Wladimir Rosenbaum (1894 - 1984), of Russian and Jewish descent, left a profound mark on Swiss and international history in the 20th century.
From an early age, Rosenbaum faced challenges and dangers from the Tsarist pogroms against Jews in his hometown of Minsk. In 1902, he and his family fled to Switzerland, specifically to Lausanne and then to Zurich, where he received a valuable education and graduated from high school. His passion for law led him to study at the renowned universities of Zurich and Bern.
Thanks to his marked intelligence and dedication, Wladimir Rosenbaum obtained Swiss citizenship and even served in the military in Canton Ticino, where he learned Italian. During his student years, Rosenbaum worked for the Swiss government, demonstrating his commitment to building a better society.
In 1923, he achieved one of his main goals, becoming a lawyer and opening a law office in the prestigious Baumwollhof in Zurich. But his connection with Canton Ticino was not limited only to occasional visits; together with his wife Aline Valangin, in 1930, he bought the building "La Barca" in Comologno, turning it into an important oasis for artists and anti-fascists. Among the distinguished guests who frequented the place, the name of Secondino Tranquillo, known as Ignazio Silone, stands out.
But Wladimir Rosenbaum's true courage and determination emerged during the Spanish Civil War, when, as a staunch anti-fascist, he actively engaged in secretly supplying arms to the Republican forces, which opposed Francisco Franco's dictatorial regime. However, his dedication to the cause led him to face serious consequences: in 1937, he was arrested and, following a trial, his license to practice law was permanently revoked. This unjust loss of professional status practically forced him into poverty.
From 1939, Wladimir Rosenbaum lived in Ascona's Casa Serodine, devoting himself to antiques. His presence left a significant imprint on the local community, but his life was never the same again. Rosenbaum's legacy and valor were well described by Elio Canevascini, a volunteer doctor in Spain and son of Guglielmo Canevascini, who revealed his involvement in the passage of weapons across the Ossola border, helping Italian partisans too.