Imagine a young man dodging Nazis with forged papers, only to become a beloved professor whose students had no clue about his daring past—meet Justus Rosenberg! Born in 1921 in Poland, Rosenberg was a French Resistance hero who helped save thousands during World War II, then quietly shaped minds at Bard College for over fifty years. His memoir, published at 99, unveils a life that reads like a spy thriller.
The Making of a Hero
Justus Rosenberg grew up in the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), in a Jewish family fluent in German, Yiddish, and Polish. As antisemitism surged in the 1930s, his parents sent him to Paris at 16 to study safely. When France fell to the Nazis in 1940, the blond, blue-eyed Rosenberg, who looked younger than his age, fled south. A chance meeting with American journalist Varian Fry in Marseille changed everything, pulling him into a clandestine world of espionage and rescue.
Rosenberg’s Unforgettable Stories
Rosenberg’s defining work is his 2020 memoir, The Art of Resistance: My Four Years in the French Underground. Written with astonishing clarity at 99, it recounts his teenage years as a courier for Fry’s Emergency Rescue Committee, helping intellectuals like Hannah Arendt and Marc Chagall escape Vichy France. His vivid prose captures the thrill of dodging capture and the moral weight of resistance. Rosenberg’s multilingual skills—French, German, Polish, Russian—made him a vital scout and spy, and his modest tone only amplifies the memoir’s intensity.
While The Art of Resistance stands alone as his major published work, Rosenberg’s academic writings and lectures at Bard College explored European literature, from Voltaire to Dostoevsky. His teaching, infused with a survivor’s wisdom, wove themes of resilience and humanism, reflecting his own life. Though not a prolific author, his memoir’s blend of adventure and reflection cements his storytelling legacy.
Why Justus Rosenberg Matters
Rosenberg’s impact transcends his memoir. As a Resistance fighter, he saved countless lives, earning a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and France’s Légion d’Honneur. At Bard, he inspired generations with his love of literature, quietly embodying the courage he taught. His Justus & Karin Rosenberg Foundation fights antisemitism, ensuring his values endure. Rosenberg, who died at 100 in 2021, remains a testament to ordinary people achieving extraordinary feats.
- Born: January 23, 1921, Danzig (Gdańsk), Poland
- Key Work: The Art of Resistance (2020)
- Awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Commandeur in the Légion d’Honneur
- Died: October 30, 2021
Ready to dive into a real-life adventure? Grab The Art of Resistance and discover Justus Rosenberg’s thrilling world of courage and wisdom!