The extraordinary bravery and compassion of Dr. Mohammed ‘Mod’ Helmy, an Egyptian-German medical doctor, have been immortalized through a touching Google Doodle. Created by the talented artist Noa Snir from Berlin, the illustration captures Dr. Helmy with his arms wrapped around the Jewish community, symbolizing his unwavering dedication to saving lives during the horrors of the Second World War.
Google Doodle, a platform that celebrates the achievements of individuals, ideas, traditions, and events, has chosen to pay tribute to the heroic deeds of Dr. Helmy.
Hailing from Sudan, Mohammed Helmy underwent medical training and practiced at the former Robert Koch Hospital in Berlin. However, the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933 brought about the dismissal of foreign staff, including Dr. Helmy, solely based on their ethnicity. Despite this setback, he demonstrated incredible resilience and continued to help others in any way he could.
Dr. Helmy faced arrest twice in 1939 and 1940, but his ill-health led to his release on both occasions, sparing him from internment. Under the oppressive Nazi rule, he faced further challenges, including the inability to marry his German fiancée and a downgrade in his professional role to that of a doctor’s assistant. Despite these hardships, he remained undeterred and found ways to aid innocent people, writing sick notes to shield them from forced labor.
However, Dr. Helmy’s most heroic act was sheltering a Jewish patient named Anna Boros from the clutches of the Nazis. Despite being under constant police investigation, he never hesitated to provide refuge and assistance to Ms. Boros’s family, helping them escape capture.
Berlin artist Noa Snir, coming from a Jewish background herself, found Dr. Helmy’s story deeply moving and a source of hope. She was inspired by his courage and integrity, even in the face of persecution due to his own background and ethnicity.
Dr. Helmy’s life of selflessness and bravery continued to impact others long after his passing in 1982 at the age of 80. On what would have been his 122nd birthday, the Google Doodle serves as a poignant reminder of his remarkable legacy.
The Doodle appears in various countries, including the UK, Cuba, Iceland, Germany, Slovakia, Czechia, and Israel. Noa Snir skillfully depicted Dr. Helmy, drawing from historical stamps and imbuing the artwork with a sense of the tumultuous wartime era, intertwined with the hope that his actions represent.
In a time of darkness, Dr. Helmy’s incredible acts of courage and compassion shine as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, inspiring us all to be better and kinder, no matter the circumstances.
