Oton Vinski

Who is Oton Vinski?

Oton Vinski was an influential Croatian banker who was killed during the Holocaust.

Vinski was born in Osijek on 20 March 1877, as Otto Weiss, to a Jewish family of Franjo and Berta Weiss. Vinski was married to Štefanija Vinski, of the notable Zagreb Jewish family, Alexander. Together they had two sons: Zdenko and Ivo. In 1918, Vinski changed his name and surname. He was employed as a procurator and chief executive of the "Croatian Discount Bank" in Zagreb. During World War II, Vinski was arrested and deported to Jasenovac concentration camp together with his mother in law Ilka Alexander, where they were both killed in 1942. When his wife returned home, nobody was left. By mere chance Vinski's wife and sons have survived the Holocaust. His wife died in Zagreb 1959.