Romi Goldmuntz (

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

, 1882–1960) was a

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

businessman who played an essential role in the survival of the diamond business in Antwerp. In 1920, his diamond company employed about 600 workers. Romi and his brother Léopold were important customers of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC, a subsidiary of De Beers). After

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, in 1918 he persuaded the people who had lived in exile in

the Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

during the war, to return to Antwerp. He succeeded again after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

in 1945, to convince those living in New York to return to Belgium. Romi Goldmuntz also founded the Diamond Office in Antwerp. The cultural center ''Romi Goldmuntz Center'' and the ''Great Synagogue Romi Goldmuntz'' in Antwerp are named after him.

Sources

Belgian Jewish Heritage

Diamond cutter
1882 births 1960 deaths 20th-century Belgian businesspeople Belgian Jews {{Belgium-business-bio-stub

See also

Sources