"Everyone in Haugesund has a coat hanger from Rabinowitz in the closet." "But only a few know who he was." "The elderly remember that he was a Polish Jew who settled here   and built the largest clothing factory in the country." "Moritz Rabinowitz was the only Jew in Haugesund,   he fought Hitler even before he came to power." "When the Germans attacked Haugesund, he was the first person they were after." "In Haugesund people feel that if he had wanted to,   he could have avoided the concentration camp." "Jews will always be Jews and people are strange that way, " " they rarely have good to say about Jews." "A Jew is known to be greedy,   and in his own way he was too." "THE MAN WHO LOVED HAUGESUND" "The Rabinowitz store still lies in the centre of Haugesund,   60 years after his death." "This was the main store." "A labyrinth of stairs, corridors and halls   running through six departments." "They have been empty for many years." "There were departments for shirts, dresses, lingerie and jackets." "And a large shoe department." "The lion was the emblem of the business." "He lived in an apartment above the store." "Next to the apartment was his office." "In accordance with his last wish his employees took over the store." "They left his office untouched for 30 years." "When the shop was shut down, Rabinowitz' possessions were put   in 14 boxes at the city museum." "Now they are opened for the first time." "Inside is a love poem from his wife Johanna." "A photograph of his daughter Edith,   and objects from his first years in Norway." "Rabinowitz and his younger brother   travelled along the fjords selling cloth and fabrics   and watches to the farmers." "Then one day he came to Haugesund." "It was fishing season, an early morning in February, 1911." "The Spring herring catch was in full swing." "At both sides of the strait there was a forest of masts." "Ice and herring barrels along the pier,   everyone working hard with the riches of the sea." "Shouts and calls filled the air and it sounded like music to me." "Coming from other surroundings, without any knowledge   of life in a fishing city,   my first impression of Haugesund became a memory for life." "It was like entering another world." "I realized at once that Haugesund was a thriving town." "There was something fresh about its citizens." "Free of snobbery, natural and straightforward people   ready to help a stranger wanting to share his sorrow and happiness." "Upon arrival in Haugesund he rents a café on the pier,   and sells alarm clocks and a suit." "He visits the ships, takes measurements of the sailors and offers them   tailor-made suits at unbeatable prices." "He moves to Strandgaten, the main street." "In the 20s Rabinowitz surpasses his competitors,   and his store 'M. Rabinowitz' is now the grandest in Haugesund." "His company will expand to become Norway's largest in the business." "It was a nice place, and all the employees were friends." "We had a lot of fun together." "We celebrated birthdays together,   visited each other, and after work we went to cafés." "Some of us became couples and got married." "It was like a little society." "You could tell if a suit was made by Rabinowitz,   because it was so perfect in all its details." "I remember when the grey trousers became popular in Haugesund." "They couldn't keep up, because everyone wanted grey trousers." "Dark grey trousers." "They were popular for ages." "He was ahead of his time, he must have been." "I have been thinking about it many times,   how did he come up with the name Condor?" "It was a great, classic brand." "'Condor clothing makes a man' it says in the brochure,   the first advertising brochure the city had ever seen." "Elegant men's clothing with a modern design and excellent fit." "All this at affordable prices." "Never before had the Haugesundians looked so stylish." "You could get a new suit in one day." "Not bad!" "It reminds me of Thailand!" "There you can be measured one day   and pick up your suit the next." "It was kind of like an anthill." "We worked constantly and did not dare sitting idly." "The boss didn't like that." "And he had this special way of talking." "No standing around!" "You must work!" "But not only Haugesund's own citizen flocked to the shop." "Farmers and fishermen on their Saturday outings." "Sailors on leave." "Everybody came to Rabinowitz." "When the boats came in, the first thing people on board saw   was 'M. Rabinowitz' the tall man on the wall." "To his customers he handed out thousands of notebooks,   cloth brushes with fine bristles, thousands of pocket knives   embossed with 'M Rabinowitz' and 'Condor'." "Rabinowitz introduces a mail order system where customers can tick off   a suit that fits and order it from the store." "His brother Herzel runs his own store, 'Dressmagasinet' in Bergen." "The two brothers decide to divide the country between them." "Herzel will run clothing stores north of Bergen,   while Rabinowitz will provide all of Southern Norway with suits and coats." "In 1926 Rabinowitz opens an outlet in Stavanger,   and then in Egersund." "Nearly 100 people now work for Rabinowitz." "He has his own agents in Sauda, Skånevik and Skudeneshavn." "He also opens a large store in Kristiansand." "It was all business and money." "Oh yes, and ladies!" "He was friendly with the women,   but he was a nice man too." "Oh yeah." "He could be great fun to be around." "And entertaining as well, in his own way!" "Many thought that he made too much of it." "But it was rare   for a manager to take care of his employees as he did." "He was very concerned with our well-being." "I remember once we went to the beach." "We ran along the beach, and suddenly he got the idea   to play leapfrog." "We had to bend over and he jumped over us." "One of the girls was rather big, and he got stuck on top of her." "There was a lot of laughter about that." "Yes, he had a journal and took notes   if he or she was late, if someone had arrived 5-6 minutes late." "Miss Randa, the lady clerk, had been disobedient   and had to write that into the journal herself." "Life is no dance on roses, Miss Jensen, that I want you to know." "He could explode if something   went against him." "And then he said:" "Sweep the corridor!" "He gave me a broom, and I had to sweep." "I call him an eccentric since he had so many strange ideas." "He could throw someone's belongings on the floor since he hated "clutter"." "Once an employee was standing in the ironing room." "He had bought a shirt in the lunch break." "Rabinowitz came in, and the shirt was on the counter." "What's this?" "he said and flung it out the third floor window." "Well, that was my shirt, I had just bought in the shop, he said." "Well, go get it then, was the reply he got." "He did have an appetite for ruling." "He wanted to be an important man, having his own automobile." "Not many owned one in Haugesund in those days." "He loved speeding." "That was his dream." "If we came to a turn and I slowed down he would shout:" "Drive on!" "Lion first!" "Lion first!" "he would shout." "There was a lion figurine on the grille, and on each door,   and all the time he would go:" "Lion first!" "Lion first!" "Overtake him!" "Especially when I had my uniform on,   people thought it was some royalty coming out of the car." "He was a perfect gentleman,   and he took so good care of his wife that it was moving." "Mrs. Rabinowitz, was strangely enough a Jew, although she had red hair." "A huge fat woman." "She had great trouble walking." "The wife, given her size, had to sit in front,   and she also had trouble with her legs." "He sat behind on the first row." "She was always worried that I would be hungry, so she brought   hard boiled eggs and bananas." "She sat peeling eggs and then she gave them to me." "Her favourite pastime was to sit at the cash register, receiving money." "She loved that." "Rabinowitz travels to textile factories in Romsdalen, and Trondheim." "Oslo, " " Helsinki, " " Stockholm   and Berlin." "The shelves in Haugesund are bulging with stock." "During fall 1935 a trade show was held for the first time in the town." "According to the local newspaper it was Rabinowitz' idea." "12 000 people attend the opening." "The show is an financial success, and the entrance is crowded." "Rabinowitz wins the first prize for the best stand   and in the evening his daughter Edith is dancing." "She danced ballet at a trade show in Haugesund" " a Wiener waltz in the concert hall, and she was so beautiful." "It was like a dream for us youngsters to see her." "She led a good life as the daughter of a rich man." "He was very proud of his daughter;" "she was the apple of his eye." "She was very spoilt; her father always fussed over her." "He was strict; she was not allowed to be with boys." "He had to look after her." "In the store in Strandgaten there was a glass wall,   and on it he had a picture of his daughter burnt in." "Rabinowitz embarks on his largest project to date." "A huge building rises near the town centre." "The papers call it the most modern factory of its kind in Northern Europe." "Rabinowitz has got ideas from abroad:" "Assembly line production." "Everything was top modern   and the production halls were bright and grand." "Experienced tailors move from Romsdalen with their families." "To have Norway's largest clothing factory in Haugesund   is in itself like a fairy tale." "Haugesund's newspaper writes:" "Tomorrow the company M.Rabinowitz celebrates its anniversary   as it was founded on February 11, 1911." "No company in Haugesund has grown with such speed   as M. Rabinowitz." "We wish the founder, who is in his prime of life, the best of luck." "Rabinowitz had become what he had been dreaming of." "The clothing king of Haugesund." "At first I think it was important to him to work his way up." "When he saw that he was successful and got richer than many others,   he could help where it was needed." "Then, I think, he wanted to become one of the others." "He could not become a freemason, he had tried that." "He was never at The Mercantile Association." "He was probably a member, they couldn't deny him that." "But he was never there." "No one invited him,   even if they were in the same business - shoes and clothes." "They were never together." "He didn't walk around looking different, but people are envious." "He had a big company and had built the factory." "Some people get envious, you know." "The comic magazine 'Gneisten' describes Rabinowitz' visit to a dinner party:" ""The merchant Rabinowitz once tried, at a festive occasion, to give a speech."" ""I can't imagine anyone asking him to, but that wasn't his fault."" ""The speech turned into an endless lecture on Jewish history,   and even worse:" "It became a deluge that threatened   to wash the party away. "" ""Luckily a Haugesundian - less interested in history - was present."" ""He acted as Noah and made some comments that stopped the torrent   of words from the Israelite." "These comments then became   the Mt." "Ararat, on which the party found its salvation."" "What people in Haugesund thought of him as a person, " " I still cannot understand." "Usually when people are successful and making money,   they are received with open arms." "But this was not the case with Rabinowitz." "The different associations he wanted to enter probably had rules   that didn't allow Jews to be admitted." "Once I visited someone I knew fairly well." "At that moment I realized how difficult life must have been for him." "The husband came home, and he said to his wife:" "Today I met Rabinowitz in town." "He said that he would like to   visit us and get to meet you." "His wife then replied:" ""If that man enters my home, I will leave it!"" "His wife didn't stay long here in town." "She didn't feel accepted,   and she therefore moved to Bergen." "He was in the store all day, and after work he went up to   his private quarters." "I never saw anyone visit him there." "At the office in Strandgata Rabinowitz wrote page-long articles   in the local papers." "Often his articles were printed next to ads for his store." "The newspapers had to print them, or risk losing advertising revenue." "In the archives there are several notable articles." "Early in the 1930's he suggests that all nations in Europe form a union   with a common currency, and that Norway in the future could   export electricity." "He had a plan for selling products from Haugesund abroad." "He proposes to send a ship with merchandise to the capitals." "'Gneisten' comments:" "In a nationwide plan "Moses Rabinowitz suggests   sending an advertising ship to the salvation of our homeland."" ""Obviously, it is the Jewish knapsack trade in expanded format   he has imagined."" "They talked about 'Rabben', and parodied his speech,   and they used these expressions." "There were many expressions, but I wouldn't quote them." "I think it has been there long before the war, long before Hitler." "That they looked upon the Jews as something different." "I can't explain it..." "He was never in our home." "Never in the homes of any of his employees." "He never came into anyone's home." "That was a pity, because I think he would have wished for that." "The Oslo papers report an invasion of Jewish refugees." "An editorial in Aftenposten warns:" "The country is in danger   of being flooded by Russian and Polish Jews." ""They come like a shoal of herring and get stuck all over town."" ""Soon there will not be a grocer, an outlet for second hand clothing   or a storeroom for watches and other trumpery without a smiling Jew   behind the counter."" ""Osterhausgaten is the ghetto, or Jewish quarter of the future,   but soon we will find them as owners of fine villas on the West Side."" "Did the Jews come here during the previous war - as refugees?" "Do you know?" "When rebuilding the shop, the carpenters found   a small cylinder in the doorframe." "It contained a scrap of paper with texts from the Talmud." "A Jewish custom for protecting ones home." "For a Christmas booklet in 1931 he entered an article describing   his upbringing in the Polish village Rajgrod:" "It fell upon my father to give Jewish youth spiritual nurturing,   and he himself lived in strict orthodoxy." "My father wanted me too to become a Rabbi." "It was one of his most beautiful dreams." "But not all boys felt the glow of religion." "When I was thirteen I applied for selling rights   without letting the companies know it was just a boy leading them on." "I made the most of every hour, since I knew I was poor." "At fourteen, a relative wrote me from Norway that I should leave Poland   and continue my studies here." "Even in boyhood we felt the Russian knot hindering our freedom,   especially us Israelites." "We had no prospect of a public position, no right to buy or own land." "To menace the Jews and Poles the Tsarist government sent   wild Cosacks and Tartars." "They were not squeamish at spilling human blood." "I was myself present at one of the Czarist pogroms ." "A three day massacre left over 200 victims." "In his office Rabinowitz collects documentation of violations against Jews" "In 1922 the book "The New World Emperor" is published in Norway." "It has already raised a storm in many European countries   under the name of "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion"." "Supreme Court lawyer Eivind Saxlund calls it   "a unique text of enormous significance   that reveals the Jewish world conspiracy."" "Rabinowitz retaliates with an article deeming the book a forgery." "He claims it has been fabricated by secret agents of the Russian czar." "Rabinowitz points out that he had witnessed the massacres of the Czar,   and writes:" ""To You, Mr. Saxlund, I will say:" "Hate and animosity are common,   but reconciliation, common sense and good customs are rare."" "He really disliked Hitler   from the day he came to power in '33." "That was when he started giving speeches about Hitler." "He listened to all radio stations he could receive." "He was so angry." "He wrote articles in the paper, warning against the conditions in Germany." "Hitler knew about him." "He wrote a pamphlet about Nazism, but it just passed us by." "Nothing was taken seriously." "With my little work I wish to awaken the common man,   want to prepare him for the bitter realities the world crisis brings." "I will seek to prove that it is the politics of isolationism,   hatred and the blocking of borders that cause the world tragedy of today." "We were young and didn't think about those things." "The 30s were hard and we had to make money." "We had to live life as it was." "We didn't believe in all that, and I don't think most people did." "In 1933 the race biologist J. A. Mjøen of the Vindern Laboratorium explains   "the scientific basis of anti-Semitism":" ""The German view on the problems of race marks a new   biological mentality, a new era."" ""In Europe there is a race that differs from others:" "The Jewish race."" ""A mixed people of pre-Asian, Hamitic composition."" ""They think in a completely different way,   and have a separate mentality and morality."" "In Haugesund's newspaper Rabinowitz replies:" ""It is high time you give up your racial biological laboratory."" ""I can find employment for you on a Norwegian farm, behind a plough."" ""If you are healthy and strong you will be of more use   to the country than by writing articles."" ""You are a victim of great delusion when you imply that we Jews   only strive for money." "First and foremost we strive for knowledge."" ""Have you noticed that in boxing strength is not always decisive?"" ""More important are adaptability, agility and observation."" ""These skills we are in possession of, thanks to our prosecutors."" "Rabinowitz now resides above the factory." "In the hall   he had this window installed to be able to enjoy the starlit sky." "He tells his staff he is convinced a German attack will come." "In 1939 he demands the Norwegian government grants a billion Kroner   to build fortresses along the coast." ""The predator does not ask permission," Rabinowitz writes." "I remember a meeting at the Godtemplar Hall." "It was packed and I remember his opening words." "I was in the ticket booth." "The entrance fee was one Krone." "He stated "Now the elephant has started stamping in the heap of glass"." "Norwegian Nazis keep German intelligence informed   of Rabinowitz' speeches and articles." "In 1936 the German Nazi-paper Westdeutscher Beobachter labels him   the secular head of Norwegian Jews." "Amidst all this Johanna becomes seriously ill and is admitted   into Rikshospitalet in Oslo." "Edith's wedding to Hans Reichwald is hastened." "They marry at the hospital." "Johanna is too ill to come for the wedding picture   and she dies shortly after." "I don't think Rabinowitz was happy about her getting married." "I think he had a feeling of what the future held." "I remember well the first airplanes flying over Haugesund." "All windows in the neighbouring homes was broken." "There were so many planes." "He called me at four in the morning   and told me to come down at once with the car." "I remember Lars Engelsen coming." "He had a gun in his hand." "Rabinowitz' face was ashen, but he was well dressed as always." "He said nothing." "It was as if he was being led by Engelsen   and they left the shop through Haraldsgate,   where the car was, and then they left." "The route Rabinowitz and his driver took on April 9 goes along Vindafjord." "There weren't many roads in those days, but one of the few   led to Vikedal, a little village in an arm of the fjord." "15 km from the sea lies the lake Fjellgårdsvatnet   and now, like then, there are two lonely farms." "He was afraid, for sure." "I think he was the first they went after in the entire country,   because he had written so much against them." "That was something ordinary people didn't know about." "We weren't aware of such goings on." "The journal from 1940 is preserved." "The stately signature of Rabinowitz approves and instructs." "But also after he fled Haugesund his name appears in the journal." "On May 3 the shop manager and his secretary are called to his hideout." "His instructions are strict, precise and detailed." "He shouldn't have been so into his business." "He couldn't let it go." "It was risky bringing them all up there,   it created traffic." "He must have thought about the risk." "Germans are observed near the farm." "Rabinowitz decides to flee." "Poor man, he was in such a state, he hated them,   and he repeated over and over:" "They would never get him alive." "The local resistance bring Rabinowitz over the mountain and into   the longest arm of the fjord." "His driver explains that the escape would continue out of the country." "A boat was waiting to take him to Iceland." "Then he heard that one boat had run into a mine,   and another had been sunk." "I had a certain respect for that." "It's not easy to choose between two evils." "Many people died on their way to England." "Rabinowitz is taken to the farm on Djuve,   where the driver's grandparents live." "His brother Herzel comes to see him." "As most other Norwegian Jews he can carry on as usual." "Gestapo only wants Rabinowitz as a political enemy of Germany." "The driver is interrogated by the Gestapo and shown a map   of the area where they think Rabinowitz is hiding." "The driver tells them they are wrong, but the Gestapo are right." "A coded message is sent to the neighbouring farm." "It was a sign that the Gestapo were on his trail." "When I came back with the message the man changed." "He understood they were close." "Rabinowitz is rushed to a temporary cabin." "At night he is taken to an even safer place." "At the mouth of the fjord there is a little island called Toftekalven." "There is only one farm on the island." "The family offers to hide Rabinowitz." "He repeated many times:" "If they find me,   they will kill me." "He was scared." "We were to keep it secret." "He was very afraid it would get out." "How he felt only he could say." "The island is within view of Skånevik." "The Rabinowitz family had spent their summers there before the war." "He is lonely, and asks Edith and her husband to come." "They move into a rented house." "Nearby a friend of Edith is living ." "She came up here and knocked on the door." "She said:" "This is most forward of me, Mrs. Bårdsen,   but I have no one to be with, and it is so painful." "The days are so long." "May I come in?" "When the risk is low, Edith and Hans are taken to the island at nighttime." "They stay for a few days at a time." "Yes, he had plans." "But the question was when?" "He wanted to see how things would go." "He thought it would pass." "That Hitler would soon lose." "Two of Rabinowitz' closest subordinates are detained by the Gestapo." "They have a tip that he is hiding close to Skånevik." "Then a chance arises to go by boat to England." "He could have left that time." "But then Edith ran to him." "She was nine months pregnant   and she cried out:" ""Dad don't leave me!"" "This I know for a fact." "He didn't have it in his heart to leave her." "It wasn't the money." "Edith gives birth to a son, Harry." "The family enjoy a few stolen moments together." "I remember him taking lots of pictures." "And he filmed when we were in the fields." "And he said: "I will make a film of this when the war is over"." "He was lively, kind and good to be with." "He also had a great sense of humour." "After refusing another two boat passages it seems like Rabinowitz   decides to stay." "The resistance can get him into Valen, a psychiatric clinic nearby   where he can be hidden in a closed ward." "Moberg got him there to hide him." "At such places they were safe." "While waiting to be admitted into Valen " " Rabinowitz called and sent messages to the store   to ensure that the business survives until the Germans   are thrown out of the country." "He had a responsibility to his employees." "He felt that what he had built was his mission in life." "He phoned Askeland, the manager, " " but the Germans were listening." "I remember being shocked." "I picked up the phone   and I heard a shout demanding to talk to Askeland,   and I knew instantly who it was." "It was a mistake." "If he hadn't called, he might have made it through." "That day only my aunt and I were at home." "And Rabinowitz was there." "He must have heard the boat coming." "He asked me to run down and check   what kind of people were coming." "I had my misgivings and was afraid." "Imagine if it was someone coming to get him." "But no matter what, if they ask I will say "no"   because that is what I have been told to do." "When I came down the path I met them, all four of them." "I made this sign, which meant that he should run for the woods,   that it was him they were after." "They stormed the houses and found the typewriter and everything." "And one stood guard outside the house." "And then we sat there, tensely." "They had stopped searching." "And Rabinowitz was outside." "The boat went back to Skånevik," "He thought they were leaving, that the danger was over." "Suddenly we heard the door open." "The Gestapo officer jumped up,   went out into the hallway " " and grabbed him." "One thing I haven't forgotten." "He hit him in the face with his open hand." "I remember sitting on a stool, just inside the door." "The Gestapo officer brought him, held his arm." "I recall Rabinowitz stopping for a moment   and all he said was: "Goodbye"." "While I sat on the little stool,   he just looked at me and said "Goodbye"." "That is my last memory of him." "The only thing we know is that he was too preoccupied   with his business." "It was all money, money, and the business." "Therefore he had the accounting brought to him weekly." "That is my impression." "He could have avoided the concentration camp." "The brother of his son-in-law, also a Jew,   escaped to Sweden." "If he could go, then Rabinowitz also could have fled." "He was too tied to his company and wouldn't leave." "We tend to believe the bad things,   don't we?" "Because it certainly is bad to risk your life for some money." "But I don't think it was that in his case, I think it was Edith." "At least that one time, but he had other opportunities as well." "Maybe he didn't dare to take the boat, he was quite a coward." "What if Rabinowitz had returned?" "When you look at these properties, it is just sad." "Just a sad chapter." "But nothing lasts forever." "No..." "Before you started asking questions,   there were no discussion and talk." "A Jew is known to be greedy,   and in his own way he was greedy too,   because he really worked his way up." "But he was a good man for Haugesund the time he was here." "I remember him saying that he hoped he could hide until the war was over,   so that he could return to Haugesund." "For those born in Haugesund after the war, Rabinowitz was still a part of life." "The shop was the centre of the town." "You got your confirmation suit here,   and the shop assistants were always so friendly." "There were also rumours and stories that made the grown-ups serious." "Stories the young could never really comprehend." "They just kept on asking each other the same old rhyme:" "Want to hear some skits?" "Rabinowitz." "Moritz Rabinowitz is taken to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen in March 1941 as a political prisoner." "On the way he writes his will Everything he owns is to be given to Edith." "The store and the factory are to be run by his employees." "Edith and her two year-old son Harry are arrested the year after." "They are deported on the prisoner ship Gothenland and are both killed in Auschwitz 1942." "Edith's husband, Hans Reichwald, also perish in the extermination camp." "Moritz Rabinowitz dies from injuries caused by beating on February 27, 1942." "To a fellow German prisoner he said:" "If you ever meet someone from Haugesund, please give my regards   and tell them that, apart from my family   my final thoughts were of the workers, my staff and the friends I had in the town."