Dr. John Hirschberg née Hans Hirschberg

Dr. John Hirschberg (nee Hans Hirschberg) was born on November 10th, 1925, in Berlin, Germany. At age 13, he escaped Germany on a children’s transport to France. He said goodbye to his family, knowing this was likely his best chance at survival. He lived in multiple orphanages and was helped to assume a French identity as Jean Lang. He was able to go to school under this identity, as he valued acquiring an education despite the additional risk. He eventually was captured and spent time in two internment camps in France. He was in Camp of Nexon from August 19th, 1942 until the end of September 1942. He was in Camp de Rivesaltes the first week of October, 1942, until he was released due to the help of a family friend who verified that he had an important job helping with the children at the orphanage. He joined the French resistance movement, French Forces of the Interior, and contributed to their efforts until the war ended. After the war, he and his brother Gerald (nee Gunther), who was living in the United States at the time, were reunited through a Jewish agency. Gerald helped get John (nee Hans) to the United States where John stayed until he returned to Paris, France to study medicine. In 1956, John returned to the United States to specialize in psychiatry. He lived in California with his wife until his death on Nov 23rd, 2022, at age 97. He has two children, three grandchildren, and two great grand children.