Herbert Alexander

The portrait shows Dr. Herbert Alexander. But how do we know that? In late 2025, the Museum of City History Leipzig received an email from local historian Elisabeth Guhr, who recognized Dr. Alexander. The research was initiated by Dr. Andrea Lorz.

Herbert Alexander was born on September 4, 1902, into a Jewish family in Leipzig. In 1922, he passed his high school graduation exam and subsequently began a commercial apprenticeship. In 1924, he began studying medicine. In 1930, he received his medical license and earned his doctorate. In 1933, Alexander lost his position as a resident physician. To preserve his professional livelihood, he established his own private practice as a general practitioner in December 1933. Outside of his profession, he was active in the Jewish Cultural Association of Leipzig and served on the board of the Leipzig Lodge (B’nai B’rith). In the social sphere, Dr. Alexander was actively involved in placing Jewish orphans and children born out of wedlock with adoptive parents. In 1937, he married Charlotte Lichtendorf. A year later, his medical license was revoked. To secure his livelihood, he joined his father’s business, S. Alexander & Co., at Roscherstraße 24/26, as an employee.

On November 10, 1938—during the November pogroms—Dr. Alexander was among the hundreds of people arrested and was deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp. His wife, Charlotte, was able to provide proof of their intention to emigrate by presenting a ship ticket to Shanghai, which led to her husband’s release on December 12, 1938. On March 29, 1939, Herbert and Charlotte Alexander were able to leave Europe from Genoa, bound for Shanghai.

While working at a hospital in Shandong Province, the doctor managed to secure a position at a mission hospital. He was able to help his family emigrate to China. But even there, they were subjected to attacks and looting. In December 1945, their house was set on fire and robbed. He subsequently died on January 11, 1946, at the age of 44, while fleeing the Eighth Chinese Army in Hsuchowfu. His grave is also located there. His wife found a new home in Philadelphia, USA.