THON, ALBERT

THON, ALBERT (1899–1942), Polish lawyer, author, and public worker. Born in Lemberg (Lvov), Thon was a founder of the Zionist youth movement in Austrian-ruled Galicia. After World War I, within the framework of the american jewish joint distribution committee , he worked for the rehabilitation of Polish Jews affected by the war. He also participated in the elaboration of aid programs for emigration, such as the establishment of a bank for emigration purposes. In 1922 Thon moved to Lodz, where he became a Zionist leader and was active among the Jewish intelligentsia. With the advent of Hitler, he devoted himself to the organization of the anti-nazi boycott , especially in industry. In his capacity as a lawyer, he defended Jews accused of political offenses and published books on law. Arrested by the Gestapo in 1939 because of anti-Nazi activities, he escaped to Lvov in 1941, but was captured a year later and sent to a death camp. (Moshe Landau)