Recently, Google Doodle paid tribute to Dr. Mod Helmy, a remarkable Egyptian-German medical professional, on what would have been his 122nd birthday. Dr. Helmy’s life story is one of bravery and compassion, as he fearlessly risked his own safety during the Holocaust to save Jewish individuals from persecution.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Helmy was born on July 25, 1901, in Khartoum, Sudan, during a time when the region was under the control of Egypt and the United Kingdom. His mother was German, and his father was Egyptian, providing him with a unique cultural background that would shape his future endeavors.
At the age of 21, in 1922, he moved to Germany to pursue his dream of studying medicine. His dedication and passion for the field were evident, leading him to specialize in urology. Dr. Helmy’s expertise eventually led him to become the head of the urology department at Robert Koch Hospital, which later came to be known as Krankenhaus Moabit.
Persecution and Resilience
Tragically, Dr. Helmy’s life took a challenging turn with the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933. As a North African with mixed heritage, he faced persecution in Nazi Germany. The hospital, where he served as the head of the urology department, had already dismissed all Jewish staff, and Dr. Helmy was also forced to leave his position.
The situation worsened, leading to his arrest on two occasions, and in 1939 and 1940, he was sent to the Wülzburg prison camp. The harsh conditions in the camp resulted in severe illness, which ultimately led to his release in 1940. However, even after his release, he continued to face scrutiny and had to prove his unfitness for internment twice daily to avoid being sent back to the prison camp.
Acts of Courage and Compassion
Despite the risks he faced, Dr. Helmy remained unwavering in his compassion for others. He was conscripted to work for a German doctor and utilized this opportunity to help those in need. He wrote fake sick notes to assist Germans in avoiding labor conscription and military service. Additionally, he aided foreign workers in returning to their home countries, displaying immense bravery in defying the Nazi regime’s oppressive policies.
Legacy
Dr. Helmy’s personal life was not devoid of adversity either. The Nazis prevented him from marrying his German fiancée during the war. However, they triumphed over these obstacles and finally tied the knot after the war’s end. Dr. Helmy continued practicing medicine until his passing on January 10, 1982, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, resilience, and courage.
Recognition as a Righteous Among the Nations
Dr. Helmy’s selfless acts of heroism went largely unrecognized for many years. It wasn’t until 2013 that his deeds were finally honored by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. He was posthumously bestowed with the honorific title of “Righteous Among the Nations.” This prestigious recognition is granted to non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
