Szymon Askenazy, an outstanding historian, creator of the school of Polish historiography, diplomat and promoter of Jewish assimilation, died on 22 June 1935.

He was born in 1865 in Zawichost on the Vistula into an Orthodox Jewish family engaged in trade. He grew up in an atmosphere of Polish patriotism. Askenazy graduated in law from the University of Warsaw and in history from the University of Göttingen. After graduation, he settled in Lwów (today’s Lviv), where he worked at the university as a lecturer and head of the Department of Modern Polish History.

He was interested in Polish history of the eighteenth and early twentieth centuries, political issues and international relations. In his research, he often used diplomatic sources. He created a school of historical analysis called Askenazy’s school. He was famous for his excellent memory and lecturing without using notes. Askenazy wanted to influence the political education of Poles. He opposed the ideas of the Kraków historical school, which saw the cause of the collapse of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth mainly in the anachronistic political system.

Szymon Askenazy was involved in activities aiming at the assimilation of Polish Jews. Together with Hipolit Wawelberg, he established a support fund for Jewish students and young scientists. He also researched the history of Jews in Poland and was one of the founders of “Kwartalnik Poświęcony Badaniu Przeszłości Żydów w Polsce” (A quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study of the Past of Jews in Poland).

After the outbreak of World War I, Askenazy went to Switzerland. He was a co-founder of the Aid Committee for War Victims in Poland. After Poland regained independence, he was the minister plenipotentiary to the League of Nations in Geneva. He also promoted Polish interests with his publications (he issued the famous book “Gdansk and Poland”, translated into English, French and German). Many eminent Polish historians were his followers, e.g. Władysław Konopczyński or Marian Kukiel.

Szymon Askenazy is buried in the Jewish cemetery in Warsaw.