Brigitte Bardot

When Brigitte Bardot passed away recently, we did the thing we usually do — no, not check for Jewish ancestry, we knew Bardot didn't have any, or we would have profiled her years ago — but did a cursory check for a Jewish spouse, because, well, you never know. When we saw that husband #3 had the last name Sachs, that rang some bells, didn't it. Gunther Sachs, an heir of the prominent Sachs family... Alas, not the Sachs family that you're probably thinking of. Alas, alas, alas...

Our obvious association to the Sachs family went straight to the bankers. Back in 1904, Marcus Goldman joined son-in-law Samuel Sachs in forming the famous investment bank (Goldman Sachs, duh). And knowing how often some of the world's most beautiful women are attracted to wealth... (We know it's a stereotype, but come on!)

Wrong rich Sachs family; "Gunther" should have been our first hint. Brigitte's husband was the grandchild of German industrialist Ernst Sachs, who started his own company, Fischel & Sachs, back in 1895. It made motors, bicycle and auto parts, and still exists to this day as ZF Sachs. Son Willy took over from Ernst in 1932; he was a member of the SS, ranked obersturmbannfuhrer. His company made weapons for the Nazis. Gunther was his son. Alas indeed.

So this is why, despite failing to find a Jewish connection, it is Brigitte Bardot herself headlining this profile. Alas?