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Charles Bloch

Charles Bloch was an Israeli historian of Europe and France and one of the founders of the history department at Tel Aviv University.

1921 to 1987Founding Tel Aviv University's history departmentResearch on French and European historyTeaching at Nanterre University

Born: 19 May 1921, Berlin
Died: 14 June 1987, Berlin
Occupation: historian
Education: University of Paris

Charles Bloch was born in 1921 in Berlin

Charles Bloch was born in Berlin in 1921. His father, Alexander Bloch, was a socialist intellectual and a founder of the Independent Social Democratic Party in the Weimar Republic. His uncle Joseph Bloch, also a socialist activist, had a strong influence on him.

When the Nazis came to power, he moved with his parents to the Land of Israel and settled in Haifa. In 1954 he completed a doctorate at the Sorbonne on relations between Britain and France.

In 1955 he returned to Israel, and Tel Aviv mayor Haim Levanon asked him to set up the history department at the new Tel Aviv University. He was the university's first professor of modern history and became a full professor in 1973. He taught European history from the Reformation to World War II and promoted the study of Islamic and Arab history.

He was also on the history faculty of Nanterre University in Paris and divided his time between Paris and Tel Aviv. He spoke out on politics in Israel, France and West Germany and supported peace between Arabs and Jews. He was married to Jacqueline and died in 1987.

Milestones in Charles Bloch's life

1921
Born in Berlin.
1954
Completed a doctorate at the Sorbonne.
1955
Returned to Israel to set up the history department at Tel Aviv University.
1973
Became a full professor.
1987
Died.