Manfred Katz
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Manfred Katz | |
|---|---|
 Katz in 1980 | |
| Born | August 18, 1934 |
| Died | July 2, 2006 (aged 71) |
| Occupation | restaurateur |
Manfred Katz (August 18, 1934 – July 2, 2006) was a German-Israeli restaurateur who established Israel's first pizza chain, Rimini, that had more than 30 branches in Israel during the 1980s. Throughout his life, Katz designed and operated more than 100 restaurants of different cuisines primarily in Germany and Israel.[1] By age 42 Katz had 52 restaurants in Hamburg, Germany including pizza parlors, steakhouses, delis and night clubs.[2] Katz was also often referred to as “the pizza king of Hamburg.” [3][4]
Katz was born in Nentershausen (Hessen), Germany, to Martha and Willi Katz, a shoemaker. Manfred has two brothers Bert and a twin brother Carlos Katz. From the time the Nazis came to power, the family had faced racial discrimination and religious persecution, as well as dispossession of their property and denial of their right of existence. In November 1938, Willi Katz was badly abused by members of the Sturmabteilung, the shoemaking business premises and the apartment were devastated.[5] After difficult means to arrange the escape, in late September 1940, Katz family members were among the very last three groups of German Jews to successfully flee to safety. The journey went across the Soviet Union on the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok, from there by train through Japanese occupied Manchuria (China) and Korea, by ferry to Japan, across Japan by train, and by ship from Japan to South America.[6] Ecuador was a country that still accepted Jews when very few other countries would, where they finally settled. The family was living in the Andes between a tribe of the Quechua people. Agricultural work was a prerequisite for guest rights. Later, they stayed in the capital Quito when it was allowed.[7] Given the cultural gap, Manfred dropped out of school after a few years. He had a passion for boxing and became a successful boxer and won the Ecuadorian championship. When a delegation travelled to East Berlin, Katz participated in the World Youth championship.
In 1952, with very little money Katz travelled via a ship to a Kibbutz in Israel where he established. Katz joined the Israeli army. Through coincidence, his unit was involved in a fight on 21. August 1955, from which Katz emerged as a hero. He got a high award, Medal of Courage, for bravery in combat. This in turn brings Katz to an elite unit of parachutists.[8] It is alleged that Katz worked for the Israeli secret service Mossad in the 1960s.
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