Organizations Involved in Holocaust Rescue

Introduction

There were hundreds of rescue organizations involved in the rescue of Jews and other refugees during the period of the Holocaust. These organizations were located throughout Nazi occupied Europe, neutral Europe, Asia, Australia, and the free world.

Purpose

The purpose of this list is to compile a complete database of organizations that were involved in the rescue, relief, and aid of Jews and other victims of the Nazis and their collaborators. This list covers organizations that were in operation between 1933 and 1945.

This list includes mostly secular organizations involved in rescue, however, religious affiliated organizations founded principally for rescue and relief activities are included in this list. For example, the American Friends Service Committee (AFFSC), USA, The Unitarian Service Committee (USC), USA, Christian Friendship (Amitié Chrétien) and CIMADE, France.  

We have not included Jewish rescue organizations in this compilation list.  We have created a separate website that documents and lists the major Jewish rescue organizations and their memberships.  It can be accessed at: www.jewishholocaustrescuers.com/Organizations.html.

This list is organized alphabetically.

The list includes organizations that operated in Axis countries: Germany, Austria, Japan, Bulgaria, Hungary, etc. It also represents rescue organizations in Nazi occupied countries: Belgium, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, and Luxembourg. Neutral countries: Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Turkey. The free world, countries including: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the USA.

This compilation list of organizations is a work in progress.  We will be adding more organizations in the future.  In addition, we will be adding and expanding the descriptions of these organizations.  Many of the individuals who worked in rescue and relief organizations were members of numerous organizations and can be found in other sections of this rescue website.  Please see other sections, including Rescue by Country, Rescue by Governments and Leaders, Diplomatic Rescue, Rescue by Religious Organizations, and Jewish Rescuers.

Organizations Involved in the Rescue and Relief of Jews

A-B          C-D          E-H           I           J-N          O-R           S           T-V          W-Z

Note: +arrested; †tortured; *killed; ●Righteous Among the Nations (honored by the State of Israel)

click here for key to abbreviations of organization names

Abegg Rescue Network, Berlin, Germany (Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2004, p. 67)

Elisabeth Abegg● (b. 1882), Quaker, hid, sheltered and protected numerous Jews in her Berlin apartment, worked with the Quakers in finding shelter and helping persecuted Jews, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title May 23, 1967 (Yad Vashem Archives)


AC, see Christian Friendship, France


ACCR, see American Committee for Christian German Refugees


Academic Assistance Council, Great Britain, est April 1933


Academic Rifle and Sports Club (Akademisk Skytteforeings Terrainsportsafdling), Copenhagen, Denmark (Yahil, 1969, p. 243)

Helped Jews who were in hiding during October 1943 deporations.


Reverend Bastian Jan Adler Rescue Network, Nieuw Beerta, Groningen, Netherlands (Gutman, 2004, p. 57)

Hid, sheltered and moved Jews to keep them safe from arrest and deportation during the German occupation of Holland.  Reverend Adler was denounced by an associate and was arrested and executed by German authorities.  Johanna, his wife, continued rescue activities after his death.  It is estimated that they saved between 200 and 300 Jews.

Reverend Bastian (Bas) Jan Adler●+* (alias Gerard van Zaanen) , awarded Righteous Among the Nations title November 22, 1967 (Yad Vashem Archives)

Johanna Adler-Appels●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title November 22, 1967 (Yad Vashem Archives)


Adventist Church, Budapest, Hungary

Lazlo Michani, pastor


African Resettlement Plan (Feingold, 1970, pp. 92, 102-105, 107)

Bernard Baruch


AFSC, see American Friends’ Service Committee (Quakers)


Aide aux Abandonnés, Belgium, see also Oeuvre National de Service Social aux Familles de Militaires (Brachfeld, 1997, pp. 88-89)

Helped 350 Jews, 300 of whom were children.

George Rhodius, founer, director of Oeuvre National de Service Social aux Familles de Militaires (Brachfeld, 1997, pp. 88-89)


Alaskan Development Committee, 1940, USA (Feingold, 1970, pp. 94-99)

The Alaskan Development Committee was created to promote the idea that refugees could be successfully settled in the US territory of Alaska, and that it would be good for economic reasons to do so.  Refugees could stimulate the economy there.  This plan was supported by Interior Secretary Harold Ickes.

Frank Klingdon, USA, Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC)

Paul Tillich, USA

Joseph Chamberlain, USA, PACPR

Harry Slattery


Alaskan Resettlement Corporation for Refugees, est 1939


Alvin Corporation, USA

Dr. Alvin Johnson, USA


American Ambulance Corps, France (Fry, 1945; Subac, 2010, p. 45, 70)

Leon “Dick” Ball (Fry, 1945; Sudak, 2010, p. 45)

Charlie Fawcett (Fry, 1945; Sudak, 2010, p. 45)

members of the Emergency Rescue Committee, France


American Association of University Women, Inc. (AAUW), Washington, DC, USA, established 1882 (AAUW Archives)


American Center of PEN, USA


American Christian Committee for Refugees, Inc. (ACCR), New York, NY, USA, established 1934 (Refugee Scholar Fund)

(Freudenberg; Lazare, 1996, p. 27; Moore, 2010, p. 129; ACCR, Toward a New Life: 10 Years of Stewardship: The American Christian Committee for Refugees.  New York, 1945.  Romanofsky, Social Service Organizations, pp. 43-46, 238-241.  Wetzel, “American Rescue,” pp. 302-308.)

            Dr. Cabert


American Civil Liberties Association (ACLU), New York, NY, USA, established 1920 (Princeton University Archives, Morse, 1967, pp. 146-147)


American Committee for Christian German Refugees (ACCR), USA, established February 1934 (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Close, 1953; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976, pp. 164-220; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33, 1065-1066; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)


American Committee for Émigré Scholars, Writers and Artists, USA (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Close, 1953; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976, pp. 164-220; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)


American Committee for Relief in Czechoslovakia (Subak, 2010, p. 14)

Supplied funds for the relief of Czechoslovakia, headed by Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University in New York.  Money was provided to Martha and Waitstill Sharp to help Jewish refugees.

Nicholas Murray Butler, committee head, President of Columbia University (Subak, 2010, p. 14)


American Committee for the Guidance of Professional Personnel, USA, established 1938 (New York Public Library, Records and Archives Div., NUCMC MS 76-1507)


American Committee for the Protection of Foreign Born, established 1931


American Committee for the Protection of Minorities, USA (Feingold, 1970, p. 24)


American Committee for the Relief of Victimized German Children, USA (Zucker, 2008, pp. 31-32)


American Committee to Save Refugees, USA


American Congregationalist, USA (Moore, 2010, p.145)


American Council for Émigrés in the Professions, Inc. (ACEP), New York, NY, established 1945 (Lessing, Oral History; University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center)


American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service, Inc., New York, NY, USA, established 1943

(American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Close, 1953; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976, pp. 164-220; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33, 1065-1066; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Pickett, Clarence E. For More than Bread: An Autobiographical Account of Twenty-five Years with the AFSC. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1953; Ross, 1981; Romanofsky, Social Service Organizations, pp. 55-59; Council Office Records)

Joseph P. Chamberlain, founder

Clarence Pickett, founder American Friends Service Committee (AFSC; Pickett, 1953)


American Danzig Association, New York, NY, USA, established December 1941 (Leo Baeck Institute Archives)

Dr. Bernhard Kamnitzer


American Federation of Labor (AFL & CIO), USA, Marseilles, Vichy France 1940-1941

(American Labor Conference on International Affairs. “Guide to the American Labor Conference on International Affairs Records, 1939-1950,” Taminent Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/tamwag/alcia.html; Fry, 1945, pp. 7-12, 22-23, 33-34, 51, 54-56, 59, 80-81, 92-93. Marino, 1999, pp. 114-117, 134, 151, 158, 160, 186; Isenberg, pp. 12, 15-17, 74, 81, 85, 86, 97, 105; Ryan, 1996, p. 141.)

AFL National USA

Matt Woll, vice president, USA

William Green, president, USA

Dr. Frank Bohn, Marseilles, USA, France, representative

Dr. Frank Bohn, of the American Federation of Labor, was active in the rescue of Jews in Marseilles, 1940-41.  He worked alongside the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) to help save labor leaders, union officials, democratic politicians and other refugees who were being sought under article 19 by the Gestapo and the Nazis.  Varian Fry was told about Frank Bohn’s activities before he left for Marseilles.  In addition, many of these refugees had been opposition forces against the Nazi’s and had been fighting fascism’s rise in Europe since the early 1930’s.  Many of the refugees rescued by Bohn were Jews.

Frank Bohn, like Varian Fry, was heavily involved in the illegal activity of smuggling refugees into Spain over the Pyrenees Mountains.  Bohn worked with various foreign consulates in Marseilles to obtain passports, visas and other papers.  Frank Bohn received much help from Hiram “Harry” Bingham at the American consulate in Marseilles.  Bohn was not above obtaining fake documentation and passports for his refugees.  Early on in their missions, Fry and Bohn agreed to divide their activities in the rescue of refugees.  Fry and the ERC would help artists, and Bohn would take care of labor leaders politicians and political activists.

National Congress of Industrial Organizations War Relief Committee(CIO), USA

Phillip Murray, USA, president

Dr. Frank Bohn, USA


American Friends of Czechoslovakia, USA (Moore, 2010, pp. 26, 382n132; Subak, 2010, pp. 42-43)

Samuel Atkins Eliot, committee chair, Unitarian Service Committee (Subak, 2010)


American Friends of German Freedom, USA (Marino, 1999, p. 40)

Harold Oram

Reinhold Niebuhr, chairman


American Friends’ Service Committee (AFSC; Society of Friends; Quakers), headquarters Philadelphia, PA, USA, Southern France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, 1938-1945, established 1917; received Nobel Peace Prize in 1947; see also Nîmes Committee (Camps Committee), France.

The American Friends Service Committee was instrumental in providing food, clothing and shelter for many thousands of refugees in the Vichy zone.  The AFSC had offices in Paris, Marseilles, Perpignan, Toulouse, Auch and Moutauban.

The AFSC concentrated its activities on helping to supply food to populations in the unoccupied zone of France.  Fifty percent of the AFSC aid was given to French citizens.  Much of the food relief came from the United States until March 1941.  AFSC also supplied aid to internees in French concentration camps.  The AFSC also aided Jewish refugees in leaving the Vichy zone. 

The American Friends’ Service Committee worked on a non-sectarian basis and established a very effective aid program in the French concentration camps.  They supplied food, medicine, clothing and other material to the needy refugees.  They set up libraries and schools for refugee children.  The AFSC worked particularly in the camps around Marseilles, Toulouse and Montauban.  They worked closely with OSE to save Jewish children.

(American Friends Service Committee Archive, Philadelphia, PA; JDC Archives, NYC; HIAS-HICEM Archives, YIVO, NYC; United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives, Washington, DC; Bauer, 1981, pp. 26-27, 40, 49, 114, 155-156, 207, 240, 245, 251, 287, 310, 404; Byrd, 1960; Fry, 1945; pp. 37; Genizi, 1983, pp. 172-214; Gold, 1980, pp. 155, 162, 334; Gutman, 2007, pp.419-420; Halle, 1979, pp. 129, 130, 132-138, 159, 167-168, 264; Isenberg; Lowrie, 1963; Marino, 1999, pp. 107, 150-151; Morse, 1967, pp. 167, 253, 258, 263, 330; Moore, 2010, pp. 34, 42, 123, 139-141; Pickett, 1953; Ryan, 1996, pp. 52, 88, 91, 93, 94, 103, 106, 122, 137, 138, 139, 148-157, 161, 175, 216; Subak, 2010, pp. 26, 37, 67, 96-97, 161, 181; Vining, 1958; Hanstein, K.H., Refugee Services of the American Friends Service Committee: An Historial Summary. Philadelphia, 1967.  Romanofsky, Social Service Organizations, pp. 75-79.  Wetzel, “American Rescue,” pp. 237-287.  Wyman, Paper Walls.)

Rufus Jones (USA), Leader

Clarence Pickett (USA), Chairman (Pickett, 1953)

Elizabeth Abegg● (1967), Berlin, Germany (1882-1957; Gutman, 1990)

David J. Blickenstaff (USA), Lisbon, Portugal; Spain (JDC Archives, NYC; HIAS-HICEM Archives, YIVO, NYC)

David J. Blickenstaff was the American Friends’ Service Committee representative in Spain and Portugal from April 1943 until the end of the war.  Blickenstaff supervised the distribution of relief funds and activities in France.  He helped look after inmates at the Miranda del Ebero internment camp.  He also represented the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee there.

Phillip B. Conrad (USA), Lisbon, Portugal (JDC Archives, NYC)

Lindsey Nobel, USA, France (Ryan, 1996, p. 151)

Lindsey Nobel was the head of the American Friends’ Service Committee (Quakers) in Marseilles.  Nobel was a member of the Nimes Committee.

Howard E. Kershner (USA), Marseilles, France, 1940-1941 (Marino, 1999; Ryan, 1996, p. 151)

Howard Kershner was in overall supervision of the American Friends’ Service Committee (Quakers) relief efforts in Europe, including Southern France.


Roswell D. McClelland (USA), Southern France, later WRB representative, Geneva, Switzerland, 1944-1945 (Ryan, 1996, p. 151)

Ross McClelland worked with the American Friends’ Service Committee and coordinated relief efforts in the French concentration camps, including Les Milles.  McClelland was a member of the Nimes Committee.  He later was a field representative of the War Refugee Board.

Henry Harvey, Vichy Representative

Burns Chalmers, Marseilles, Southern France (Halle, 1979, pp. 130, 132-138,159, 167-168, 274; Marino, 1999; Moore, 2010, p. 140; Ryan, 1996)

Gilbert Lesage, Head, Service Social des Estrangers (SSE; Moore, 2010, p. 142)

Helga Holbek● (Gutman, 2003)

Alice Resch Synnestvedt● (“Miss Resch”; Gutman, 2003)

Gerhard Schwersensky● (b. 1909; Gutman, 2003)

Ilse Schwersensky● (b. 1904; Gutman, 2003)

Mr. Heinz Hagen, Berlin (Gutman, 2003)

Celine Roth de Neufville, Southern France (Marino, 1999, p. 271)


American Labor Party (Feingold, 1970, p. 8)


American Polish Relief Fund, War Refugee Funding, Poland, Lithuania

H. Foster Anderson (Lithuania)


American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, USA, established 1892


American Red Cross, Poland (Gutman, 1990)

William MacDonald (USA)


American Red Cross, Southern France (Bauer, 1981, pp. 47, 85, 98-99, 155, 169, 299, 309; Marino, 1999, pp. 50, 119; Ryan, 1996)

Helped Emergency Rescue Committee in Marseilles, France, through its Director in France, Richard Allen.

Richard Allen, director

Richard Allen, of the American Red Cross, stationed in Marseilles, France, helped many Jews escape to Spain and Portugal.  Allen helped Fry and the Emergency Rescue Committee, and other relief agencies, in their efforts to help Jews escape.  Allen also coordinated with Czech diplomat Vladimir Vochoc to obtain precious Czechoslovakian visas used to escape.   (Favez, Jean-Claude.  Edited and translated by John and Beryl Fletcher. The Red Cross and the Holocaust. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999). Fry, Varian. Surrender on Demand. (New York: Random House, 1945). Marino, Andy. A Quiet American: The Secret War of Varian Fry. (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999), p. 119.  Ryan, Donna F. The Holocaust and the Jews of Marseille: The Enforcement of Anti-Semitic Policies in Vichy France. (Urbana, IL: The University of Illinois Press, 1996).  Marrus, Michael, R., and Robert O. Paxton. Vichy France and the Jews. (New York: Basic Books, 1981).)

James T. Nicholson, Chairman


American Relief Centre (Centre Américain de Secours), see Emergency Rescue Committee, Marseilles, France


American Relief Organizations in Spain, established and recognized April 1943 (Bauer, 1981, pp. 207, 210-211, 255; JDC Archives NYC)

 David J. Blinkenstaff (AFSC, JDC)

Dr. Paul Block, Assistant


L’Ami des Pauvres Rescue Network, Brussels, Belgium (CEGES R 497.235.348; Brachfeld, 1997; Moore, 2010, pp. 287, 441n134)

With his congregation, Antoon de Breuleer helped approximately 265 Jewish children in Brussels during the German occupation.  Worked with JOC.

Antoon de Breuker, leader, founder

De Breuker sister


Amitié Chrétienne, see Christian Friendship, France


Amsterdam Student Group (ASG; Amsterdamsch Studenten Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Gutman, 1990, 2004, xxiii, xl, xli, xlii), see also Utrecht Children’s Committee, Anonymous Company (NV) and Truitje van Lier Rescue Network (Gutman, 2004, pp. 299, 303-304, 316, 508-509; Flim, 1996, 2001; Moore, 2010, p. 299)

Vilke Boonstra Joure+, leader, Frisland Chapter, LO (Gutman, 2004, p. xli)

Alice Brunner, Tienray Group (Gutman, 2004, pp. xl-xlii)

Mia Coelingh●, Assistant Minister, Liberal Protestant Church, Piet Meersburg’s cousin, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 27, 1993 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. xli, 191, 509)

Nico Dohmen●, student, Limberg, Netherlands, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 19, 1984 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. xli, 218, 509)

Dr. Fieleldij Dop, MD●, pediatrician, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Flim, 1996; Gutman, 2004, pp. xl, 509)

Jur Haak, Municipal University (Gemeentelijke), founder (Flim, 1996; Gutman, 2004, p. xl)

Tineke Haak (Flim, 1996; Gutman, 2004, pp. xl, 509)

Truite van Lier, member UVSV (Flim, 1996)

Chaplain Gerald Jansen (alias “Jan Zwart”; Flim, 1996, pp. 339-340; Gutman, 2004, pp. xl, 191, 509)

Harm Kingma, Leeuwarden (Gutman, 2004)

Lien Kract, Cess Kract, Wijdenes, Netherlands (Gutman, 2004)

Pieter Adriaan Meerburg●, Municipal University, founder (Gemeentelijke), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title February 28, 1974 (Yad Vashem Archives; Flim, 1996; Gutman, 2004, pp. xl-xlii, 299, 303-304, 316, 508-509)

Mieke Mees (Louwers)●, Tienray Group (Gutman, 2004, p. xlii)

Sjouke G. Mesdag-Hijlkema●, wife of Willem Mesdag, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 8, 1993 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 191, 509, 520)

Willem Mesdag●, Baptist Mennonite Minister, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 8, 1993 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 191, 509, 520)

Jan Meulenbelt (Utrecht’s Kindercomite; UKC), founder (Gutman, 2004, p. xl)

Walter Süskind (Jewish), Jewish Council, Hollandsche Schouwberg (Gutman, 2004, p. xli)

Hanna van de Voort●, Tieray Group, Limberg, Netherlands, Amsterdam Student Group, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004)

Krijn van der Helm●, Tax Official, Leeuwarden, leader, Frisland Chapter, LO (Gutman, 2004, p. xli)

Chaplain Felix van der Wissel (Gutman, 2004, p. xli)

Iet van Dijk, Tienray Group (Gutman, 2004, p. xlii)

Wouter van Zeytveld● (Gutman, 2004, pp. xl, 509)

Arie van Mansum●, Limburg, Netherlands (Gutman, 2004, p. xlii)

Sjoerd Wiersma●, Joure, leader, Frisland Chapter, LO (Gutman, 2004, pp. xli, 509, 831)

Pieter Wisbenga●, Head of Leeuwarden’s Ration Distribution Office (Gutman, 2004, p. xli)

Harm Kingma, Leeuwarden (Gutman, 2004, p. xli)


Amsterdamsch Studenten Group (ASC), see Amsterdam Student Group


André Rescue Network, Belgium (YV M31/186 Joseph André; Brachfeld, 1997; Delpard, 1993; Gutman, 2005, p. xxiv; Moore, 2010, pp. 190, 194, 195, 197, 285, 291; Thyange, 1999)

The Abbé Joseph André Rescue Network worked with Van den Berg-Fosney-Kerkhof Rescue Network and the Jewish Defense Committee (CDJ), placed Jewish children in Catholic religious homes in Bellegem, Leffe, St. Marie in Bouverie, Benedictime Convent in Liège, Don Bosco Convent in Tournai and his brother Jean Reynder’s home.

Abbé Joseph André●, head, St. Jean Baptiste Parish, Namur, Belgium (YV M31/186 Joseph André; Brachfeld, 1997; Delpard, 1993; Gutman, 2005; Moore, 2010; Thyange, 1999)

Monsignor Louis-Joseph Kerkhofs● (Gutman, 2005)

Jean Reynder

Dr. Marcel

Father Louis● (Gutman, 2005)

Father Emil● (Gutman, 2005)

Herbert Celis

Joseph Peeters

Abbé Alfred Daumas+ (Moore, 2010, p. 155)

Mr. Vishnie (Jewish rescuer)

Max Katz (Jewish), member CDJ, Charleroi (Thyange, 1999, pp. 265-266)


Anonymous Company (Naamloze Vennootschap), NV Group, Limited Liability Group, Amsterdam, Heerlen, The Netherlands, established spring 1942 (16 members honored by Israel), see also Amsterdam Student Group (ASG; Cammaert, 1994; De Jong, vols. VI, VII; Flim, 1996, 2001; Gutman, 1990, p. 1077; Gutman, 2004, xlii-xlv; Moore, 2010, p. 299)

Henriette Pimentel, headmistress

Jacobus (Japp) P. Musch●+*, co-founder Naamloze Vennootschap (NV Group), Limited Liability Group, brother of Gerard Musch, driving force for NV Group; arrested, tortured and executed September 1944; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives; Cammaert, 1994; Gutman, 2004, p. 544)

Gerard Musch●+, co-founder Naamloze Vennootschap (NV Group), Limited Liability Group, brother of Jacobus Musch, arrested March 9, 1944, by Gestapo, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives (Cammaert, 1994; Gutman, 2004, p. 543)

Willhelmina U. Musch●, wife of Gerard Musch, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 543)

Harman Bockma●, Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands; member, Dutch Calvinist Church; their farmhouse was used as Naamloze Vennootschap headquarters; refugee children wre originally brought to Bockma farm until they could be hidden elsewhere; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title May 14, 1987 (Yad Vashem Archives; Limburg; Gutman, 2004, p. 119)

Rins Bockma●, daughter of Harman Bockma, Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 8, 1987 (Yad Vashem Archives; Limburg; Gutman, 2004, p. 119)

Sarah Bockma●, wife of Harman Bockma, Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands; their farmhouse was used as Naamloze Vennootschap headquarters; refugee children wre originally brought to Bockma farm until they could be hidden elsewhere; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title May 14, 1987 (Yad Vashem Archives; Limburg; Gutman, 2004, p. 119)

Jan van de Boomgaard, established contacts for NV Group in Zaltbommel and Gelderland, Netherlands (Gutman, 2004, p. 544)

Reverend H. Bouma●, Vicar of Treebeek and Brussum, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Limburg; Gutman, 2004)

Marianne Braun (Gutman, 2004)

Leo Braun (Gutman, 2004)

Theo de Bruin (Gutman, 2004)

Maria Pavlina Cals● (Sister Emerentia), Saint Vincent Monastic Order, Lumburg, Netherlands, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 7, 1983 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 187)

Dr. de Groot (Gutman, 2004)

Nico Dohman●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 509)

Berend Jan Flim●, Nijverdal, South Limburg, Netherlands, owned a summer house in Nijverdal, which was used as a refuge for Jewish refugees protected by the NV Group, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1961 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 247)

Geranda W. Flim, Nijverdal, South Limburg, Netherlands, owned a summer house in Nijverdal, which was used as a refuge for Jewish refugees protected by the NV Group (Gutman, 2004, p. 247)

Herman Flim●, Nijverdal, South Limburg, Netherlands, owned a summer house in Nijverdal, which was used as a refuge for Jewish refugees protected by the NV Group, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1961 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. xxxvii, 247)

Semmy Glasoog (later Riekerk●), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004)

Dick Groenewegen-van Wyjk●+, friend of Gerard Musch, active member and co-founder of NV Group in Amsterdam; arrested with Gerard Musch on March 9, 1944, tortured by Gestapo, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Cammaert, 1994; Gutman, 2004, pp. 543, 605)

Ida Groenewegen-van Wyjk (Cammaert, 1994; Gutman, 2004)

Joseph (Jef) Brunssum, Limburg, Netherlands

H. J. Hendriks●, municipal clerk, City Hall, provided false papers for Jewish children, betrayed in May 1944, went into hiding, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title December 10, 1995 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 322)

Dienke Jeninga, fiancée of Jacobus Postuma (Gutman, 2004, p. 612)

Hans Kinsbelgen, member NV Group (Gutman, 2004, p. 248)

Jooske Koppen-de Neve (Gutman, 2004)

Piet Meerburg●, Utrecht Kinder Comite (UKC), Amsterdam Student Group (ASG), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title February 28, 1974 (Yad Vashem Archives; USHMM RG 50.030.154; Cammaert, 1994; Gutman, 2004, p. 508)

Ted Meines●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 544)

Micheels Family

Pastor Gerardus Pontier●+, Calvinist Vicar of Heerlen, Lumberg, Netherlands, member NV Group, encouraged parishioners to hide Jews in their homes; hid, sheltered Jews in their home; arrested by German agents, imprisoned for 6 months; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title February 13, 1968 (Yad Vashem Archives; Cammaert, 1994, p. 411; Gutman, 2004, pp. 119, 544, 605)

Dora M. Pontier●, wife of Pastor Gerardus Pontier, Calvinist Vicar of Heerlen, Lumberg, Netherlands, member NV Group, encouraged parishioners to hide Jews in their homes; hid, sheltered Jews in their home; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title February 13, 1968 (Yad Vashem Archives; Cammaert, 1994, p. 411; Gutman, 2004, pp. 119, 544, 605)

Lies Pontier●, daughter of Pastor Gerardus Pontier, Calvinist Vicar of Heerlen, Lumberg, Netherlands, member NV Group, encouraged parishioners to hide Jews in their homes; hid, sheltered Jews in their home; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title February 13, 1968 (Yad Vashem Archives; Cammaert, 1994, p. 411; Gutman, 2004, pp. 119, 544, 605)

Jacobus Koos Postuma●+* (killed), Treebeek, Limburg, member NV Group; hid Jewish refugees in his mother’s home, worked in Tienray, Nijverdal, Overijseel, local town in Limburg; hid Jewish children; killed in bombing raid by Allies; awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. xxxvii, 612)

Jan Schipper●+, arrested by authorities, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p.248)

Gisela Sohnlein●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004)

Walter Süskind+ (Jewish)

Pastor Gerard van Beckhoven+* (alias “Father Beatus”; Gutman, 2004)

Rebecca van Delft (Gutman, 2004)

Pastor Wim van der Geest (Gutman, 2004)

Hanna van der Voort (near Tienraij; Gutman, 2004)

Dr. Johan van Hulst

Ohester van Lennep

Baroness Anne Marie van Verschuer

Piet Vermeer●, son of Willem and Trus Vermeer, leader of the NV Group (with brother, Mien Musch), their home was used as a staging ground for transporting and hiding refugee Jews, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 247, 544, 772)

Trus Vermeer● (Aunt Truus), wife of Willem Vermeer, Nijverdal, Netherlands; their home was used as a staging ground for transporting and hiding refugee Jews, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 544, 772)

Willem Vermeer● (Uncle Wim), husband of Trus Vermeer, sons Mien Musch and Pieter (Piet) Vermeer were leaders of the NV Group; their home was used as a staging ground for transporting and hiding refugee Jews, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 9, 1983 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 544, 772)

Hetty (Henriette) Voute●, member Utrechts Kinder-Comité (Utrecht Chilren’s Committee; UKC), worked with Westerweel Rescue Group and NV Group, hid and transported Jews and provided lifesaving papers and documents, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 24, 1988 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 796)

Johannes Theodorus Woortman●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives)

Lena Semmy Woortman●, wife of Johannes Woortman, NV Group, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives)

Joop Woortman●+* (alias “Theo de Bruin”), rescue leader and activist; rescued 160 Jewish children from Amsterdam; worked closely with Jaap Musch in Limburg area; hid, sheltered and protected numerous Jews; provided them with ration cards, IDs and other lifesaving documents; arrested on July 19, 1944, and was deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, where he died in March 1945, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 22, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 543, 773, 852)


Anti-Fascist Resistance, Bialystok, Belorussia (Gutman, 2007, p. 143)

Artur Schade●

Otto Busse●

Beneschek●

Bohl

Berl Kiselstein (Jewish)

Mina Kiselstein (Jewish)

Chaika Grossman (Jewish)


Arbeitsamt, Józefinska Street, Crakow, Poland

Saved Jews employed in the factory by providing life-saving “work cards.”  Factory owner Schepetschi was betrayed and was arrested by Germans.  (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 81)

Schepetscki† (from Vienna, Austria)


Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friede und Freiheit, see Union for Peace and Liberty, Berlin, Germany


Archdiocese of Nice, France (Gutman, 2003)


Archdiocese of Toulouse, France (Gutman, 2003)


Archiepiscopal Agency for Assisting Non-Aryan Catholics (Erzebischöfliche Hilfstelle für Nichtarische Katoliken), Vienna, Austria (Gutman, 2007, p. xxxi)

Aided Austrian Jews who had converted to Catholocism.  Eight members of the Archepiscopal staff were murdered in concentration camps.

Theodore Cardinal Innitzer, Archbishop of Vienna

Georg Bichlmair, Jesuit

Countess Emanuela Kielmansegg

Father Ludwig Born


Ardanouce, Village of, Slovakia


Argentine Embassy, Sofia, Bulgaria

José Caballero, Argentine Counselor for Commercial Affairs in Sofia, Bulgaria, 1941-42

José Caballero sent reports to the Argentine Foreign Ministry about the persecution of Bulgarian Jews.  He personally was repulsed by the racial and economic laws enacted against Jews, and publicly condemned these actions.  Caballero protected numerous Argentine Jews in Bulgaria. He did this against the instructions received from the Argentine Foreign Ministry.  Specifically, he freed Jews from forced labor and other persecutions. On Caballero’s urging, the Argentine Foreign Ministry agreed to provide diplomatic protection to Jewish Argentine citizens.  (Feierstein, Daniel and Miguel Galante. “Argentina and the Holocaust: The conceptions and policies of Argentine diplomacy, 1933-1945.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), 181-182, 191, 198, 200-201.)

Haimoff Gozes, Honorary Argentine Representative in Bulgaria, 1943?

Haimoff Gozes was an honorary member of the Argentine embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.  Gozes participated in helping to liberate Jews from forced labor and helping Jews emigrate.  (Feierstein, Daniel and Miguel Galante. “Argentina and the Holocaust: The conceptions and policies of Argentine diplomacy, 1933-1945.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), 194.)


Argentine Embassy, Rome, Italy

Manuel Malbrán, Argentine Ambassador to Italy, 1938-39

Manuel Malbrán was the Argentine Ambassador to Italy in 1938-39.  Ambassador Malbrán reported to the Argentine Foreign Ministry regarding anti-Semitic persecution of Jews by the Italian government.  The Argentine Foreign Ministry declined to intervene on behalf of Argentine Jews in Italy.  Malbrán continued to request permission to protect Argentine Jewish property in Italy.  As a result of his repeated requests, he was granted limited powers to protect Argentine Jewish property.  (Feierstein, Daniel and Miguel Galante. “Argentina and the Holocaust: The conceptions and policies of Argentine diplomacy, 1933-1945.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), 195-201.)


Argentine Embassy, Berlin, Germany

Luis Luti, Argentine Ambassador to Germany, 1942-1944

Luis Luti was the Argentine Ambassador in Berlin from March 1942 to January 1944.  Luti reported extensively to the Argentine government on the persecution of Jews in Germany and Poland.  He sent detailed reports on the deportation and mass murder of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto.  Luti’s report in June 1943 confirmed that Jews were being deported to the gas chambers of Treblinka and murdered.  In September 1943, Luti tried to gain exemptions for “Argentine citizens of Jewish race.”  He was able to get “the regular ration cards for food and clothing” for Jews.  (Feierstein, Daniel and Miguel Galante. “Argentina and the Holocaust: The conceptions and policies of Argentine diplomacy, 1933-1945.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), 171-172, 179-181, 195-196, 198.)

Ricardo Olivera, Argentine Ambassador to Germany, 1939-1942, later Ambassador to Vichy

Ricardo Olivera, the Argentine ambassador to Germany, strenuously objected to and condemned the discriminatory treatment of Jews in Germany during his tenure there from 1939 to 1940.  He sent numerous reports to the Argentine Foreign Ministry, including reports of mass deportations of German Jews to Poland.  In 1940, he became the Argentine Ambassador to Vichy.  There, he helped Argentine Jews in occupied France.  Olivera also helped Greek Jews avoid deportations and escape France.  In November 1943, the Argentine consulate in Paris, under instructions from Olivera, took steps to protect Greek Jews who were interned in French concentration camps.  (Feierstein, Daniel and Miguel Galante. “Argentina and the Holocaust: The conceptions and policies of Argentine diplomacy, 1933-1945.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), 179, 187, 189, 190-184.)


Argentine Embassy, Madrid, Spain (Bauer, Yehuda. American Jewry and the Holocaust. (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1981), p. 209.)

The Argentine Embassy in Madrid protested Spain’s closing of its borders to refugees in the spring of 1943.


Argentine Consulate, Paris, France (Feierstein, Daniel and Miguel Galante. “Argentina and the Holocaust: The conceptions and policies of Argentine diplomacy, 1933-1945.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), 190, 201.)

The Argentine consulate in Paris, under Ricardo Olivera’s direction, protected Greek Jews.  They were exempted from wearing the stars.  In 1942, the Argentine consulate in Paris successfully negotiated the release of Greek Jews interned in the Compiegné concentration camp.  The Argentine Foreign Ministry considered this protective action to be “excessive.”


Armia Krajowa (AK), see Home Army, Poland


Armia Ludowa (AL), see National Army, Poland


Assisi Underground Rescue Network, Assisi, Italy, established September 1943, 26 monasteries

(Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2007, pp. 358, 391-392; Ramati, Alexander. The Assisi Underground: The Priests who Rescued Jews. (New York: Stein and Day, 1978); Santucci, Francesco. Assisi 1943-1944: Documenti per una Storia. (Accademia Proper-Ziana del Subasio, 1994); Zuccotti, 2000, pp. 259-264, 308, 386n46)

Monsignor Minestrini

Monsignor Giuseppi Placido Nicolini●, Bishop of Assisi, Committee of Assistance, Perugia, Italy, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title December 6, 1977 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, pp. 358, 391-392; Ramati, 1978; Santucci, 1994; Zuccotti, 2000, pp. 259-264)

Father Don Rufino Niccaci● (1911-1976), Convent of San Damiano, Italy, hid 100 Jews in Monasteries around Assisi, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title April 17, 1974 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, p. 391; Ramati, 1978; Santucci, 1994; Zuccotti, 2000, pp. 259-264)

Father Don Aldo Brunacci●+, head of the Committee of Assistance, San Rufino Cathedral, Assisi, Italy, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title December 6, 1977 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, pp. 358, 391; Ramati, 1978; Santucci, 1994; Zuccotti, 2000, pp. 259-264)

Father Michel Todde (Santucci, 1994; Zuccotti, 2000, p. 261)

Father Federico Vincenti● (1885-1955), head of Parochial House of the Church of Sant Andrea in Porta Santa Susanna, Perugia, Italy, save 32 Jews, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title July 16, 1997 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, pp. 412-413; Ramati, 1978; Santucci, 1994)

The Assisi Rescue Network worked with the following:

Basilica of St. Francis, Saint Quirico, Assisi, Italy

Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy

Convent della Suore Francescane de Maria, Piazza del Carmine, Florence, Italy

Convent of the German Sisters, Florence, Italy

Convent of the Stigmata, Florence, Italy

Eugenio Artom, Jewish community leader, rescue activist (Zuccotti, 2000; Casini, Ricordi de un Vecchio Prete, 65, cited in Zuccotti, 2000)

Jewish Christian Aid Committee

Laboratorio Saint Francisco Assisi, Italy

Seminario Minore, Florence, Italy (Zuccotti, 2000, pp. 254, 384n19)

Suore Serve de Maria Addoloratto, Via Faentina (Zuccotti, 2000, pp. 254, 384n18)


Assistance Publique, France, hid and sheltered Jewish children during German occupation (Moore, 2010, p. 136)


Association for the Relief of Netherlander Refugees (Association de Secourse aux Réfugiés Néelandais; Moore, 2010, p. 28)

Dutch relief agency to help Dutch refugees in France.  Many were Jewish.  Had offices in Paris.

Consul General Arie Sevenster (De Jong, vol. 9, pp. 23-24; Moore, 2010, p.28)


Association of the Christian Jews of Hungary, see Holy Cross Society of Budapest


Athens Masonic Order, Phoenix Chapter, Athens, Greece (Gutman, 1990, p. 105)


Athens Police, Athens, Greece (Gutman, 1990, p. 454; Yad Vashem Archives)

Anghelos Evert● (1894-1970), head, as chief of police, he ordered new and false identity papers to Jews in Athens


Audemard Rescue Operation, Chamonix, France (Moore, 2010, p. 129; Morel; Mouchon, pp. 181, 182)

Louis Audemard established a rescue operation to take refugees to Switzerland; worked with Catholic Bishop of Annecy.

Louis Audemard (Moore, 2010, p. 129; Morel; Mouchon, pp. 181, 182)


Auschwitz Birkenau Death Camp Prisoner Resistance Underground, Poland (Gutman, 2007, p. 169)

Ludwig Wörl● (1906-1967), Lagerältest (camp elder), Krankenbarrak (hospital barracks)

Charles Joseph Coward●, British soldier in Monowitz (subcamp of Auschwitz)


Auschwitz Fighting Group (Kampfgruppe Auschwitz), Auschwitz-Birkenau-Monowitz camps (Gutman, 1990, p. 115; Langbein, 1972)


Austrian Institute (Österreichische), New York, NY, USA (Gutman, 2007, pp. 10-11)

Worked with Bnai Brith and the World Jewish Congress (WJC) to get Austrian Jews visas toenter the United States.  Helped Austrian emigrees in the US.

Irene Harand● (b. 1901), founder, deputy chairperson, World Association against Racial Hatred and Genocide, editor , “Justice,” wrote “So or So: The Truth about Antisemitism,” “His Struggle”


Baldwin Fund, England (Bentwich, 1956; Berghahn, 1984; Gilbert, 1979; Sherman, 1973; Stevens, 1975; Wasserstein, 1979)

     Lord Baldwin


Banyuls-sur-Mer, Village of (Fry, 1945; Ryan, 1996, p. 143)

Mayor Azema

Mayor Azéma of the town of Banyuls-sur-mer helped the Emergency Rescue Committee and particularly Hans and Lisa Fittko hide and house refugees in his town.  Banyuls became the center of the ERC’s escape activities.  The mayor set up a building to help the refugees.  The mayor issued a sort of identity document and food ration cards for the refugees and offered advice on avoiding local border patrols.  In December 1942, Mayor Azéma was replaced by an anti-refugee appointee who was hostile to the ERC’s activities.


“The mayor of the French border town Banyuls-sur-Mer, Monsieur Azéma, a Socialist who eluded the Vichy purge of lower-echelon government officials until 30 November 1940, issued identity and food ration cards and opened a house for those in transit.  He instructed refugees about how to act like locals to escape unwanted attention.  He ordered them to abandon their rucksacks and central European clothing and to don the jumpsuits and espadrilles popular with the vineyard workers.  He told them that all crossings should take place early in the morning, when refugees might face into the crowd of agricultural workers headed up the mountains.  Azéma was so dedicated to this task that he personally carried the wife of Hans Meyerhoff, the Nobel Prize winner, from France to Spain piggyback because the path was too difficult for her” (Ryan, p. 143).


[Fry, Varian. Surrender on Demand. (New York: Random House, 1945), p. 198. Marino, Andy. A Quiet American: The Secret War of Varian Fry. (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999), pp. 156, 193-194. Isenberg, Sheila. A Hero of Our Own: The Story of Varian Fry. (New York: Random House). Klein, Anne. “Conscience, conflict and politics: The rescue of political refugees from southern France to the United States, 1940-1942.” Leo Baeck Institute Year Book, 43 (1998), 300-302. Ryan, Donna F. The Holocaust and the Jews of Marseille: The Enforcement of Anti-Semitic Policies in Vichy France. (Urbana, IL: The University of Illinois Press, 1996), pp. 143, 220.]


Barnevald Group, Belgium (Gutman, 2004, p. li; Moore, 2010, pp. 213, 333-334)

A group of more than 650 prominent Belgian Jews was exempted from deportation to the death camps. 


Zoltán Bay Rescue Operation, Tungsram Manufacturing Company, Hungary (Gutman, 2007, pp. 184-185)

Protected Jewish employees of the Tungsram Company.  Saved Jews from deportation.  Escued Jews from deportation trains.

Zoltán Bay●, chief scientist and director of research laboratories, manager Tungsram Company, Hungary


Beatific Katalin Institute (Catholic), sewing factory (Gutman, 2007, p. 256)

Father Pál Klina supervised the operation of the sewing factory, manufacturing Hungarian Army uniforms.  Numerous Jews were hidden in the factory and school during the Arrow Cross rule in Budapest.  The factory was considered “essential” for the Hungarian war effort.  In addition, the operation was under th protection of the Vatican.

Father Pál Klinda●

 Gitta Halász, building manager


Beje Rescue Group, Haarlem, North Holland (Gutman, 2004)

Dutch underground rescue group headed by Ten Boom family.  Acronym of their address, Bartel Jorisstrat.  Hid Jews and found hiding places for them.


Belgium Communist Party, Belgium (Gutman, 1990, p. 165; Gutman, 2005, p. xxx)

Major resistance organization.  Helped Jews through Independence Front (Front de L’Indépendence), which was established March 15, 1941.


Belgian Government (Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2004; Moore, 2010, pp. 188, 286, 287, 294)

King Leopold of Belgium (Bauer, 1981, pp. 270-271)

King Leopold of Belgium protested to the German authorities the deportation of foreign Jews in Belgium.


Queen Elisabeth of Belgium● (Bauer, 1981, p. 270; Michman, 1998, pp. 230, 315, 419, 422, 425, 530, 533, 538, 545; Gutman, 1990, pp. 165, 1059; Fein, 1979, pp. 155-156)

Queen Elisabeth, Queen Mother of Belgium, was declared Righteous among the Nations in 1965.  On August 1, 1942, she openly received three Jews wearing their yellow stars.  On August 4, 1942, she informed the A. J. B. by means of the Red Cross that Belgian Jews would not be deported.  However, one year later, the SS organized a special raid targeting Belgian Jews and deported them all to the Dossin barracks.  Queen Elisabeth's intercessions with the German military government were, nevertheless, very effective and resulted in several hundreds of Jews being saved, including many children and old people.  Queen Elisabeth also worked with the Archbishop of Malines and the Belgian Secretary General of Justice.


Belgian Ministry of Justice, Belgium (Garfinkels, 1965; Gutman, 1990, p. 1060; Gutman, 2005, p. 83; Gutman, 2005, pp. xxvi-xxvii; Steinberg, 1973)

Robert de Foy●, secretary-general, helped in rescue of 900 Jews from deportation (with Platteau)

Léon Platteau●, helped in rescue of 900 Jews from deportation (with Foy)


Belgian Representative to the Holy See, 1942

The Belgian representative to the Holy See, along with the Polish and Yugoslavian representatives, whose countries were also occupied by Germany, submitted a joint demarche on September 12, 1943.  This demarche asked the Pope to condemn Nazi atrocities in their occupied areas.  (Tittmann, Harold H., Jr., Harold H. Tittmann III (Ed.). Inside the Vatican of Pius XII: The Memoir of an American Diplomat During World War II. (New York: Image Books Doubleday, 2004), pp. 117-120.)


Belgian Congo Consulate, Vichy France, 1940-41?

Varian Fry, of the Emergency Rescue Committee, and other rescue and relief agencies active in Marseilles, obtained Belgian Congo visas for Jewish and other refugees.  These visas helped refugees obtain Spanish and Portuguese transit visas so they could escape Vichy France for Lisbon.  (Fry, Varian. Surrender on Demand. (New York: Random House, 1945), pp. 16-17.)


Belgian National Movement (Belgisch National Beweging; Mouvement National; MNB), HQ Brussels, Belgium, established December 17, 1940 (Gutman, 2005, p. xviv)

General resistance movement, with contacts with government officials including administrators, municipalities, police and military.  Established escape routes.  Underground paper, The Voice of the Belgians (La Voix des Belges).

Members:

Rene Antonis (Malvin)●

Léontine Antonis (Malvin)●


The Belgian Office


Belgian Red Cross (Gutman, 1990, p. 164), distributed food and supplies to Jews, many in hiding


Belgian War Relief


Beneschek Textile Factory, Bialystok Ghetto (Gutman, 2007, pp. 1-2)

Otto Beneschek●, factory manager

Arthur Schade●, Anti-Fascist cell


Bergson Group, see Committee to Save the Jews of Europe


Berlin Committee, headquarters in Gross Kreutz, outside Berlin, Germany (Persson, 2009, pp. 38-39)

Delivered relief supplie to Norwegian prisoners in German concentration camps.  Did anti-Nazi intelligence work in Germany.

Professor Didrik Arup Seip+ (Persson, 2009, pp. 38-39)

Johan B. Hjort+, lawyer (Persson, 2009, pp. 38-39)

Wanda Hjort+, wife (Persson, 2009, pp. 38-39)


Bermuda Conference on Refugees, 1943 (Feingold, Politics of Rescue.)


Folke Bernadotte Expedition, see Folke Bernadotte Rescue/Relief Mission


Folke Bernadotte Rescue/Relief Mission (Expedition), “Bernadotte Society German Detachment, 1945,” Germany, April-May 1945 (“White Busses”; Swedish Foreign Ministry Records, Stockholm, Sweden; Danish Foreign Ministry Records, Copenhagen, Denmark; Swedish Red Cross archives, Stockholm, Sweden; International Committee for the Red Cross archives, Geneva, Switzerland; Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Project, USC, Los Angeles, California, Gloria Lyon oral history; Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Bernadotte, 1945; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009; Valentin, 1953, pp. 224-251; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Count Folke Bernadotte, deputy head of the Swedish Red Cross, negotiated with SS Chief Heinrich Himmler in the spring of 1945 for the release of prisoners in German concentration camps. This was an initiative that was suggested by Himmler’s personal physician, Dr. Felix Kersten.  Himmler at the time was trying to burnish his image at the end of the war.  With Himmler’s approval, Bernadotte organized a major expedition of Red Cross busses to evacuate thousands of camp prisoners to Sweden. 

A special hospital convoy comprised of one hundred vehicles, including 36 ambulance basses and 308 personnel, mostly Swedish Armed Forces, volunteered for the mission.  The mission was paid for by the Swedish government.

According to post-war documents, between 19,000 and 21,000 internees were transported to Sweden.  The breakdown was: Danes and Norwegians: 8,000; Poles: 5,911; French: 2,629; stateless Jews: 1,615; Germans: 1,124; Belgians: 632; Dutch: 387; Hungarians: 290; Balts: 191; Luxemburgers: 79; Slovakians: 28; British: 14; Americans: 9; Rumanians: 6; Finns: 5; Italians: 4; Spaniards: 3; others: 9.

Thousands of these prisoners were Jewish.  423 Danish Jews were rescued from Theresienstadt.  Approximately 3,500 of those who were liberated were Jewish women at the Ravensbrück concentration camp.  Many of these Jewish women said they would not have survived the war had they not been liberated at that time.


Count Folke Bernadotte* (1895-1948), vice president (chairman), Swedish Red Cross, nephew to King Gustav V of Sweden (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockholm; Folke Bernadotee Archives; Gilel Storch Papers, Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem; Bernadotte, 1945; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Count Folke Bernadotte (1895-1948) was Vice President of the Swedish Red Cross in Germany in 1945.  He was nephew to King Gustav V of Sweden.  In the Spring of 1945, Bernadotte negotiated with SS commander Heinrich Himmler for the release of thousands of people held in Nazi concentration camps.  These included over 400 Danish Jews imprisoned in Theresienstadt.  Later, he negotiated and arranged for the release of 10,0000 women from the Ravensbrück and Bergen Belsen concentration camps.  He arranged for special busses, converted to ambulances, known as the “white busses,” to take them from the camps.  They were eventually transported safely to Sweden.  Bernadotte wrote about his wartime activities in a book entitled, The Curtain Falls.  In 1948, he was appointed to the position of Mediator for the Security Council of the United Nations in Palestine.  Bernadotte negotiated a temporary truce between Arab and Jewish armies.  He was assassinated by the Jewish underground on September 17, 1948, while serving in this position.  After the war, the Israeli government apologized to his family.

Bernadotte Rescue/Relief Mission negotiated and facilitated by:

Dr. Felix Kersten (1898-), personal doctor to SS head Heinrich Himmler (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Kersten, 1947; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220)

Hillel (Gilel) Storch, World Jewish Congress (WJC), representative in Stockholm, Sweden (World Jewish Congress Archives; Gilel Storch Papers, Central Zionist Archives [CZA], Jerusalem, Israel; Bernadotte Archives, Stockholm; Bernadotte, 1945; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Kersetn, 1947; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220)

Swedish Red Cross (Swedish Red Cross Archives [SRKA]; Persson, 2009)

Danish Red Cross (Det Kanske Hjelpekorps; Swedish Red Cross Archives [SRKA]; Persson, 2009, p. 147)

Prince Carl, head Swedish Red Cross (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Koblik, 1988, pp. 60, 203-205; Persson, 2009, p. 78)

Christian Günther, Swedish Foreign Minister.  In the autumn of 1943, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Christian Guenther negotiated for the release of Danish and Norwegian prisoners held in German camps.  This eventually led to the release of thousands of prisoners to the Swedish Red Cross under the supervision of Folke Bernadotte in March and April 1945.  (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 64, 66-68, 72, 75-76, 82, 97, 144-14, 160-161, 178, 202, 204, 222-223, 225-226, 242, 251-252, 255; Friedman, 1978, pp. 171-172; Levine, 1998, pp. 115, 145, 163, 167, 181, 185, 217, 220, 222, 224, 226, 234-241, 249; Yahil, 1967, pp. 196, 201-202.)

Nils Svenningsen, head, Danish Foreign Ministry (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 105-106; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Consul Niels Christian Ditleff, Swedish Red Cross, Norwegian Minister, Stockholm, Sweden.  Niels Christian Ditleff was a diplomatic representative of the Norwegian government in exile in Stockholm, Sweden.  In late 1944, Ditleff persuaded the Swedish Foreign Office to attempt a rescue of Norwegian Jews and non-Jews held in Nazi-occupied territory.  See also Swedish Red Cross.  (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Koblik, 1988, pp. 38, 76, 119, 122, 126, 164, 270, 293; Penkower, 1983, p. 271; Persson, 2009, pp. 38, 40-41, 49-50, 55-58, 67-69, 72, 74-75, 83, 225; Yahil, 1967, pp. 189, 191, 193, 198-219)

Otto Carl Mohr, Danish Minister to Germany, Berlin, Germany (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 87, 104-107, 146, 148, 166-167, 177, 192; Yahil, 1969)

Gösta Engzell, head of Swedish Foreign Office, Legal Department, Refugee Affairs.  Gösta Engzell headed the Legal Division of the Swedish Foreign Office throughout the war.  He was the individual most responsible for the positive switch in the Swedish government’s official policy and response to the murder of European Jews.  He convinced the Swedish government to help Jews in Nazi controlled territories.  He empowered diplomats in Norway, Denmark and later in Budapest.  He was responsible for empowering Swedish diplomats Carl Ivan Danielsson and Per Anger to issue Swedish protective papers to Budapest Jews.  By the end of the war, Swedish action on behalf of Jews in Europe, almost always initiated or supported by Engzell and his staff, contributed to the rescue and relief of 30,000-40,000 Jews. (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009, pp. 29, 55, 63, 65, 83, 142-143, 159-160, 186, 195; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220)

Svante Hellstedt, assistant to Gösta Engzell, Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 63, 66)

Erik von Post, head, Political Department, Swedish Foreign Ministry (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009, pp. 36, 43, 55, 57, 65, 75-76, 88, 96-97, 108, 195, 231, 233-236, 238, 252; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220)

Erik Boheman, Swedish Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Swedish envoy to Paris (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009, pp. 76, 140, 230-232, 338, 240, 251-252; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220)

Minister Arvid Richert, Swedish Minister in Berlin, Germany.  Arvid Richert was the Swedish Minister in Berlin in October 1943.  In response to the proposed deportation of Danish Jews in October 1943, Richert submitted an official proposal to the German Foreign Ministry that would place Danish Jews as refugees in camps in Sweden.  The Germans never answered the proposal.  The Swedish government announced that it would accept Danish Jewish refugees.  Soon, 9,000 Danish Christians and 7,000 Danish Jews reached Sweden.  Later, 100 Finnish Jews were brought to Sweden.   (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009, pp. 55-56, 60, 62, 64, 66, 67, 69-70, 75-77, 79, 81-82, 96-97, 108-109, 152, 167, 177-178, 189-190, 190-191, 251-252; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220)

Norbert Masur, World Jewish Contress (WJC) representative n Stockholm, Sweden (Masur report to Swedish Foreign Office, Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Masur, 1945; Persson, 2009, pp. 27-28, 161, 194-200, 217)

Raoul Nordling, Swedish Consul General in Paris, France.  Swedish Consul General Raoul Nordling had smuggled to safety scores of French men and women, some of whom were Jewish, who were threatened with arrest by the Nazis.  Nordling was also responsible for negotiating with the German commander of Paris in 1944 to prevent him from carrying out Hitler’s order to destroy Paris.  (Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009)

Reverend Yde, Danish Consul General in Hamburg, Germany (Persson, 2009, p. 191)

Lennart Nylander, Legation Counsellor, Swedish Legation, Berlin, Germany (Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, p. 77, 83, 253)

Torstan Brandel, secretary, Swedish Legation, Berlin, Germany (Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 77, 91, 96, 102, 108, 124, 142, 167, 186, 205, 253, 255)

Consul Ivor Olsen, Attaché, US Embassy in Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden, War Refugee Board (WRB) representative in Sweden (WRB Archives, FDR Library, Hyde Park, New York; Persson, 2009, pp. 21, 29)

Herschel Johnson, US Minister to Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden (Persson, 2009, pp. 231-232)

Bostrom, Swedish Minister to Washington, DC, USA (Persson, 2009)

Gustav von Dardel, Swedish Minister to Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.  Gustaf von Dardel was the Swedish Ambassador to Denmark in 1943.  In May 1943, von Dardel and the Swedish legation submitted a list of 40 Danish Jews who had families in Sweden, and arranged for their visas.  They were able to successfully escape to Sweden.  Most importantly, von Dardel helped to save Jews during the thwarted deportation attempt that took place in Denmark in the beginning of October 1943.  As early as September 6, 1943, von Dardel reported to the Swedish foreign ministry about the proposed deportation.  He notified the Swedish government in Stockholm about the impending deportations and recommended that they come to the aid of the Jews of Denmark.  Specifically, on September 29, Von Dardel notified the Swedish foreign office by telegram that 6,000 Jews were scheduled to be arrested and deported to Germany by ship transport.  The Swedish government, by then, had decided that it would receive all the Jewish refugees that could make it to the shores of Sweden.  The Swedish government gave asylum to the Danish Jews until Denmark was liberated in the spring of 1945.  In addition, von Dardel warned Jewish community leaders about the planned deportations.  This advance warning helped the Jews successfully plan their escape to Sweden.  As a result of this and other actions, more than 7,900 Jews were saved in Denmark.  This was nearly 98% of the Jews living in Denmark at the time.  Von Dardel also helped noted Danish particle physicist Professor Niels Bohr to escape arrest by the Nazis.  He warned Bohr that the Nazis intended to arrest and deport him. (Persson, 2009; Yahil, 1969)

L. Zelmanovits, General Secretary, British Office, World Jewish Congress, London, England (World Jewish Congress Archives; Persson, 2009, p. 73)

Rabbi Marcus Ehrenpreis, World Jewish Congress (WJC) representative, Stockholm, Sweden (Persson, 2009, pp. 23, 26, 30-31, 65, 73-74)

Professor Didrik Arup Seip, Norway (Persson, 2009, pp. 35, 38-39, 42, 50, 56, 79, 81-82, 107, 153)

Chaplain Jeppesen, Danish legation (Persson, 2009, p. 84)

Consul Marc Giron, Attaché, Swedish legation, Berlin, Germany (Persson, 2009, pp.84, 101)

De Blonay (Swiss), Chief Delegate (Operations) of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC; Persson, 2009, pp. 194,210)

Hjort (Persson, 2009, p. 84)

Captain Hultgren, Swedish Red Cross Detachment, Berlin, Germany (Persson, 2009, pp. 76, 101-102, 183)

General Jung, Commander-in-Chief, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, p. 84)

Mission Personnel:

Professor Gerhard Rundberg, in charge of Red Cross personnel (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956Persson, 2009, pp. 86, 89, 122-123, 148-149, 161-164, 191-193)

Maria Bernadotte (Folke Bernadotte’s sister), Red Cross nurse (Persson, 2009, p. 89)

Countess von Eickstedt (Persson, 2009)

Colonel Gottfried Björck, commander, Military Detachment, Swedish Army (Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 86, 90, 117, 121, 124-125, 128-129, 131-132, 147)

Reverend Conrad Vogt-Svendsen, Norwegian Seaman’s Chaplain, Hamburg, Germany (Persson, 2009, pp. 39-40, 81, 98, 168-169)

Torstan Brandel, secretary, Swedish Legation, Berlin, Germany (Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 77, 91, 96, 102, 108, 124, 142, 167, 186, 205, 253, 255)

Dr. Johannes Holm, Danish doctor, representative , Danish Foreign Ministry (Persson, 2009, pp. 105, 120-121, 124-125, 145-147, 174-179, 191, 254)

Dr. Eigil Juel Henningsen, Danish Medical Officer (Persson, 2009, pp. 104-105, 121, 173)

Major Sven Frykman, Swedish Army, took over command of the Bernadotte Military Detachment on April 5, 1945 (Persson, 2009, pp. 113-114, 128, 145, 167, 170-171, 175-176, 184-185, 190-192, 214-216, 221, 256)

Group Chief Axel Molin (Persson, 2009, p. 132-134, 208, 218)

Captain Harald Folke, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, pp. 36, 126, 145, 147, 167, 170, 175-178, 180-181, 211-212, 216, 256)

Medical Officer Professor Gerhard Rundberg, Red Cross doctor (Persson, 2009, pp. 86, 122-123, 146-148, 161-164, 191-193, 256)

Captain Hultgren, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, pp. 76, 101-102, 183)

Captain Sigurd Melin, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, pp. 39-40, 89, 145, 147, 169, 176, 194, 201-202)

Captain Ankarcrona, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, pp. 161, 210-211, 217-219)

Reverend Sparrstedt, Bernadotte Mission Chaplain (Persson, 2009, p. 123)

Lieutenant Gösta Hallqvist, convoy leader, Swedish Army, badly wounded in Allied air attack on April 25, 1945; survived severe head injuries (Persson, 2009, pp. 269, 214, 218)

Lieutenant Agartz, Swedish Army (Frykman; Persson, 2009, p. 184)

Lieutenant Ake Svenson, transportation chief, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, p. 125-126, 163, 176, 201-202, 212, 256)

Lieutenant Erik Löthman, convoy leader, Swedish Army; his convoy was attacked by Allied air forces in which 20 refugees/concentration camp survivors were killed (Persson, 2009, p. 214)

Sergeant Ake Lööw, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, pp. 91-92, 185-186)

Sven Nilsson, Swedish Red Cross (Persson, 2009)

Erik Karlsson, Swedish Red Cross (Persson, 2009, p. 193)

Erik Ringman*, White Bus driver, killed April 25, 1945, in air raid (Persson, 2009, pp. 39-40, 214, 218)

Margareta Björcke, Red Cross nurse (Persson, 2009, pp. 119-120, 169-170)

Dr. Bjørn Heger, Norwegian physician (Persson, 2009, pp. 39, 50, 81, 132-134, 136, 220)

Dr. Hans Arnoldsson, MD (Persson, 2009, pp. 118, 132, 135-136, 145, 147, 163, 176, 210-211, 213, 216-220, 248, 256)

Wanda Hjort (Persson, 2009, pp. 136-137)

Eric Ringman*, convoy driver, Canadian; killed by Allied air attack on April 25, 1945 (Persson, 2009, pp. 39-40, 214, 218)

Helge Andersson, driver, Swedish Army (Persson, 2009, p. 92-93)

Hjalmarson, dispatch motorcycle rider (Persson, 2009, p. 194)

Danish Relief to accompany the Bernadotte Mission, April 1945; the operation was organized by the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs; two convoys with 33 busses, 14 ambulances, 7 lorries, 4 automobiles equipped by the Danish State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark (Danish Red Cross Archives, Copenhagen, Denmark; Persson, 2009, p. 144)

Hans Henrik Koch, Danish Ministry of Social Affairs (Persson, 2009, pp. 48, 50, 162, 166-167, 191-192; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Dr. Frats Hvass, convey rescue mission commander, head political-legal department, Foreign Ministry, Denmark (Persson, 2009, pp. 48, 102, 104-105, 107, 144-145, 150, 167, 173, 175-176, 190-192; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005.  Werner, Emmy E. A Conspiracy of Decency: The Rescue of the Danish Jews during World War II. (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2002), p. 116.)

Bjarne Paulson, secretary Danish Foreign Ministry (Danish Foreign Ministry Archives, Copenhagen, Denmark; Persson, 2009, p. 145, 177, 192; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Finn Nielsen, secretary, Danish Ministry of Social Offairs, commanded vehicles and personnel (Danish Foreign Ministry Archives, Copenhagen, Denmark; Persson, 2009, pp. 48, 145, 248; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Johannes Holm, Medical Officer, Information Department, Danish Foreign Ministry (Holm, 1984; Persson, 2009, pp. 145-146; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005)

Dr. Harald Roesdahl, MD (Persson, 2009, pp. 163-165)

Zeilau, Danish Red Cross delegate (Persson, 2009, p. 165)


Dr. Sándor Bernhart Relief and Rescue Operation, Baja, Hungary (Gutman, 2007, p. 188)

Dr. Sándor Bernhart●, Mayor, Baja, Hungary


Berthold Beitz Rescue Network, Beskidian Oil Company, later named Carpathian Oil Company (Gutman, 207, pp. 73-74)

Berthold Beitz● (b. 1913), director, Kerosine Works, Drogobych, Ukraine


Father George Bichlmair Rescue Network, Austria (Gutman, 2007, p. xxxi)

Helped Austrian Jews who had converted to Christianity.  Nazis opposed actions of this group.  Father Bichlmair+ was arrested and sent to Upper Silesia.

Father George Bichlmair+, Jesuit priest, Catholic

Theodore Cardinal Innitzer, Archbishop of Vienna

Countess Emanuela Kielmawsegg


Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark (Gutman, 2007, p.lix; Koster, pp. 175-217; Yahil, 1969, pp.241, 244)

As many as 2,000 went through Bispebjerg Hospital during October 1943 rescue operations.

Dr. K. H. Køster, Surgeon


Black Mountain College, Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA, established 1933

(Duberman, Martin, Black Mountain: An Exploration in Community. New York: Dutton, 1972.  North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Div. of Archives and History.)


The Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.


“Boda” (Communist Organization)


Father Boduen Shelter, Warsaw, Poland, aided and hid Jews, worked with Zegota, see also Zegota (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 50)


Victor Bodson Rescue Operation, Steinheim on the Sûre River, Luxembourg (on the German border; Gutman, 2007, p. 416), saved 100 Jews

Victor Bodson●


Pastor Marc Boegner Rescue Network, Southern France, worked with OSE, see also CIMADE, Amitié Chrétienne (Christian Friendship), and Le Chambon-sur-Lignon (Gutman, 2003, pp. 89-90)

Pastor Marc Boegner●, president of the Protestant Church in France, head of CIMADE, Amitié Chrétienne (Christian Friendship), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 21, 1988 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 89-90, 195, 268; Moore, 2010, pp. 101, 128-129, 131)

Jules Hébard●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title December 9, 1996 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 300)

Odette Hébard●, wife of Jules Hébard, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title December 9, 1996 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 300)

Pastor Paul Brunel●, head of the Protestant Church, Nîmes, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title January 5, 1984 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp.115-116)

Mme Brunel●, wife of Pastor Paul Brunel, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title January 5, 1984 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 115-116)

Cardinal Pierre Marie Gerlier●, head of the Catholic Church, Lyons Diocese, honorary president, Amitié Chrétienne (Christian Friendship), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title July 15, 1981 (Yad Vashem Archives (Gutman, 2003, pp. 89-90, 268, 289)

Pastor (Reverend) André Morel● (CIMADE), Gurs camp, Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, worked with OSE, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title September 23, 1990 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 402)

Jean Guillaud, MD●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 10, 1996 (Yad Vashem Archives (Gutman, 2003, pp. 289-290)

Renee Guillaud●, wife of Jean Guillaud, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 10, 1996 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 289-290)

Pierre Ogier●, Lyons, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 13, 1997 (Yad Vashem Archives; Fabre, 1970; Gutman, 2003, pp. 413-414)

Henriette Ogier●, Lyons, France, wife of Pierre Ogier, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 13, 1997 (Yad Vashem Archives; Fabre, 1970; Gutman, 2003, pp. 413-414)

General Pierre Robert de Saint-Vincent●, Military Governor of Lyons, France, Patron of Amitié Chrétienne (Christian Friendship), member Armée Secrète, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 24, 1993 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 472-473)

Jean Marie Soutou (Gutman, 2003, p. 268)

Madeleine Barot●, CIMADE, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 28, 1988 (Yad Vashem Archives; Fabre, 1970; Gutman, 2003, pp. 57, 402; Moore, 2010, pp. 125-127, 128)


The Bogaards Group, Nieuw Vennep (Haarlememeer), southwest of Amsterdam, Netherlands (Yad Vashem Archives YV M31/28 Johannes Bogaard; Gutman, 1990, pp. 225-226; Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129; Moore, 2010, pp. 210, 227-230, 426n83)

Johannes “Uncle Hannes” Bogaard●+, 1891-1974, rescued 200 Jews and placed them in local farms, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 22, 1963 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129; Moore, 2010)

Antheunius Bogaard●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 22, 1963 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Willem Bogaard●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 22, 1963 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Metje Bogaard (Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Aagje Bogaard+ (Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Johannes Bogaard, Sr.+ (“Grandpa”), arrested, imprisoned for 10 weeks (Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Pieter Bogaard+, arrested and imprisoned in Vaught concentration camp; died at home, September 15, 1944 (Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Klassie Bogaard+, arrested (Gutman, 2004, pp. 128-129)

Geertuida Truus de Swaan-Willems (YV M31/4361)

Sam Breijer and wife


Bolivian Consul (in Geneva?)

Dr. Silberschein was able to obtain visas and other documents from the Bolivian consul (in Geneva?).  (Eck, Nathan. (1957). “The Rescue of Jews with the Aid of Passports and Citizenship Papers of Latin American States.” Yad Vashem Studies on the European Jewish Catastrophe and Resistance. 1, 125-152.)


Bolle-Groep, Brussells, see also Dutch-Paris Rescue Network, Jean Weidner Network (De Jong, 1969-1988; Moore, 2010, pp. 60-61, 62, 69-70, 180, 181)

Rescued Jews from Belgium and Holland, as well as downed Allied pilots.

Maurice Bolle+, leader, founder

B. M. (Benno) Nijkerk (Jewish), worked with Dutch-Paris Rescue Network and CDJ in Belgium

A. G. B. ten Kate+, pastor, Dutch Reformed Church (Moore, 2010, p. 61)

Maurice Jacquet+, Dutch Consul in Lyon, France (Moore, 2010, pp. 59, 63)

Jean Henri Weidner●+ (b. 1912), Dutch Paris Network, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title May 4, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, p. 814)

Paul van Cleeff+ (Moore, 2010, p. 62)

Henri Vleeschdrager+ (Moore, 2010, p. 62)

David Verloop (Moore, 2010, p. 62)


Books Abroad, Norman, Oklahoma, USA (University of Oklahoma Library, Western History Collections)


Father (Abbé) Emile Boufflette Rescue Network, Liege/Luik, Belgium (Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53; Moore, 2010)

Father (Abbé) Emile Boufflette●+*, Vicar of Liege/Luik, Belgium, leader, organizer, member Mouvement Nationale Belge, arrested, deported to the Dora German concentration camp, murdered March 1945, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 28, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Louis Boufflette●, father of Emile Boufflette, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 28, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Maria Boufflette●, mother of Emile Boufflette, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 28, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Fernand-Joseph Boufflette●, uncle of Emile Boufflette, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 20, 1986 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Thérèse A. Boufflette●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 20, 1986 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Joseph Boufflette●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Paul Boufflette●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)

Palmyre Boufflette●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 52-53)


Brazilian Embassy, France

Luis Martins de Souza Dantas,* Brazilian Ambassador to France, 1940-43

Luis Martins de Souza Dantas was the Brazilian Ambassador to France between 1922 and 1943.  Ambassador Dantas issued visas to hundreds of Jews in occupied France after the Nazi takeover in 1940.  In March 1943, the Nazi representatives broke into Dantas’ embassy in Vichy and arrested him.  He was deported to Germany and was incarcerated along with other diplomats.  This was for his actions in helping Jews.  Dantas was eventually freed in 1944, with the direct intervention of Portuguese Prime Minister Oliveira Salazar.  Dantas issued the visas against the strict order of the pro-fascist Brazilian government headed by Getulio Vargas, and at great risk to his diplomatic career.  The Brazilian government eventually reprimanded him for issuing these visas without authorization from Rio.  Several of the Jews arrived in Brazil and were detained by the Brazilian government, but were later released. Dantas was designated Righteous Among the Nations in 2003.  (Milgram, Avraham, translated by Naftali Greenwood.  “The Jews of Europe from the perspective of the Brazilian Foreign Service, 1933-1941.”  Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 9 (1995), 94-120.  Fry, Varian. Surrender on Demand. (New York: Random House, 1945), p. 128. Eck, Nathan. “The Rescue of Jews With the Aid of Passports and Citizenship Papers of Latin American States.” Yad Vashem Studies on the European Jewish Catastrophe and Resistance, 1 (1957), pp. 125-152.)


Brazilian Embassy, Berlin, Germany

Aracy de Carvalho-Guimaraes Rosa,* Aide to the Brazilian Ambassador in Berlin

For her actions to save Jews in Berlin, Rosa was awarded the Righteous Among the Nations life saving award in 1982.  (Eck, Nathan. “The Rescue of Jews With the Aid of Passports and Citizenship Papers of Latin American States.” Yad Vashem Studies on the European Jewish Catastrophe and Resistance, 1 (1957), pp. 125-152.)


Brazilian Embassy, Holy See, Vatican

Ildebrando Pompeo Accioly, Brazilian Ambassador to the Holy See, 1942?

Ildebrando Pompeo Accioly, the Brazilian Ambassador to the Holy See, approached Pope Pius XII to try to persuade him to condemn publicly the Nazi atrocities that were perpetrated in German occupied zones.  Accioly, along with a number of other ambassadors, on a number of occasions continued to encourage the Pope to speak out publicly.  Accioly also submitted joint démarches with other Vatican representatives.  (Tittmann, Harold H., Jr., Harold H. Tittman III (Ed.). Inside the Vatican of Pius XII: The Memoir of an American Diplomat During World War II. (New York: Image Books Doubleday, 2004), p. 101, 117-118.)


Brazilian Embassy, Rome, Italy


Brazilian Embassy, Romania

The Brazilian Ambassador to Romania, 1941-42, reported on the massacre of 280,000 Jews.  The Brazilian Ambassador was in contact with the Swiss Ambassador to Romania, René de Weck.  (Laqueur, Walter (Ed.) and Judith Tydor Baumel (Assoc. Ed.).  The Holocaust Encyclopedia. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001), p. 620.)


Brazilian Consulate, Cologne, Germany

Ildefonso Falcão, Brazilian Consul in Cologne, Germany, 1933-?

Ildefonso Falcão was the Brazilian Consul in Cologne, Germany, 1933-?  After the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Falcão sent numerous reports on the persecution of Jews. Falcão acted on his own authority in liberally granting visas to German Jews who wished to immigrate to Brazil.  He believed that the German Jews could be a productive asset to Brazil.  Despite the anti-Semitic policies written by the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, Falcão continued to help Jewish refugees immigrate to Brazil.  (Milgram, Avraham, translated by Naftali Greenwood.  “The Jews of Europe from the perspective of the Brazilian Foreign Service, 1933-1941.”  Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 9 (1995), 94-120.)


British Embassay, Berlin, Germany, 1922-1939 (Gutman, 2007, pp.169-170)

Consul Staff (Captain) Frances (Frank) Foley●, 1884-1958 (Gutman, 2007, pp. 169-170; Smith, 1999)

Frank Foley was a Vice Consul in charge of visas in the British embassy in Berlin from 1929 to 1939.  He also worked as an MI6 intelligence agent.  Jewish officials estimate that he issued ten thousand visas to Jewish refugees between 1933 and 1939.  Ironically, these actions were a time when the British government was anxious to limit immigration, particularly to Palestine.  Despite British policy of giving few visas to Jews, it was known that Foley did everything he could to help. Frank Foley was designated by the State of Israel as Righteous Among the Nations in 1999.


British Embassy, Washington, DC, USA

British Ambassador to Washington, 1938

The British Ambassador to Washington, 1938, offered Undersecretary of State Sumner Wells to relinquish half of the British immigration quota for 1939 to aid German Jewish refugees.  This proposal would have helped more than 30,000 German Jews escape the Nazis.  Wells refused the offer, stating that the quota was not his to offer.  Wells also stated that Roosevelt had mentioned at a press conference that he would not increase the annual quota for German nationals, which was 25,000 individuals.  (Levin, Nora. The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry, 1933-1945. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1968), p. 126.)


British Consulate, see Great Britain, Consulate of


British Czech Refugee Committee, Krackow, Poland (Subak, 2010, p. 85)

Herman Field, head, brother of Noel Field of the Unitarian Service Committee (Subak, 2010, p. 85)


British Friends Service Committee (Moore, 2010, p. 139)


British Refugee Relief Trust (Subak, 2010, p. 18)


Brusasca Rescue and Resistance Network, Monteratto Region, Italy(Gutman, 2007, pp. lxxxiii, 359)

Giuseppe Brusasca●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title July 8, 1969 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, p. 359)

Father Ernesto Torra (Gutman, 2007, p. 359)

Father Don Giovanni Sisto, parish priest Isolengo (Alessandria) Village (Gutman, 2007, p. 359)


Father (Abbot) Bruylants Rescue Network, Brussels, Belgium

Helped save approximately eighty Jews.  Worked with Jeunesses Ouvrière Chrétiennes (JOC).  (Gutman, 2007, pp. 56-57; Moore, 2010, pp. 286-287)

Father (Abbot) Jan Bruylants●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title April 16, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007)

Marie Knops●, cousin of Abbe Bruylants, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title April 16, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007)

François Knops●, Maline/Mechelen, Belgium, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title April 16, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007)


Bulgarian American Committee, New York City, USA


Bulgarian Government (Boyadjieff, 1989; Chary, 1972, pp. xiii, xiv, 41, 55, 70, 73, 130, 14, 184-188; Chary, 1973; Gutman, 1990; Todorov, 2001, pp. 18-19)

King Boris III (1894-1943; Chary, Frederick B. The Bulgarian Jews and the Final Solution. (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970). Bar-Zohar, Michael. Beyond Hitler’s Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria’s Jews. (Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp., 1998).  Encyclopaedia Judaica. (Jerusalem: Keter, 1971, vol. 4), pp. 1479-1482. Gutman, Yisrael (Ed.). Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, 4 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1990), pp.263-272. Miller, M. L. Bulgaria during the Second World War. (Stanford, 1975).  Oren, N. “The Bulgarian Exception: A Reassessment of the Salvation of the Jewish Community.” Yad Vashem Studies, 7 (1968): 83-106. Fein, Helen. Accounting for Genocide. (New York: Free Press, 1979), pp. 67, 115-116, 162.)

King Boris of Bulgaria is a controversial figure in the rescue of the Jews of Bulgaria.  Early in the war, Boris allowed the deportation of the Jews in the Bulgarian territories of Thrace and Macedonia.  As the war turned against the Nazis, Boris resisted the request to deport Bulgarian Jews.  He personally met with Hitler and refused to cooperate in any actions against Jews.  His exact role is still somewhat controversial.


Bulgarian Lawyers Union (Chary, 1973; Todorov, 2001, p. 47-49)

The Bulgarian Lawyer Union opposed the proposed Anti-Semitic “Law for the Defense of the Nation” before the Bulgarian Parliament.  The Governing Board of the Lawyers Union sent a letter of opposition to the law and a protest on October 30, 1940, to the Chairman of the National Assembly.  It was signed by:

P. Boyadjiev, chairman

N. Raichev, secretary


Bulgarian National Assembly (Subranie; Boyadjieff, 1989; Chary, 1972, pp. 41, 92, 93-100, 101, 141, 146, 164, 165, 179, 190-191, 192, 193, 197; Gutman, 1990; Nissim, 1998; Todorov, 2001, pp. 5, 9-11, 24-26, 28-30, 35-39)

National Assembly members who opposed anti-Semitic policies and deportation of Jews:

Nikola Mushanov, deputy, Second Electoral College of Sofia, National Assembly

Ivan V. Petrov+*, executed after war

Petko Stainov, deputy, First Electoral College of Kazanlak, National Assembly

Dimitur Peshev●+ (1894-1973), vice president, Representative, First Klustendil District, National Assembly (Chary, Frederick B. The Bulgarian Jews and the Final Solution. (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970), pp. 93-100, 101, 141, 164-165, 179, 191-193, 197.  Bar-Zohar, Michael. Beyond Hitler’s Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria’s Jews. (Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp., 1998), pp. 16, 108, 189, 113-124, 129, 145-148, 151-155, 187, 266-268. State Publishing House. Saving of the Jews in Bulgaria, 1941-1944.  Tamir, Vicki. Bulgaria and Her Jews: The History of a Dubious Symbiosis. New York: Yeshiva University Press, 1972. Todorov, Tzvetan.  Translated by Arthur Denner. The Fragility of Goodness: Why Bulgaria’s Jews Survived the Holocaust. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999)

Dimiter Peshev, the Deputy Head (Vice President) of the Bulgarian Parliament, protested the planned deportation of the Jews of Bulgaria.  He generated and signed a petition and letter of protest that was signed by 43 members of the Bulgarian parliament.  As a result of this action and others, more than 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were saved from deportation.  Peshev was recognized as Righteous among the Nations by the State of Israel in 1973 for his role in saving Jews.

Petar Mikhalev●+, delegate from Kyvstendil, arrested, received life sentence

Dimitar Ikonomov

Dimo Kazasov●, former propaganda minister

Todor Polyakov, Communist Deputy


Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Holy Synod), see also King Boris (Bar-Zohar, 1998, pp. 165-177; Boyadjieff, 1989; Chary, 1972, pp. xiv, 28, 37, 57, 74-75, 90, 92, 130, 136, 138-139, 146-152, 188,-189, 192, 193, 197; Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2007; Todorov, 1999; Todorov, 2001, pp. 25, 28-29, 54-57, 120, 150)

Metropolitans were highly critical of Bulgarian government anti-Semitic policies.

Metropolitan Cyril (Kiril) of Plovdiv● (1901-1971; Konstantin Markov) , awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Chary, 1972, pp. 90, 138-139, 188; Gutman, 2007; Todorov, 1999, pp. 10, 25, 40, 98)

Metropolitan Evlogi of Sliven (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999)

Metropolitan Filaret of Lovech (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999)

Metropolitan Kliment of Stara Zagora (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999)

Metropolitan (Bishop) Neofit of Vidin, Grand Vicar, President of the Holy Synod (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999, pp. 54-57, 90-91, 97n)

Metropolitan Paisi of Vratsa (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999, pp. 90-91)

Metropolitan Sofroni of Tarnovo (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999)

Metropolitan Sofroni of Vratsa (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999, pp. 21, 90)

Metropolitan Stefan of Sofia● (1878-1957; Stoyan Popguedrgviev), Metropolitan 1921-1945, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Chary, 1972, pp. 57, 74, 75, 92, 130, 146-152, 188-189, 192, 193, 197; Gutman, 2007; Todorov, 1999, pp. 9, 12, 15, 20-21, 25, 29, 40, 90-91, 99-101, 115, 125-132)

Metropolitan Yosif (Joseph) of Varna and Preslau (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999)

Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven (Chary, 1972, pp. 138-139; Todorov, 1999)


The Bund, League for Socialist Life, 180 members saving Jews (Roseman, Mark, Indiana University, lecture USHMM)