Gustav Pietsch

Gustav Pietsch (1893–1975) was a German captain, resistance fighter and Politician of the Free City of Danzig.

Pietsch was born in Bellin, Pomerania and served in the German Navy in World War I on a minesweeper and U-boat escort. He received his master's certificate and served in 1919/20 at the harbour of Danzig (today Gdańsk).

In 1918 he married Gertrude née Behnke from Glettkau (today Jelitkowo), where they settled. Glettkau lay on the soil of the Free City of Danzig and throughout the 1920s Pietsch worked as a captain on several cargo and fishing boats. He was a member of the German Merchant Navy Officer’s Association and the Association of Combat Veterans, closely affiliated to the German National People's Party (DNVP). His wife was active in the female section of the Combat Veteran’s Association. He instructed several hundred Jews from Poland and Danzig and organized the emigration of about 400 Jews to Palestine. Pietsch was attacked several times by the Nazis and severely injured when he was pushed in front of a tramway. On 12 June 1936 the local Nazi SA stormed the general meeting of the DNVP while Pietsch held a speech, 60 persons were injured and Pietsch was again arrested. While the SA men were soon released, Pietsch was kept in prison for several weeks.

On 24 December 1938 Pietsch managed to leave Danzig and, supported by the Jewish Agency, emigrated to Palestine. He arrived on 10 January 1939 and founded the village of Neve Yam, where he continued to work as a nautical and fishery instructor. At the outbreak of World War II Pietsch was arrested by the British as an “enemy alien” but released again in February 1940.