Armin T. Wegner ( October 16 1886 -- May 17 1978 ) was a soldier in World War I , a writer and a co-creator of German Expressionism , a political activist for Armenian and Jewish human rights , and a victim of Nazi persecution . Armin Theophil Wegner ( October 16 , 1886 -- May 17 , 1978 ) was a German soldier and medic in World War I , a prolific author and a seminal figure in German Expressionism , a human rights activist , and a victim of Nazi persecution .