Born:
's-Gravenhage, Netherlands
July 27, 1921
Died: October 21, 2013
Abraham (Abbie) Lipschutz was the oldest of three children born to a family of Polish-Jewish immigrants. His father worked in the wholesale diamond industry. World War II started in 1939, the year Abbie turned 18 years old. Lipschutz immigrated to Palestine. From there he volunteered for service in the Free Dutch Army. His unit was incorporated into British 6th Airborne Division and Abbie was among the troops that landed at Normandy, France in June 1944. In October that year, Lipschutz drove a motorcycle into Antwerp, Belgium where he first saw the persecution of the Jewish community. During the “hunger winter” of 1944 to 1945, Abbie survived on turnips and tree bark. His brigade liberated The Hague, Netherlands at the end of the war in May 1945. Lipschutz married later that year. In 1947, he returned to Palestine where he served in the Israeli Army. After being discharged in 1949, Lipschutz emigrated to United States. He earned a living as a wholesale diamond seller for 50 years. In 2011, he published his memoir, “Child of the 20th Century – Growing up Jewish in Holland, Belgium, Palestine, Israel, America. And Texas.”
Parents:
Mordechai (Max) Lipschutz, survived
Mother, maiden name Mayerczyck, survived
Siblings:
Miriam, survived
Ruth, survived