Hillel Katz

Katz was a communist activist who met Trepper in Palestine, where his parents had settled. His father was a teacher. ==Red Orchestra==

When he moved to Paris, Katz concealed his Jewish origins and legalised himself as a Frenchman under the name Andre Dubois. In Paris, Katz was one of the two main assistants to Trepper, along with Leon Grossvogel. Katz was totally dedicated, both to Trepper and the Communist cause. Trepper described him in a quote as: A mason, he knows how to handle the trowel and build a house. During that period, Katz worked in a Racine bookshop where he managed the Youth fund. The book shop was popular with militants and political refugees. In September 1939, Katz enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. He was captured and taken prisoner in June 1940 during the German advance, but managed to escape with Aldred Corbin by swimming across the River Somme. After his escape, Katz started to use the alias André Dubois. Corbin would become a chicken breeder and inventor of poultry feed. Katz would later recruit him for the Trepper group, to store a radio transmitter in Giverny where his poultry farm was located. Corbin would later become the commercial director of Simex. ==Operations==

Katz was always cheerful and his direct and frank approach combined with his optimistic demeanour garnered him many friends. Katz, who knew many of Trepper's contacts and acquaintances, carried out many of Trepper operations personally. ==Arrest==

On 25 November 1942, Trepper was arrested by Gestapo officer Karl Giering and immediately offered to collaborate with the Abwehr. On 2 December 1942, Hillel Katz was arrested. According to the report that was written by Gestapo officer Heinz Pannwitz (sources vary), it was Trepper himself who betrayed Katz by phoning Katz up and arranging a meeting at the Madeleine metro station in Paris, in what was a trap by the Gestapo. Trepper allegedly gave up the names and addresses of most of the members of his own network, the first people he betrayed were Katz and Grossvogel. However, according to Gestapo officer Hans Reiser, it was Abraham Rajchmann, a member of the group, and an Abwehr informer, who told Reiser where Katz would likely be staying. Katz was moved to a house belonging to Karl Bömelburg at 40 boulevard Victor Hugo, Neuilly-sur-Seine at Trepper's insistence. Trepper informed Katz of his plan to escape from Neuilly, but Katz refused to follow as his wife and children were being held as hostages. On 13 September 1943, Trepper escaped Gestapo custody under watch while visiting a pharmacy. After Trepper escaped, Katz was taken to the Rue des Sausasaies in Paris and tortured to determine if he knew anything of the escape plan, but he never betrayed Trepper. After Trepper's escape, Katz disappeared. It is not known what happened to him but he was likely tried at a Luftwaffe court martial, presided over by Judge Advocate Manfred Roeder and then either likely shot or deported to a concentration camp, as happened to many other people associated with the Red Orchestra in France. ==See also==