Bergman (Bergmann) Jean (30.01.1894, Riga – 02.08.1944, Riga) – educator, director of the Riga Jewish Public Gymnasium.

In 1912, Jean Bergman graduated from Riga City Classical Gymnasium. In 1912–1914 he studied at the Chemical Department of Riga Polytechnic Institute and in 1914–1918 – at the Economics Department of the same institute.

He held the title of Candidate of Commercial Sciences and was fluent in 12 languages.

In 1918–1920 Jean Bergman worked in Moscow as an editorial and office staff member of the newspaper Economic Life. From 1920 – taught Latin and economic geography at: Riga City Jewish Gymnasium, Hebrew Gymnasium, Rauhverger Gymnasium. He was also a lecturer at Jewish Pedagogical Courses and Jewish Agricultural Courses and Head of summer teacher training courses in Riga.

Bergman was Chairman of the Jewish Teachers' Union and a member of the Jewish National-Democratic Party, which was actively involved in promoting Jewish education.

Holocaust

In 1941 Jean Bergman was imprisoned in the Riga Ghetto with his family - wife: Klara and sons Mikhail (b. 1921), Alexander (b. 1925), Daniel (b. 1928). Later he was deported to Kaiserwald concentration camp (subcamp Balasta Damms).

On 2 August 1944 Jean Bergman was executed in Rumbula, along with nearly all the prisoners of the camp.

His wife and youngest son, Daniel, were executed in Rumbula on 8 December 1941.

His sons, Mikhail and Alexander, survived the ghetto and concentration camps.

His son, Alexander Bergman, became a well-known lawyer in Riga, heading the Latvian Society of Jews – Former Ghetto and Camp Prisoners and authoring a memoir.

Literature:

  • Bergman A. Notes of a Subhuman (Zapisky NedoCheloveka). Riga, 2005. pp. 142–161.