although Chiczewski had attempted to bring in as much food as he could, there was a severe food shortage. Police reports indicate Jews had taken shelter there, roughly 50% of the Jewish population in Leipzig.

The Institute also honored the 70th anniversary of the event, where his sister in law, Gabriela Chiczewski, participated in his honor. In 2000, a plaque commemorating his actions was hung in front of the villa.