Lavoslav Singer (1866–1942) was a

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

n industrialist notable for his role in the development of

Bjelovar Bjelovar (, , Czech language, Czech: ''Bělovar'' or ''Bělovár,'' Kajkavian dialect, Kajkavian: ''Belovar,'' Latin: ''Bellovarium'') is a city in central Croatia. In the Demographics of Croatia, 2021 census, its population was 36,316 . It is ...

. Singer was born in the village of

Bulinac Bulinac is a village in Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, S ...

(part of

Nova Rača Nova Rača (historically ''Racha'' and ''Ratcha,'' old Hungarian language, Hungarian name ''Racsa'' ), often shortened as just Rača, is a settlement and municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. Demographics According to the 2021 census, ...

), into a Croatian

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

family of Josip (Yosef) Singer. He was educated at the best business schools in

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...

. Upon completion of his education he was engaged in industrial revolution that led to the development of factories in Bjelovar. Singer developed the milling industry in Bjelovar, but was also active in the development of coal mining, gravel extraction from the river

Drava The Drava or Drave (, ; ; ; ; ), historically known as the Dravis or Dravus, is a river in southern Central Europe.

and its shipment to the big cities, and has also extracted gold from Drava. Singer was one of the leading

financier An investor is a person who allocates financial capital with the expectation of a future return (profit) or to gain an advantage (interest). Through this allocated capital the investor usually purchases some species of property. Types of in ...

s and representative of concessionaires that built the railway Bjelovar-

Garešnica Garešnica is a town in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. It is located in the geographical region of Moslavina. There are a total of 10,472 inhabitants, of whom 85% are Croats. Garešnica is located in central Croatia at the foot of Moslavačk ...

Grubišno Polje Grubišno Polje (Czech: ''Hrubečné Pole,'' Hungarian'': Grobosinc,'' German'': Poglack'') is a town in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. Demographics In the 1991 census, the settlement had equal numbers of Serbs and Croatians, but during the ...

. He was one of the most important and wealthiest townsman of Bjelovar. Singer was married to Amalia (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Herenshtein) Singer. Being Jews, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Singer and his wife were forced to wear yellow star of David on their clothes. In 1942 Singer and his wife were arrested and deported to

Auschwitz concentration camp Auschwitz, or Oświęcim, was a complex of over 40 Nazi concentration camps, concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany, occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) d ...

where they were killed during the

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

. He was 76 years old.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Singer, Lavoslav 1866 births 1942 deaths People from Nova Rača Croatian businesspeople Croatian people who died in Auschwitz concentration camp Croatian civilians killed in World War II Croatian Jews who died in the Holocaust Businesspeople from Austria-Hungary