Hertzbach (Gertsbakh) Yankel (Jankel) Yosifovich (born 22 March 1923, Riga) – Driver.
Yankel Hertzbach graduated from Riga’s 4th General Education School in 1937. From 1937 to 1940, worked in the auto shop of B. Aizikovich in Riga. Completed evening studies at the Auto Mechanics Technical School in 1941. That year, worked at the 35th Auto Repair Base of the Pskov-Baltic Military District (PBVO) in Riga. From 1941 to 1945, served in the active Soviet Army, reaching the rank of division commander. He was wounded eight times and suffered two concussions.
From 1946 to 1948, he was head of supply at the 5th Military Printing House in Riga. Between 1948 and 1951, worked as a driver at the Main Supply Department of the Ministry of Heavy Industry. From 1951 to 1953, worked as a driver at Riga’s 10th Trade School, and in 1953–1954, at the Navy Club of DOSAAF. From 1954 to 1955, he managed a kiosk at the Chemical Products Artel. Between 1955 and 1957, he worked at Riga’s No. 4 self-supporting store. From 1957 to 1958, he worked as a cobbler at the Centiba Artel. Between 1959 and 1961, he was a mechanic at the Gauja knitwear factory. From 1961 to 1963, he served as section manager at the Riga Textile-Footwear Trade Organisation. From 1963 to 1965, he worked as a driver at the 25th Scientific and Technical Committee (NTK). In 1965–66, he was a shop assistant at a store under the Riga Municipal Cooperative Wholesale Organisation. Between 1966 and 1969, he held the position of section manager at a store under the Riga Household Goods Trade Network.
Yankel Hertzbach was awarded the medals “For Courage,” “For the Defense of Moscow,” and “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–45.”
Married to Rosa Hertzbach (née Kodess) (b. 1926, Riga), with whom he had two daughters: Edith (b. 1946, Riga) and Rachel (b. 1953, Riga).
His parents, Yosif Hertzbach (1897–1941) and Rachel Hertzbach (1886–1941), as well as his brother Zamuíl (1927–1941), were victims of the Holocaust. In 1963, Yankel Hertzbach applied for emigration to Israel at the invitation of his cousin Moishe Less (b. 1913, Riga), who had left for Palestine in 1933. The request was granted in 1969.
Family:
Rosa Hertzbach (née Kodess) (b. 1926, Riga) – wife
Edith Hertzbach (b. 1946, Riga) – daughter
Rachel Hertzbach (b. 1953, Riga) – daughter
Yosif Hertzbach (1897–1941) – father
Rachel Hertzbach (1886–1941) – mother
Zamuíl Hertzbach (1927–1941) – brother
Moishe Less (b. 1913, Riga) – cousin