More from his Wikipedia page, and repeating something mentioned earlier:
Before leaving the United Kingdom, Veidt gave his life savings to the British government to help finance the war effort.
Realizing that Hollywood would most likely typecast him in Nazi roles, he had his contract mandate that they must always be villains.
There’s a man who knew all about the insidious attraction of “Draco In Leather Pants” 64 years before TV Tropes even existed.
During an interview after playing Major Strasser in “Casablanca”, he said:
“This role epitomizes the cruelty and the criminal instincts and murderous trickery of the typical Nazi. I know this man well. He is a man who turned fanatic and betrayed his friends, his homeland, and himself in his lust to be somebody and to get something for nothing.”
Even after leaving England, Veidt was concerned over the plight of children cooped up in London air raid shelters, and he decided to try to cheer up their holiday.
Through his attorneys in London, Veidt donated enough money to purchase 2,000 one-pound tins of candy, 2,000 large packets of chocolate, and 1,000 wrapped envelopes containing presents of British currency. The gifts went to children of needy families in various air raid shelters in the London area during Christmas 1940.
The air raid shelter marshal wrote back to Veidt thanking him for the gifts. Noting Veidt’s unusual kindness, he stated in his letter to him, “It is significant to note that, as far as is known to me, you are the only member of the Theatrical Profession who had the thought to send Christmas presents to the London children.”
Conrad Veidt was - and is - a man to admire, for all sorts of reasons.
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