Who Is Herschel Grynszpan? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Herschel Grynszpan was born on March 28, 1921. He gained notoriety as the Polish-Jewish man who assassinated German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in 1938, an act that is often cited as a catalyst for the events leading up to the Holocaust. Grynszpan's actions brought immense attention to the plight of Jews in Nazi Germany, making him a historical figure whose story is layered with both tragedy and controversy.
As of 2025, Grynszpan would be 104 years old. The historical implications of his actions continue to be analyzed in various academic and historical contexts.
| Occupation | Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 28, 1921 |
| Age | 104 Years |
| Birth Place | Hanover, Weimar Republic |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country |
Popularity
Herschel Grynszpan's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details regarding Herschel Grynszpan's height and weight remain sparse due to the era he lived in, it is often acknowledged in historical references that he was of average build for a young man in the early 20th century. His physical stats have little bearing on his legacy; instead, it is his actions and the consequences of those actions that have left an indelible mark on history.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Herschel Grynszpan's family context plays a crucial role in understanding his motivations. He was part of a Jewish family that faced significant persecution and displacement due to the rise of Nazi ideology. Specific details regarding any romantic relationships are scarce, as Grynszpan's focus appeared to be on the broader Jewish plight rather than personal engagements.
There are currently no public records or verified accounts detailing his dating life or relationships in 2025.
It is generally assumed that Grynszpan did not survive World War II, and he was declared dead in absentia by the West German government in 1960. This was done at the request of his parents, who said they had not heard anything from him in over 15 years, which was out of character for him.
However, this remains a matter of dispute: Kurt Grossman claimed in 1957 that Grynszpan lived in Paris under another identity. A photograph of a man resembling Grynszpan was cited in 2016 as evidence to support the claim that he was still alive in Bamberg, Germany, on 3 July 1946.
Net Worth and Salary
As a historical figure who was notably linked to significant events surrounding World War II, Herschel Grynszpan does not have a net worth in the conventional sense, especially as he would not have received financial gain for his actions. In modern discussions, the focus on his financial status would be overshadowed by the historical and ethical implications of his assassination of Ernst vom Rath.
"I am speaking of this boy. Soon he will go on trial. The news is that on top of all this terror, this horror, one more must pay. They say he will go to the guillotine, without a trial by jury, with the rights that any common murderer has... Who is on trial in this case? I say we are all on trial.
I say the men of Munich are on trial, who signed a pact without one word of protection for helpless minorities. Whether Herschel Grynszpan lives or not won't matter much to Herschel. He was prepared to die when he fired those shots. His young life was already ruined. Since then, his heart has been broken into bits by the results of his deed.
Career, Business and Investments
Herschel Grynszpan did not have a career in the typical sense. His notoriety stems primarily from his act of political assassination, which occurred when he was just 17 years old. Following his act, he became an orphan wandering a tumultuous world, and little is known about any subsequent endeavors or aspirations he may have had in the years that followed.
In 2025, discussions about Grynszpan usually focus on historical analysis rather than career achievements or business ventures.
In Paris, he lived in a small Yiddish-speaking enclave of Polish Orthodox Jews. Grynszpan met few people outside it, learning only a few words of French in two years. He initially lived a carefree, bohemian life as a "poet of the streets", spending his days aimlessly wandering and reciting Yiddish poems to himself.
Grynszpan's two greatest interests, other than exploring Paris, were spending time in coffeehouses and going to the cinema. He spent this period unsuccessfully trying to become a legal resident of France because he could neither work nor study legally.
Grynszpan's German re-entry permit expired in April 1937 and his Polish passport expired in January 1938, leaving him without papers. The Paris Police Prefecture ruled in July 1937 that he had no basis for remaining in France, and he was ordered to leave the following month. Grynszpan had no desire to return to Germany.
In March 1938, Poland passed a law depriving Polish citizens who had lived continuously abroad for more than five years of their citizenship. Grynszpan became a stateless person as a result, and continued to live illegally in Paris.
Lonely and living in poverty on the margins of French life as an illegal immigrant, with no real skills, he grew increasingly desperate and angry as his situation worsened.
Social Network
Grynszpan's life has been discussed in various books, documentaries, and scholarly articles, reflecting on his impact during a critical period in history. While he may not have had social media in a contemporary sense, his legacy has made waves in historical discourse, leading to ongoing conversations in platforms dedicated to history, culture, and social justice.
"The origin of the story of homosexuality was the defendant's French attorney, Maitre Moro-Giafferi. He claimed in 1947 that he simply invented the story as a possible line of defence, one that would put the affair in an entirely new light.
In fact, however, rumours about Rath's homosexuality were in the air in Paris immediately after the assassination.
Whatever the origins of the story, its utility was obvious: the murder could be presented not as a political act but as a crime passionel – a lover's quarrel, in which the German diplomat could be judged incidentally as having seduced a minor.
Moro-Giafferi shared the fears of the Grynszpan committee at the time of Kristallnacht that a political trial would be a catastrophe for the Jews of Germany and elsewhere. By adopting this legal strategy, they hoped to defuse the affair and also reduce the penalty drastically, possibly even prompting a suspended sentence."
Education
Detailed records of Grynszpan's education are limited, but it is known that he had a budding interest in politics and social issues. His education was heavily influenced by the environment of persecution and disenfranchisement faced by Jewish communities in Europe during his formative years. Furthermore, Grynszpan's actions suggest he was a politically aware individual who understood the consequences of his actions effectively.
The Grynszpan family was known as Ostjuden ("Eastern Jews") by the Germans and many West European Jews. The "Ostjuden" usually spoke Yiddish and tended to be more religiously observant, impoverished, and less educated. Herschel dropped out of school at age 14.
Grynszpan was considered by his teachers to be intelligent, if rather lazy, a student who never seemed to try to excel at his studies. He later complained that his teachers disliked him because he was an Ostjude, and he was treated as an outcast by his German teachers and fellow students.
As a child and a teenager, Grynszpan was known for his violent temper and his tendency to respond to antisemitic insults with his fists and was frequently suspended from school for fighting.
