Organizations Involved in Holocaust Rescue - Part 3 (E-H)

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)

Ecole Nouvelle des Ardennes, Belgium (Brachfeld, 1997, pp. 86-87, 89; Moore, 2010, p. 289)

Resistance operation that hid Jews, resistance operators and other refugees during the German occupation.


Ecuadoran Consulate, Stockholm, Sweden

Dr. Manuel Antonio Muñoz Borrero, Ecuadorian Consul in Stockholm, Sweden

Dr. Manuel Antonio Muñoz Borrero issued hundreds of passports/visas to Jewish refugees in Europe.  Borrero issued the visas at the request of a local rabbi, Abraham Israel Jacobson.  According to a recent report, Borrero came into conflict with the Ecuadorian foreign minister, who had asked him to cease issuing visas.  Despite pressure from Ecuador, Borrero continued to issue visas.  In 1942, Borrero worked in cooperation with a Chilean minister in Ankara, Turkey, and the Polish Consul General in Exile in Ankara, Turkey.  The German government put pressure on the Ecuadorian government to fire Borrero.  Borrero was warned and interrogated several times by the Swedish police and by the Swedish secret service (Säkerhetstjänsten).  Borrero was eventually dismissed from his job as Consul General of Ecuador in Stockholm under pressure from the Nazi regime.  He did not return to Ecuador.  Borrero died in Stockholm after the war.


Embassy of El Salvador, Geneva, Switzerland

Colonel José Arturo Castellanos●, Consul General for El Salvador in Geneva, Switzerland, 1942-45

Colonel José Arturo Castellanos was the Salvadoran Consul General in Geneva, Switzerland in 1942-45.  He appointed George Mandel-Mantello, a Romanian Jewish refugee living in Geneva, as the First Secretary at his consulate.  He authorized Mantello to issue thousands of “citizen certificates” to Jewish refugees throughout Nazi occupied Europe.  These certificates stated that the holder was a recognized citizen of El Salvador who was then protected from deportation.  In 1944, Castellanos requested that Switzerland represent El Salvador’s interests in Nazi occupied Hungary.  Soon, Mantello was issuing thousands of Salvadoran citizenship papers to Hungarian Jews through the office of Swiss Consul Charles Lutz.  Castellanos was designated Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 2010.  (Kranzler, David. The Man Who Stopped the Trains to Auschwitz George Mantello, El Salvador, and Switzerland’s Finest Hour. (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2000), pp. xxii, xxv, 2, 28, 42, 206, 353, 308n.25.)

José Gustavo Guerrero, Ambassador of El Salvador to Europe?, 1943-45?

José Gustavo Guerrero, along with Ambassador Castellanos, issued visas through George Mandel Mantello to Jewish refugees in central Europe.  He was formerly President of El Salvador.  Guerrero was later President of the High Court of The Hague.  (Kranzler, David. Thy Brother’s Blood: The Orthodox Jewish Response During the Holocaust. (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah, 1987), pp. 205-206. Kranzler, David. The Man Who Stopped the Trains to Auschwitz George Mantello, El Salvador, and Switzerland’s Finest Hour. (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2000), pp. xxii, xxv, 28, 247, 253.)

George Mandel Mantello, Honorary First Secretary for El Salvador in Geneva, 1942-45

George Mandel was born into an orthodox Jewish family in Romania in 1901.  Because of his business contacts, he was appointed honorary consul of El Salvador in Geneva in 1941.  As early as 1942, George Mandel-Mantello began issuing Salvadoran citizenship papers and documents to Jews in Nazi occupied Europe from his offices in Geneva.  Mantello worked closely with Jewish organizations and neutral legations to develop an elaborate network to distribute these life-saving papers, especially in Hungary.  Many of these were blank forms that could be filled out by the recipients.  Mantello spent thousands of dollars of his own money covering the costs of issuing these life-saving documents.  Mantello also was largely responsible for the widespread dissemination of the Auschwitz Protocols in Europe.  For this, he was briefly jailed by Swiss government officials for violating Swiss neutrality.  (Kranzler, David. The Man Who Stopped the Trains to Auschwitz George Mantello, El Salvador, and Switzerland’s Finest Hour. (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2000). Braham, Randolph L. The Politics of Genocide: The Holocaust in Hungary. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981), pp. 712-715, 729, 951, 978-979, 1079, 1109, 1120. Lévai, Jenö. Black Book on the Martyrdom of Hungarian Jewry. (Central European Times Publishing, 1948), pp. 228-229. Kranzler, David. Thy Brother’s Blood: The Orthodox Jewish Response During the Holocaust. (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah, 1987), pp. 203-215. Penkower, Monty Noam. The Jews Were Expendable: Free World diplomacy and the Holocaust.  (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1983), pp. 189-191, 249, 254.)

Helped by Florian Manoliu●, see Romanian Embassy, Switzerland


Elsinore Sewing Club; major rescue group based out of Elsinore, Denmark (Flender, pp. 153-167, 189, 211, 246; Yahil, 1969)

Børge Rønne, Newspaper Correspondent, Rescue Activist

Erling Kiaer, Book Binder, Rescue Activist

Thomod Larsen, Police Detective, Rescue Activist

Ove Bruhn, Bookkeeper, Rescue Activist

Dr. Jorgen Gersfelt, Physician, Rescue Activist

H. C. Thomsen, Owner, Snekkersten Inn, Rescue Activist


Emergency Care Service, part of Zegota, see Zegota


Emergency Committee for European Jewish Affairs


Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Physicians, USA (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33, 1065-1066; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)


Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Medical Scientists, USA (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33, 1065-1066; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)


Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars, USA (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33, 1065-1066; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)


Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Scholars, USA, University in Exile (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Davie, 1947; Duggan & Drury, 1948; Genizi, 1976; Genizi, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33, 1065-1066; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)

Dr. Alvin Johnson


Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC; formerly International Rescue Committee), USA, under the patronage of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

Archives and manuscripts

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Archives. New York City.

Ebel, Miriam Davenport. Papers. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Washington DC.

Feuchtwanger, Lion. Memorial Library. Special Collections, Doheny Memorial Library, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Fisera, Joseph. Archive. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington DC.

Fry, Varian. Papers. Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library, New York City.

Joy, Charles Rhind. Papers. Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard University Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Long, Breckinridge. Papers. Library of Congress, Washington DC.

Lowrie, Donald A., and Helen O. Lowrie. Papers. University of Illinois Archives, Chambagne-Urbana, Illinois.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Federal Bureur of Investiation. Office of Strategic Services. State Department. State Department Decimal Files. Washington DC and College Park, Maryland.

Roosevelt, Eleanor. Papers. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, Hyde Park, New York.

Sharp, Martha and Waitstill. Collection. John Hay Library, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Skidmore College. Archives, Saratoga Springs, New York.

Unitarian Service Committee. Records. Audiovisual Records. Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard University Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Records. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington DC.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Institutional Archives: Assignment Rescue. Oral History Archives. Photo Archives. Washington DC.


Books

Bénédité, Danny. La Filiere Marseillaise: Un Chemin Vers la Liberté Sous L’Occupation. Paris: Clancier Guenaud, 1984.

Berkley, George E. Vienna and Its Jew: The Tragedy of Success, 1880-1980s. Cambridge MA and Lanham MD: Abt Books and Madison Books, 1988.

Feuchtwanger, Lion. The Devil in France: My Encounter with Him in the Summer of 1940. New York: Viking Press, 1941.

Feuchtwanger, Lion. Der Teufel in Frankreich: Erlebnisse. Berlin: Aufbau-Verlag, 1942.

Field, Hermann, and Kate Field. Trapped in the Cold War: The Ordeal of an American Family. Stanford CA: Stanford University Press, 1999.

Fittko, Lisa. Escape through the Pyrenees. Translated by David Koblick. Evanston IL: Northwestern University Press, 1991.

Friedman, Saul S. No Haven for the Opressed: United States Policy toward Jewish Refugees, 1938-1945. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1973.

Fry, Varian. “Giraud and the Jews,” New Republic, May 10, 1943, 626-629.

Fry, Varian. “Justice for the Free French,” New Republic, June 8, 1942, 785-787.

Fry, Varian. “The Massacre of the Jews,” New Republic, December 21, 1942, 816-819.

Fry, Varian. “Mr. Fry and Russia,” New Republic, April 16, 1945, 507-508.

Fry, Varian. “Our Consuls at Work,” The Nation, May 2, 1942, 507-509.

Fry, Varian. Surrender on Demand. Boulder CO: Johnson Books, 1997.

Gold, Mary Jayne. Crossroads Marseilles 1940. New York: Doubleday and Company, 1980.

International Rescue Committee, They Chose Freedom: Thirty Years of the IRC, 1933-1964. New York, 1963. 

Isenberg, Sheila. A Hero of Our Own: The Story of Varian Fry. New York: Random House, 2001.

Jones, Irmarie. “Rev. Waitstill Sharp: ‘Front Seat to History,’” Greenfield Recorder, October 18, 1976, 13.

Joy, Charles. Harper’s Topical Concordance. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1940.

Kassof, Anita. “Intent and Interpretation: The German Refugees and Article 19 of the France-German Armistice, 1940-41.” Master’s thesis, University of Maryland, 1992.

Lowrie, Donald A. The Hunted Children. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1963.

Marino, Andy. A Quiet American: The Secret War of Varian Fry. New York: St. Mrtin’s Griffin, 1999.

Meyerhof, Walter. In the Shadow of Love: Stories from My Life. Santa Barbara CA: Fithian Press, 2002.

Romanofsky, Social Service Organizations, pp. 362-367. 

Subak, 2010

Wetzel, American Rescue.  State Univ. of New York at Albany. 


Founders:

Dr. Frank Kingdon (USA), president Newark University, Methodist minister


Elmer Davis (USA), radio commentator


Dr. William Allen Neilson, president of Smith College


Mrs. Emmons Blaine, philanthropist


Dr. Robert M. Hutchins (USA), president of the University of Chicago


Dr. George Shuster (USA), president of Hunter College


Dorothy Thompson (USA), journalist, rescue advocate


Varian Fry●+, head ERC Marseilles, France, office

Varian Fry volunteered to head the Emergency Rescue Committee.  In 1940, he was sent to Marseilles, in Vichy France.  He was given a list of 200 refugees and $3,000 with which to save them from the grip of the Gestapo.  After coming to Marseilles, Fry opened a refugee relief agency under the cover name of the American Center for Relief (Centre Américaine de Secour) in the Hôtel Splendide in Marseilles. 


Fry immediately set out to provide financial support for refugees and to secure all the necessary papers to escape France.  These papers included immigration visas, transit visas and destination or end visas.  The gathering of these papers was perhaps the most difficult task for Fry and his assistants in the ERC.  In 1940-41, many countries had closed their borders to refugees.


Varian Fry and the ERC relied heavily on sympathetic diplomats stationed in and around Marseilles.  Hiram “Harry” Bingham IV was the American Vice Consul and head of the Visa Section at the consulate.


Fry’s rescue activities were in direct violation of the regulations of both the French and American governments.  Fry and his volunteers organized elaborate escape routes for the refugees.  The Emergency Rescue Committee forged passports, visas, exchanged money on the Marseilles black market, and organized escape routes through Spain to Portugal. 


Fry’s activities on behalf of Jewish refugees was conducted right under the noses of the Nazi’s, the Gestapo and French police.  These activities soon caught the eye of French officials and numerous protests were posted to the American consulate in France.  The US State Department was fearful that Fry’s unauthorized activities would violate US neutrality.  US Secretary of State Cordell Hull sent a memorandum to the American embassies in Paris and Marseilles warning them of Fry’s activities on behalf of refugees.


In the fall of 1941, under pressure from the French government, Fry was ordered to leave France.  His US visa was not renewed.  Fry asked French officials why he was being expelled and they replied: “because you have protected Jews and anti-Nazis.”


In his 13 months in Marseilles, between August 1940 and the fall of 1941, Fry and his committee were able to rescue more than 2,000 people from France.

(Bénédité, 1984; Fry, 1945; Marino, 1999; Subak, 2010)


Harold Oram, Spanish Aid Committee (Fry, 1945)


Ingrid Warburg (Fry, 1945)


Anna Caples (Fry, 1945)


Paul Hagen (Fry, 1945)


Alfred Barr, Museum of Modern Art, New York (Marino, 1999)


Margaret Scolari Barr (Marino, 1999)


Thomas Mann, eminent German writer (Fry, 1945; Marino, 1999)


Joseph Buttinger (Marino, 1999)


Mildred Adams, secretary (Marino, 1999)


Dr. Charles Seymour, president of Yale


Dr. Alvin Johnson, head of the New School for Social Research, New York City


Raymond Gram Swing (USA; Marino, 1999, p. 39)


The American Relief Center (Centre Américain de Secours; Marseilles staff and volunteers)


Varian Fry, head


Daniel “Danny” Bénédite+, Assistant Director, ERC, 1940-194?

Daniel “Danny” Bénédite was one of Varian Fry’s most able assistants. Bénédite was a young French socialist who had previously worked to help refugees in Paris.  While in Paris, he became proficient in relief activities and avoiding French and Gestapo officials.  In Paris, he helped German and Austrian refugees renew their residential permits and thus avoid deportation.  After Fry was sent home, Bénédite took over the leadership of the ERC.  He was arrested for these activities.

(Varian Fry Papers, Columbia University, NYC; Bénédité, 1984; Fry, 1945; Marino, 1999; Ryan, 1996)


Theodora Bénédite, wife of “Danny” Bénédité (Bénédité, 1984; Marino, 1999)


Richard “Dick” Ball

Leon “Dick” Ball was one of the earliest volunteers for the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC).  Ball had been friends with Charlie Fawcett and both had been in the French Ambulance Corps.  Ball was born in the United States and was a US citizen.  In 1932, he arrived in France and became the owner of a lard factory in Paris.  Ball was one of the most effective members of the Rescue Committee.


Ball guided numerous refugees out of Marseilles and over the Pyrenees to Spain.  On one occasion, Ball helped guide Heinrich Mann and Golo Mann, son and nephew of Thomas Mann, and their families along with Mr. and Mrs. Franz Werfel.


These missions were extremely dangerous and Ball was able to evade being discovered or captured by the authorities with his “precious cargo.”


Ball also obtained various documents and papers from various sources.  He obtained false documents, exit visas and papers, even purchasing them on the black market, when necessary.


(Varian Fry Papers, Columbia University NYC; Bénédité, 1984; Fry, 1945; Marino, 1999; Ryan, 1996)


Ludwig Copperman (Louis Coppee; Jewish; Marino, 1999, pp. 299, 304, 308-310)


Miriam Davenport+ (Ebel), USA

Miriam Davenport (Ebel) was one of the important core volunteers of the Emergency Rescue Committee in Marseilles, France, 1940-41.  She graduated from Smith College and went to study art in Paris.  While traveling from Paris, she ran into the German poet Walter Mehring in Toulouse.  Miriam Davenport helped Walter Mehring escape the Nazi’s.  After meeting Miriam, Fry states in his autobiography, “I added her to the staff immediately.  She spoke French and German as few Americans do, and her knowledge of art and artists made her very useful when we had to distinguish between the many refugees who claimed to be artists worthy of our help.” 


Miriam wrote of her experiences in Marseilles: “Ostensibly we were a general relief agency; no sign at the door said more than Centre Américain de Secours, a bland American aid center.  When asked what we were doing, we replied that we were there to advise people on how to emigrate to America and to give financial assistance where needed—all perfectly legal.  Our financial assistance was either enough to live on and/or travel on, or none; general relief cases were sent to other agencies.  When we opened at eight every morning, a long, snaking queue of desperate people was already jamming the two corridors and the flight of stairs leading to our office.  From eight until noon we interviewed as many as we decently could.  I know that I saw some forty every day and the others saw as many…  Our day usually ended between midnight and one a.m.  This went on seven days a week.  The only leisure time was mealtime and, at times, that was business, too.”

(Papers, US Holocaust Memorial Museum [USHMM], Washington, DC; Bénédité, 1984; Davenport, 1999; Fry, 1945, pp. 38, 39, 87, 117; Gold, 1980; Marino, 1999, pp. 133-134, 139, 145, 186-187, 202, 267, 314)


Charles “Charlie” Fawcett+

Charles Fawcett was a volunteer and organizer of the rescue activities of refugees in Marseilles.  Fawcett was one of several young Americans in Marseilles who had volunteered in the American Volunteer Ambulance Corps before the armistice of June 1940.  Fawcett was originally from the state of Georgia in the United States.  He volunteered with the ERC to process refugees and to guard the door to the offices of the ERC in the Hôtel Splendide.


(Varian Fry Papers; Bénédité, 1984; Fry, 1945, pp. 37, 38, 53, 93, 108, 131, 149, 152, 153; Marino, 1999, pp. 86-88, 103, 106, 131-132, 139-140, 144, 192, 202, 209, 217, 261)


Lotte Feibel (Marino, 1999)


Lena Fischmann (Jewish)

Lena Fischmann was a prominent Jewish member of the Emergency Rescue Committee.  She ably ran the ERC offices.

(Varian Fry Papers, Columbia University; Bénédité, 1984; Fry, 1945, pp. 35, 38, 39, 42, 70, 74, 75, 79, 80, 93, 94, 100, 127, 129, 131, 133-135, 137-139, 141, 148, 149, 208, 209, 239; Marino, 1999, pp. 84-86, 156, 166, 193-195, 198, 241, 245-246; Ryan, 1996, pp. 83, 173)


Hans Fittko● (“Johaness F.”), Austria

Hans and Lisa Fittko led many refugees over the various escape routs from Marseilles into Spain.  They worked closely with the Emergency Rescue Committee.

(Fittko, 1991; Fry, 1945, pp. 122-24, 133, 151, 152, 198, 200, 203; Marino, 1999, pp. 84-86, 156, 166, 193-195, 198, 241, 245-246; Ryan, 1996, pp. 83, 173)


Lisa Fittko, Austria (Jewish)

Hans and Lisa Fittko led many refugees over the various escape routs from Marseilles into Spain.  They worked closely with the Emergency Rescue Committee.

(Fittko, 1991; Fry, 1945; Marino, 1999, pp. 84-86, 156, 166, 193-195, 198, 241, 245-246; Ryan, 1996, pp. 83, 173)


Bill Freier+ (Bill Spira)

Bill Freier was an early volunteer for the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC).  Freier was an able and extremely competent artist who was able to forge necessary documents and especially official stamps.  Freier had been a popular cartoonist in France before the war and, according to Fry: “he went through the usual experiences: internment in a concentration camp, escape, flight to Marseille.  He was a likable little fellow, and he seemed, and I’m sure was, a perfectly honest young man who wanted to help his fellow refugees and at the same time make enough money to keep alive… He was a very skilled draftsman, and he could imitate a rubber stamp so well that only an expert could have told it had been drawn with a brush.  He used to buy blank identity cards at the tobacco shops, fill them in, and then imitate the rubber stamp of the Prefecture which made them official… We made extensive use of his services, as did many other people.”

(Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 44, 45, 123, 131, 132, 208, 238; Marino, 1999, pp. 141-142)


Jean Gemahling+ (Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 101, 116, 122, 134, 140, 148, 151, 152, 154)


Mary Jayne Gold+, (USA)

Mary Jayne Gold was one of the principal volunteers for the Emergency Rescue Committee, 1940-41.  She went on numerous missions to help Jewish refugees.  In addition, she financed some of the operations of the ERC.  Mary Jayne Gold was not Jewish.

Before Fry was expelled from France, one of his last missions was to help release prisoners at the French concentration camp at Vernet.  Fry had tried in vain to get them released and sent Mary Jayne Gold on this mission.  In his autobiography, Fry speaks of Mary Jayne Gold’s mission to release the men at Vernet:

“…she went to Vernet, saw the commandant, and succeeded where everybody else had failed.  Accompanied by two soldier guards, the four men were allowed to come to Marseille and take their American visas.”

In addition, Mary Jayne Gold lent money for the rescue of refugees.  Miriam Davenport wrote in her autobiography:

“As the days wore on, I became more and more depressed by the number of endangered people who deserved help but were unknown to the old-boy network; recommendations made in New York fixed our conditions for giving assistance.  We had our “first list” of some two hundred names which was augmented from time to time by others approved in New York.  When I told Mary Jayne about this problem, she understood immediately and wanted to help right the wrong.  But how?  She had already decided to postpone going home but she was, herself, running out of funds.  Most of her money was blocked in the States.  More could be had only by dealing in a black market where she had no connections.  She offered to give the Committee $3,000 to help… in a very short time, the Centre Américain de Secours was some 330,000 francs richer.  The money was specifically earmarked for those not on the New York lists.  I called the new arrangement the “Gold List” and supervised its disbursements until I left Marseilles.”

(Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 87, 101, 117, 137, 145, 146, 150, 185; Gold, 1980; Marino, 1999, pp. 203-205, 208-209, 229, 240, 254, 256, 279)

Mrs. Anna Gruss (Fry, 1945, pp. 100, 107, 149, 227, 238)


Fritz Bedrich Heine● (b. 1904; Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 8, 10-12, 93, 168, 170-173, 189, 203, 239; Gutman, 2007, p. 104)


Lucie Heymann (Marino, 1999, pp. 267, 308-309, 317-318)


Franz “Franzi” von Hildebrand

One of Varian Fry’s original volunteers was Franz “Franzi” von Hildebrand.  Hildebrand originally was from a prominent Catholic family in Austria.  He had already gained much experience working for a relief refugee agency in Paris.  He held a Swiss passport, which helped provide important cover for his activities.  Working with Fry, he helped process hundreds of refugees who came to the Hôtel Splendide in Marseilles.  Hildebrand spoke many languages and was invaluable in helping to interview the many refugees who came for help.  Hildebrand would prepare reports on the refugees and transmit these applications to the ERC’s New York office.  The ERC New York office would then petition the State Department for exit papers.  Hildebrand’s father, Professor Dietrich fon Hildebrand, was a refugee himself hiding in Marseilles and was in danger of extradition.

Fry wrote of Hildebrand in his autobiography in 1945:  “Franzi had two other useful qualities besides being a Catholic.  He had worked with an Austrian committee in Paris, and so he knew how a relief committee should be run.  He also knew many of the non-socialist refugees and could advise me about them.  I could get all the advice I needed about the socialists from Beamish and Paul Hagen’s friends, but I depended on Franzi and his father to tell me about many of the others” (pp. 26-27).

Hildebrand did much of the interviewing, along with Fry and Albert Hirschmann.  If the refugee had no papers, or was not in possession of a proper passport, Hildebrand would arrange to get them.

(Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 26-28, 30, 35, 38, 39, 73, 74, 102, 239; Marino, 1999, pp. 122-123, 214; Subak, 2010, p. 249n1)


Otto Albert “Beamish” Hirschmann (Albert Hermant; Jewish)

Otto Albert Hirschmann was one of Varian Fry’s principal aides in the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC).  Hirschmann was a German Jewish political refugee.  Hirschmann had been active in the democratic socialist opposition to the Nazis.  In the fall of 1939, Hirschmann found himself in Paris. 

According to Fry’s autobiography, “Beamish had had a good deal of experience with underground work already, and, despite his youth (he was only twenty-five), he was a veteran anti-fascist with two wars to his credit.  He had fought in the Spanish Republican army for nearly a year, and had then signed up for service in the French army.”  Fry later adds: “Beamish soon became my specialist on illegal questions.  It was he who found new sources of false passports when the Czech passports were exposed and couldn’t be used any more.  It was he who arranged to change and transfer money on the black bourse when my original stock of dollars gave out.  And it was he who organized the guide service over the frontier when it was no longer possible for people to go down to Cerbère on the train and cross over on foot.”

In addition to his work in guiding refugees over the frontier, Hirschmann did much of the interviewing of refugees, along with Fry and Franzi Hildebrand.  Hirschmann also made contacts with the French underground for exchanging money on the black market.

(Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 24-30, 35, 36, 38-48, 79, 80, 82, 87-91, 103, 104, 107-109, 111, 112, 115, 122, 125, 131-133, 150-152, 239; Marino, 1999, pp. 77-81, 120-122, 127-128, 136, 139, 142-143, 145, 156, 158-159, 165, 167, 185, 192-194, 202, 209, 218, 223-224, 241-246)


Eric Lewinsky (Marino, 1999, pp. 267, 282, 322)

Heinrich Mueller (Fry, 1945, p. 189)


Heinz Ernst “Oppy” Oppenheimer (Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 35, 36, 38, 39, 171, 172; Marino, 1999, pp. 126-127, 202, 256, 261-262)


Mrs. Margaret Palmer (Fry, 1945, pp. 154-156)


Justus “Gussie” Rosenberg (Jewish; Marino, 1999, pp. 204-205, 329, 345)


Hans Sahl (Marino, 1999, p. 202)


Paul Schmierer, later volunteered for the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) in France (Marino, 1999, pp. 267, 283, 308, 309; Subak, 2010, pp. 147, 149, 156, 159-161)


Vala Schmierer (Marino, 1999, p. 267)


Dr. Marcel “Monsieur Maurice” Verzeanu (Varian Fry Papers; Fry, 1945, pp. 103, 151, 152, 154, 193-205, 221, 225, 228, 230, 234, 239)


Jacques Weisslitz+* (Fry, 1945, p. 238)


Charles Wolff+*, journalist (Fry, 1945, pp. 185, 219, 221, 238; Marino, 1999, p. 267)


Helped by:

Richard Allen, American Red Cross, Marseilles

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. 

(Fry, 1945, pp. 154-155, 208; Marino, 1999, p. 119.  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).)

Mayor Cruzet, Mayor of Cerbère

Mayor Cruzet helped refugees across the border secretly.  He also helped transport their possessions.

“The mayor of Cerbère, another French border town, Monsieur Cruzet, also a Socialist, helped refugees cross the border clandestinely and transport their belongings separately, a convenient arrangement he could offer since his business partner was the mayor of Port-Bou, the closest town on the Spanish side”

(Ryan, 1996, p. 143.  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), p. 148. Fittko, Lisa. Escape through the Pyrénées. (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1991), pp. 122-123. Marino, Andy. A Quiet American: The Secret War of Varian Fry. (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999), pp. 136, 194.)

Vincent Azéma, Mayor of Banyuls, France, see Banyuls-sur-Mer (Marino, 1999; Ryan, 1996)


Vice Consul Hiram Bingham IV (USA), see US Consulate, Marseilles, France (US Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives [USHMM]; Bingham papers in possession of family; Fry, 1945, pp. 10-12, 70, 83, 87-90, 99, 147, 215; Marino, 1999)


Frank Bohn, AFofL (USA)

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 by the Gestapo.  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.

Frank Bohn was heavily involved in the illegal activity of smuggling refugees into Spain.  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.

(Fry, 1945, pp. 7-12, 22, 23, 33, 34, 51, 54, 55, 56, 59, 80, 81, 92, 93; Marino, 1999)


Consul General Gilberto Bosques (Mexico), Marseilles, see Mexican Consulate, Marseilles, France (Bosques papers, Archivo National, Mexico City, Mexico; Fry, 1945, pp. 59, 127, 236; Subak, 2010)


Howard Brooks, Unitarian Service Committee, see Unitarian Service Committee (USC; Fry, 1945, p. 220; Ryan, 1996; Subak, 2010)


“Carlos” (“Garcia”; Fry, 1945, pp. 196, 197, 199, 201-205, 235; Marino, 1999, pp. 274-275)


Dr. Burns Chalmers, American Friends Service Committee, see American Friends Service Committee (AFSC; Marino, 1999, p. 139)


Consul de Sousa Dantas● (Brazil), Paris (Fry, 1945, p. 128)


Gaston Defferre, lawyer, Marseilles (Marino, 1999, pp. 135, 140)


Police Captain DuBois (France), Marseilles

Captain Dubois was a French police inspector in Marseilles, France.  He was an early contact with Hiram “Harry” Bingham IV, the Vice Consul at the US consulate in Marseilles.  Dubois provided reports on police raids to Bingham and later to Varian Fry and the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC).  He was entirely sympathetic to the rescue activities of the various agencies operating in Marseilles.  Dubois’ information helped Fry and his ERC to stay out of trouble.  Dubois was found out and was transferred to an undesirable post in Rabat, Morocco.  Dubois had also been transferred for his pro-British sentiments.  On one occasion, Dubois had warned the ERC of a planned police raid on the consulate of Siam, which had been supplying the ERC with visas.  After Dubois’ transfer, Fry had to begin bailing people out of prison and paying bribes to French police.

(Fontaine, 1989, p. 151; Fry, 1945, pp. 48, 89-91, 132, 149, 150, 208; Marino, 1999, pp. 209-210, 238-239, 277; Ryan, 1996, pp. 147, 173, 209)


Pinto Ferreira, Portugal

Pinto Ferreira, the Portuguese Consul General in Vichy stationed in Marseilles, protected Jews who were registered with the consulate.  Ferreira argued strongly for the protection of these Jews.  Portuguese dictator Salazar later approved the repatriation of the Portuguese Jews.

(Cable from Pinto Ferreira in Vichy to Salazar, March 18, 1943, AHD, 2o P. A. 50, M. 40.  Cable from Salazar, March 27, 1943, AHD, 2o. P. A. 50, M. 40.  Cited in Milgram, Avraham. “The Bounds of Neutrality: Portugal and the Repatriation of its Jewish Nationals.” Yad Vashem Studies, 31 (2003), pp. 201-244.)


Consul Figuière (Panama), Marseilles

The Panamanian Honorary Consul in Marseilles was a French shipping agent by the name of Figuière.  He provided Panamanian visa stamps to refugees as a means of escaping Vichy France.  Hans and Lisa Fittko, refugees, obtained Panamanian visas from the honorary consul.  They stated in Lisa’s autobiography that he “sells” these visas for the price of a salami.  It was clear that no one was going to Panama on these visas.

(Fittko, 1991, pp. 165-166; Fry, 1945, pp. 82-83)

Bedrich Heine, assistant to Frank Bohn, AFofL (Fry, 1945, p. 93)


Dr. Charles Joy (Fry, 1945, pp. 73, 106; Ryan, 1996)


Howard E. Kershner, American Frinds Service Committee (AFSC), Marseilles (Ryan, 1996; Marino, 1999, p. 150)


Consul Li (China), Marseilles (Fry, 1945, pp. 82-83; Marino, 1999, p. 119)


Dr. Donald Lowrie, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Czech Aid, Marseilles (Fry, 1945, pp. 18, 19, 80; Marino, 1999, pp. 107, 132, 137, 191; Ryan, 1996)


Emilio Lussu (alias “Monsieur Dupont”), assistant to Dr. Marcel Verzeanu (Fry, 1945, pp. 59, 60, 72,73, 109, 131, 152, 189, 190, 199-201, 204, 205, 215, 233-235, 239; Marino, 1999, p. 162)


Colonel Randolfo Pacciardi (Fry, 1945, pp. 109-112, 189, 190, 239; Marino, 1999, pp. 218, 255, 260, 276, 281-282)


Reiner (Fry, 1945, p. 42; Marino, 1999, pp. 142-143)


Vice Consul Myles Standish (USA), Marseilles (Marino, 1999, pp. 99-100, 117, 120; Ryan, 1996)


Consul Vladimir Vochoc+ (Czechoslovakia), Marseilles (Fry, 1945, pp. 18, 19, 42, 57, 80, 82-83, 99, 208; Marino, 1999, pp. 107-108, 119, 141, 192-193; Subak, 2010, pp. 43, 44, 69)


Consul (honorary) for Lithuania+ at Aix-en-Provence (Fry, 1945, pp. 82-83, 131, 199; Marino, 1999, pp. 141, 242)


Consul of Poland, Marseilles (Fry, 1945, pp. 42-43; Marino, 1999, p. 141)


Consul of Siam+, Marseilles (Fry,1945, pp. 82-83, 99, 132)


Enschede Jewish Council, Overijssel, the Netherlands

Sig Menco, Gerard Sanders and Isidoor Van Dam, leaders of the Jewish Council in Enschede, took the initiative, against the advice of the Jewish Council of Amsterdam, of urging their community to go into hiding and not to answer the call-up of the Germans for “labor in the East.” Menco, Sanders and Van Dam were able to organize and fund a well-developed underground movement to protect Jews.  The Council was helped by a prominent Protestant minister, Leendert Overduin. By the end of the war, a larger proportion of the Jewish community in Enschede survived than the general Jewish population of the Netherlands.  500 Jews of Enschede, of a population of 1,300, were saved (38.5%), whereas the survival rate in the Netherlands was less than 20%.

(NIOD Doc. II/364c, André Theun, p. 9; Bekkenamp, 2000; De Jong, Het Kroninkrijk, VI, p. 113; Hillbrink, 1998, 1999; Moore, 2010, pp. 216-217, 243-244; Presser, 1969, 1977, 1988; Schenkel, 2003, pp. 82, 89-92, 138-141; Wijbenga, 1995, pp. 235-236)

Helped by:

Leendert Overduin+, Protestant Calvinist minister (non-Jew), rescue network (Bekkenkamp, 2000; De Jong; Hillbrink, 1988, 1989; Moore, 2010, pp. 244-245)

Sig Menco (Jewish)

Gerard Sanders

Isidoor van Dam

Friso van Horn (Moore, 2010)

Maartje Overduin (sister of Leendert Overduin)

Corry Overduin (sister of Leendert Overduin)

Pastor Moulijn, Blija (Freisland; Moore, 2010)

Voogt+ (Moore, 2010, p. 244)

Gerhard Voogt (Moore, 2010, p. 244)

Sara Voogt (Moore, 2010, p. 244)

Mijnie Voogt (Moore, 2010)


Episcopal Committee for European Refugees, established 1938 (“Call to Aid German Refugees.” The Spirit of Missions, 104 (Mar. 19, 1939): 24.  Hertz, “Joint and Concurrent.”  Romanofsky, Social Service Organizations, pp. 286-290.)


EPON, Naval arm of EAM/ELAS, Greece

Petty Guggenheim (Marino, 1999, p. 256)

Celine Roth de Neufville, American Friends Service Committee, Southern france (Marino, 1999, p. 293)


ET, see Temporary Mutual Assistance, France


Etat Major des Postes Telegraphes et Telephones, Relief Section, Lyon, France


European Student Relief, France


Exiled Writers’ Committee (worked with Joint Anti-Fascist Committee)


Falkenberg Rescue Action, Wlodawa Labor Camp (near Sobibor Death Camp), Eastern Poland (Gutman, 2007, p. 88)

Saved Jews from being murdered in nearby Sobibor death camp by employing the in the Wlodawa Labor Camp.  Protected more than 500 Jews.  Falkenberg warned them during arrests and hid them in a bunker near his home.  He was denounced and was arrested by the Gestapo and deported to Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria.  He survived the camp until its liberation in May 1945.

Bernhard Falkenberg●+, Wlodawa Labor Camp overseer


Family of Mary Convent, sisters hid Jewish children (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 61, 351)

Mother Superior

Sister Getter


“Father Andrés Group,” see L’Aide Chrétienne aux Israélites (ACI)


Federal Council of Churches, USA, established 1908

(American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Davie, 1947; Genzini, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981; Prespyterian Historical Society, records of the Federal Council, 1908-50)

Samuel McCrea Cavert, General Secretary, member PACPR


Federal National War Fund, established August 1943, USA (American Committee for Christian German Refugees, 1945; Davie, 1947; Genzini, 1983, pp. 96-136; Gutman, 1990, pp. 32-33; Nawyn, 1981, pp. 159-181; Ross, 1981)


Federation for Identity Cards, Netherlands (Persoonsbewijzen Central; PBC; Gutman, 2004, p. xxv, liii)

Underground that produced false papers for Jews, headed by Gerit Jan van der Veen●.  It eventually produced more than 70,000false documents. 


Fellowship of Reconciliation, France


“Ferrying Service,” Denmark, see Danish-Swedish Refugee Service


Finnish Government (Gutman, 1990, pp. 493-495; Rautkallio, 1987)

In July 1942, SS Chief Heinrich Himmler went to Helsinki to enlist Finnish government cooperation in deporting Finland’s Jews to concentration camps. There were 2,000 Jews living in Finland. Some of these Jews were refugees who had immigrated from Germany and Austria before 1939.  Accompanying Himmler was his personal doctor, Felix Kersten, a native of Estonia who had served in the Finnish Independence Army.  Kersten volunteered to act as an intermediary to the Finnish government. He alerted the Finnish government and leaders about the Nazis’ plan to murder the Jews of Finland.

Finnish Foreign Minister Rolf Whitting refused to discuss the issue.  Finnish military Commander in Chief Field Marshall Karl Gustaf von Mannerheim informed German officials that if even one of the Finnish Jews was molested, Finland would declare war on Germany.  Nonetheless, in February 1943, eight Jews were deported from Helsinki to the Auschwitz. Only one survived.  When information about the true nature of the deportations reached Finland, there was widespread protest by the Finnish Social Democratic Party.  In addition, Finnish clergymen and the Archbishop of Helsinki protested.  As a result of these protests, the Finnish cabinet refused to allow any further deportations of Jews.

Prime Minister Rangell (Gutman, 1990, pp. 493-495; Rautkallio, 1987)

Johann Wilhelm Rangell, the Prime Minister of Finland in 1942, refused even to discuss the deportation of Finnish Jews and Jewish refugees in Finland with SS leader Heinrich Himmler.  The vast majority of Finnish Jews and other Jewish refugees in Finland were saved from deportation and murder.

Rolf Whiting (Gutman, 1990, pp. 493-495; Lacquer & Baumel, 2001; Rautkallio, 1987)

Nazism did not flourish in the small Scandinavian nation of Finland.  In the late 1930’s, when news reached Finland that the Nazis were persecuting Jews in Germany, Finnish leaders and the Finnish press expressed harsh disapproval.  When World War II began, however, Russia became a military threat to Finland.  Consequently, Finland sought an alliance with Germany rather than losing their independence.  In 1942, German troops occupied Northern Finland and the Nazis enacted anti-Jewish laws.  In July 1942, SS Chief Heinrich Himmler went to Helsinki to enlist Finnish government cooperation in deporting Finland’s Jews to concentration camps. There were 2,000 Jews living in Finland. Finnish Foreign Minister Rolf Whitting and other members of the government refused to cooperate and subsequently only eight Jews were deported.


Finnish Consulate, Viennam, Austria

Kauko Supanen, Vice Consul for Finland in Vienna, Austria, 1938-?

After the German Anschluss (annexation of Austria) in March 1938, several hundred foreign Jews arrived in Finland.  Most were in transit to other countries, but some stayed.  At first, the Finnish government had no consistent policy regarding Jewish refugees.  The Finnish Vice Consul in Vienna, Kauko Supanen, generously granted provisional visas to Jews.  On August 13, 1938, 50 Jews on the ship Ariadne sailed into Helsinki harbor and were allowed to enter Finland.  A week later, 60 Jews on the same ship were refused entry.  Supanen pretended to act out of ignorance of the Home Office visa policy.  He told refugees as late as August 1938 that Finland was open to Jews bearing Austrian passports, with or without visas.  He thus allowed many Austrian Jews to immigrate to Finland.  Supanen received a severe reprimand for his conduct from the Foreign ministry in Helsinki.  In his reprimand, it said: “As a responsible officer, you are forbidden to give advice apt to generate a flood of aliens seeking to enter Finland.  It is your duty to prevent such a flood with all your might.”  (Rautkallio, Hanno. Finland and the Holocaust: The Rescue of Finland's Jews, pp. 65-70. (New York: Holocaust Library, 1987). Gutman, Yisrael (Ed.). Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, 4 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1990). Yale Holocaust Encyclopedia, p. 204.)


Father Jean Fleury Rescue Network, Poitiers (Department of Vienne), France, worked with other rescue networks, including OSE (Gutman, 2003)

Father Jean Fleury●, Catholic, worked with Amitié Chrétienne in southern France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 241-242)

Suzanne Bourlat●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title June 18, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 102-103, 465)

 Berthe Brault●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title July 3, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 108)

Theophile Brault●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title July 3, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 108)

Jeanne Caillaud●, Poitirs, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 25, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 120-121, 382)

Henriette de Mornac●, director, La Maison Maternelle, St.-Denis-en-Val, Loiret Province, occupied zone, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 27, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 192)


Countess Constance de Saint-Seine●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 27, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 197-198)

Count Germaine de Saint-Seine●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 27, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 197-198)

Hélène Marzellier●, Poitiers, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 25, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 220, 382)

Pierrette “Cathy” Poirier●, Poitiers, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 27, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 448-449)

Aline Renaudin● (Peltier), Poitiers, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 27, 1979 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 465)

Hélène Durand●, Poitiers, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title October 25, 1978 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, p. 220)

Aline Trichet●, Poitiers, France, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title March 6, 1996 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2003, pp. 527-528)

Rabbi Elie Block (Gutman, 2003, p. 448)


Food for Freedom, Founded 1942


Foyer Protestant pour Enfants, Brussels, Belgium (Brachfeld, 1997, pp. 88-89; Kless, 1988, pp. 284-285)

Worked with the Jewish Defense Committee (Comité de Défense des Juifs) in Brussels.  Sheltered, hid and protected approximately 80 to 90 Jewish children during German occupation.


Franc Tireur Partisans, Haute Savoie, France, Geneva, Switzerland

Jean-Jaques Jaeger (Worked with Unitarian Service Committee and War Refugee Board; WRB)


France de Abord Group, France


Fraternal Council (Bruderrat), Confessing Church, Würtemberg, Germany, rescue network (Gutman, 2007, pp. 84-85, 127-128), see also Community of Christian Brotherly Love

Informal rescue operation.  Saved Jews in Würtemberg area of Germany.

Pastor Alfred Dilger●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, pp. 84-85)

Luise Dilger●, wife of Pastor Alfred Dilger, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2007, pp. 84-85)

Theodor Dipper (Gutman, 2007, pp. 84-85)

Pastor Otto Mörike● (b. 1897), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives)

Gertrude Mörike● (b. 1904), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives)


“Free Danes”

Armed underground resistance group.  Offered to aid Lyngby group in Jewish rescue activities.  (Bertelsen, 1954, p. 173)


Free Germany (Freies Deutschland), Switzerland

Karl “Burkhardt” (Alias)


Free University of Brussels, Belgium, protested anti-Jewish legislation, Germans reprimanded the university (Gutman, 1990, p. 164)


Freedom Council, Nyborg, Copenhagen, Denmark, established September 16, 1943 (Bertelsen, 1954; Goldberger p. 5; Gutman, 2007, p. 61; Yahil, pp. 183, 223-224, 228-229, 232, 236, 247, 277, 374)

The Danish Freedom Council was created to coordinate between underground and other Danish organizations that were resisting the Nazi occupation of Denmark.  It was founded on September 16, 1943, by Erling Foss and other resistance leaders.  It participated in the rescue of Danish Jews.  Erling Foss proposed creation of the Council in May 1943.  The Council opposed persecution of Jews in Denmark and helped create a population movement by Danish citizens to save its Jews.

Erling Foss, founder, leader

Mogens Fog

Frode Jakobsen

Arne Sørensen

Professor E. Husfield, leader doctor’s organization

Anna Christensen●


Freedom Organization (Wolnosc), Poland

Socialist underground resistance organization comprised of Jews and non-Jews.  Involved in the rescue and aiding of Jews.  Provided lifesaving forged documents to Jews.  (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 250-255)

Waclaw Zagórski, leader, Central Committee of Wolnosc (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 250-255)

Adrrzej Fejgin (Jewish), Central Committee of Wolnosc (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 251, 253)

Henryk Greniewski (Jewish), Central Committee of Wolnosc (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 251, 253)

Waclaw Modrzenski (Jewish), Central Committee of Wolnosc (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 251, 253)

Jaga Boryta, liaison, Union of Armed Struggle (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 251-252)

Mr. Dybowski, Union of Armed Struggle, provided identity cards (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 252)


French Red Cross, France

Maurice DuBois●, Toulouse, Fance (Gutman)

Elenore DuBois, wife (Gutman)


French Protestant Federation, France


French Student Christian Association, France


Friends of Luxembourg


Friesland Resistance, Netherlands

Rescue network in the Friesland area in the north of the Netherlands. It was involved in the rescue of Jews.  (Gutman, 2004, p. 418)

Pieter Meerburg●, founder, leader, Meerburg Group, prominent member of the Amsterdam Student Group (ASG), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Cammaert, 1994; Flim, 1996; Gutman, 2004, pp. 299, 303-304, 316, 508-509)

Hink Kluvers● (medical student), Friesland Resistance, Meerburg Group, hid and sheltered 100 Jewish children, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title August 31, 1997 (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2004, pp. 418, 509)

Benita Rinsmas, Nurse, Friesland Resistance Group, aided Henk Kluvers in rescue of Jewish children (Gutman, 2004, p. 418)

Esmee van Eeghen+*, Friesland Resistance, girlfriend of Henk Kluvers, aided in saving Jewish children, she was arrested and executed for these activities (Gutman, 2004, p. 418)


Front de L’independence (FI), see Independence Front, Belgium


Front National, France, Belgium, established September 1941. Worked with Comité National des Defense Juive


Front Wallon (FW), Belgium, established May 1941


Garel Network (Réseau Garel), HQ Lyons, France; offices in Limoges, Paris

Georges Garel, leader (Jewish)

Limoges section – Julien Samuel (Jewish)

Lyon office – Madeleine Dreyfus (Jewish), assistant chief; Martha Sternheim (Jewish), Eva Deleage (Jewish)

Paris section – Dr. Eugene Minkowski (Jewish)

Central group – Joseph Millner (Jewish), Andrée Salomon (Jewish), Dr. Jean Cremer (Jewish), René Borel (Jewish), Alain Mosse (Jewish)

“Circuit B” – Andrée Salomon, leader (Jewish)


Garde Blanche, Belgium, Belgian underground resistance group, warned Jews of impending actions (Gutman, 2005, p. 58)


General Defense Committee (Comité Général de Défense; CGD; also known as the Committee for General Defense), Grenoble, France, established July 1943, made up of UJRE and FSJ


Gereformeerde Vrouwenvereeniging, see Calvinist Women’s Association, Belgium


German Administration, Belgium

Wilhelm Baron von Hahn●, released hundreds of Jewish detainees (Gutman)


German Emergency Committee, USA, supported by: American Friend Service Committee (AFSC)


German Foreign Ministry

Werner Otto von Hentig

Werner Otto von Hentig was the Head of Pol. VII, Oriental Office (Palestine Desk) in the German Foreign Ministry in 1937.  Von Hentig was a critic of the Nazis with long experience in the German Foreign Ministry.  He had previously served with the Palestine Office in the German embassy in Constantinople.  Von Hentig was highly sympathetic toward Jews.  Von Hentig supported the Zionist movement and even met with Chaim Weizmann.  He was against brutalization and stripping Jews of their property and wealth.  He supported the emigration of Jews from Germany and supported immigration to Palestine.  He was very much in support of the Havara transfer agreement, which allowed Jews to transfer their property and assets to Palestine.  Von Hentig worked with Ernst Marcus, of the Paltreu Company, part of the Havara Company.  Working with Hentig, Marcus prepared a memorandum that was called “Report to Hitler by the Foreign Office.”  It outlined the advantages to Germany of the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.  Remarkably, Hitler had made a decision in favor of this and the Ha’avara agreement.  Von Hentig, at personal risk, protested harsh measures enacted against Jews.  He interceded with German Undersecretary of State Ernst von Weizsäcker on behalf of Jews who were being persecuted.  Von Hentig was even able to have prominent Jewish members of the Reichsvertretung released from German concentration camps.  (Nicosia, Frances R. The Third Reich & the Palestine Question. (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2000), pp. 51, 126, 132, 140-142. Levin, Nora. The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry, 1933-1945. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1968), pp. 82, 132. Marcus, Ernst. “The German Foreign Office and the Palestine Question in the Period 1933-1939.” Yad Vashem Studies, 2 (1958), pp. 187-202.)

Wilhelm Melchers, German Diplomat of the Near East Desk, Political Division, German Foreign Office, 1942-1943

Wilhelm Melchers, of the Near East Desk of the Political Division of the German Foreign Office, saved Palestinian Jews in German hands from being deported by British authorities in Palestine.  In Paris in 1942, he intervened on behalf of 2,400 Turkish Jews who were to be deported.  Initially, these Jews were not protected by Turkish authorities in Paris.  Melchers argued to the German government that these Jews posed no security risk and that their deportation would produce bad publicity against Germany in the Turkish press.  Wilhelm Melchers single-handedly thwarted the deportation of these Turkish Jews.  Later, the Turkish government intervened on behalf of these Jews.  (Browning, Christopher R. Browning. The Final Solution and the German Foreign Office: A Study of Referat D III of Abteilung Deutschland 1940-43. (New York: Holmes & Meier Publishers, 1978), pp. 155-156. Levine, Paul A. From Indifference to Activism: Swedish Diplomacy and the Holocaust: 1938-1944. (Uppsala, Sweden: 1998), p. 158.)


German Embassy, Finland

W. von Blücher, German Minister to Finland

The German ambassador in Finland, W. von Blücher, sent reports to the German Foreign Ministry about the reaction of the Finnish people to the persecution of Jews in Denmark.  Apparently he wanted to prevent the German government from taking action against the Jews in Finland.  (Yahil, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 332, 404-415, 514 Fn 47.)


German Embassy, Bucharest, Romania

In the spring of 1944, Jewish survivors and refugees in northern Transylvania began to organize rescue efforts in Bucharest.  The purpose was to help Jews flee from Hungarian territories to escape the Nazi persecutions.  In summer 1944, this group became active in Bucharest and called itself The Committee for Refugee Affairs.  The Committee established contact with officials at the German embassy in Bucharest, reaching an agreement to permit Jewish refugees from Hungary to emigrate to Palestine through the port of Constanta.  (Braham, Randolph L. (Ed.) Hungarian-Jewish Studies. (New York: World Federation of Hungarian Jews, 1966), pp. 203-204. Vago, Bela. “Political and Diplomatic Activities for the Rescue of the Jews of Northern Transylvania.” Yad Vashem Studies, 6 (1967), p. 156.)


German Consulate (Jerusalem, Palestine)

Dr. Heinrich Wolff, German Consul General in Jerusalem, 1932-1935

The German Consul General in Jerusalem, Dr. Heinrich Wolff, worked to make the immigration of Jews from Germany to Palestine easier.  He believed in Zionism and in the possibility of reconciliation of a Jewish state in Palestine and the National Socialist movement.  Dr. Wolff helped negotiate and create the Ha’avarah agreement, which allowed Jews to immigrate to Palestine from Germany with their money and other assets intact.  He did not fully understand Nazi intentions to murder the Jews of Europe.  He refused to join the Nazi party and was dismissed from the diplomatic service in September 1935.  More than 50,000 Jews were able to emigrate from Germany as a result of negotiations by Dr. Wolff.  (Nicosia, Frances R. The Third Reich & the Palestine Question. (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2000), pp. 36-44, 51-52. Marcus, Ernst. “The German Foreign Office and the Palestine Question in the Period 1933-1939.” Yad Vashem Studies, 2 (1958), pp. 181-184, 194.)

Timotheus Wurst, German Consul in Palestine, 1933-39?

German Consul Timotheus Wurst helped a number of Jewish refugees enter Palestine by providing them visas and certificates.  Wurst was also helpful to refugees in his capacity as Director of the German Temple Society Bank.  He helped refugees transfer money from Germany to Palestine.  (Marcus, Ernst. “The German Foreign Office and the Palestine Question in the Period 1933-1939.” Yad Vashem Studies, 2 (1958), pp. 184-185, 194.)


German Consulate, Geneva, Switzerland (Moore, 2010, p. 135)

Helped the Refugee Service of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland.  One diplomat did courier services on behalf of refugees.  Also allowed the use of diplomatic pouches to transfer packages into France.

German Consul General, Switzerland


German Consulate, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

German Consul in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, 1940?

The German Consul General in Zagreb helped Jews in 1940 by issuing them protective papers.  He also advised them that they did not have to wear the yellow star.  In the autumn of 1940, a Jewish refugee from Mannheim, Germany, Jacob Kahn, went on an odyssey to escape Nazi deportation to a concentration camp.  In an autobiography, he stated that he went to the German consulate where he received instructions that he did not have to wear the Jewish star and that he was under the protection of the German consulate there.  Kahn reported that the German Consul General was later dismissed for these actions.  (Korman, Gerd (Ed.). Hunter and Hunted: Human History of the Holocaust. (New York: Viking Press, 1973), pp. 163-167.)


German Legation, Budapest, Hungary

Gerhart Feine, Director of the Jewish Department of the German Plenipotentiary in Budapest, 1944-45

Consul Gerhart Feine was Director of the Jewish Department of the German Plenipotentiary in Budapest in 1944-1945.  He informed Carl Lutz, Raoul Wallenberg and other members of the neutral legations of the plans of Hitler’s Foreign Minister Veesenmayer and SS Colonel Adolf Eichmann to deport and murder the Jews of Budapest.  Without Feine’s help, the rescue of Jews would have been far more difficult and dangerous.  Feine betrayed the confidence of Veesenmayer and Eichmann.  He was never discovered for informing on his superiors.  Feine also rescued several Jewish families in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, prior to his assignment in Budapest.  Feine was killed after the war while attempting to rescue people from a burning building.  (Tschuy, Theo. Dangerous Diplomacy. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000). Braham, Randolph L. The Politics of Genocide: The Holocaust in Hungary. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981), pp. 388, 507. Lévai, Jenö. Black Book on the Martyrdom of Hungarian Jewry. (Central European Times Publishing, 1948), p. 283.)


German Legation, Copenhagen, Denmark (Yahil, 1969, pp. 31, 42, 52, 61, 64-76, 89, 127, 129, 148-151, 161-164, 173, 197-200, 239,267, 329, 417, 480n11)

Cecil von Renthe-Fink, Minister (Yahil, 1969)

Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz●, Trade Attaché to the German Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1943

Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz was a member of the Nazi Party and was sent as a Trade Attaché to the German Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.  When Duckwitz learned that the Nazi occupying government was planning to deport Danish Jews, he alerted the Danish government and Jewish community leaders.  In addition, he made a clandestine trip to Stockholm to meet with the Prime Minster of Sweden to arrange for safe haven for the Jews.  For these actions, he could have been killed.  The Danish underground in turn implemented the rescue of more than 7,000 Danish Jews.  As a result, 99% of Danish Jews were hidden and smuggled into neutral Sweden, where they survived the war.  After the war, Duckwitz became the German Ambassador to Denmark.  Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz was designated Righteous Among the Nations in 1971.  (Duckwitz, Georg Ferdinand. Die geplannte Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden und ihre Verhinderung. (Copenhagen: Rigsarkivet, Duckwitz Archives, 1957; and Jerusalem: Yad Vashem Archives File #027/13).  Duckwitz, Georg Ferdinand. Die Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden im Herbst 1943—Plan und Durchführing. (Copenhagen: Rigsarkivet, Duckwitz Archives, 1964). Dose, Johannes. Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz in Dänemark: 1943-1945, 2nd ed. (Bonn: Auswärtiges Amt, 1992), Referat 012, p. 16.  Gutman, Yisrael (Ed.). Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, 4 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1990), pp. 364, 409, 1282, 1438. Yahil, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 127, 129, 148-151, 161-164, 173, 239, 269, 329, 417. Kirchhoff, Hans. “SS-Gruppenführer Werner Best and the action against the Danish Jews – October 1943.” Yad Vashem Studies, 24 (1994), 195-222.)

Paul Ernst Kanstein, member of Minister Renthe-Fink’s staff (Yahil, 1969)

German Consul Krüger, issued visas to Jews to leave Denmark and go to Turkey and Palestine

Dr. Riensberg, German Shipping Attaché stationed in Stockholm, Sweden, 1943

Dr. Riensberg was the German shipping attaché stationed in Stockholm, Sweden.  He worked closely with Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz, the German shipping attaché stationed in Copenhagen, in the rescue of Danish Jews.  They worked out a secret code that would allow them to communicate regarding the rescue action of October 1943.  This arrangement would expedite the rescue efforts and inform Duckwitz if the Jewish refugees arrived safely in Stockholm.  (Duckwitz, Georg Ferdinand. Die geplannte Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden und ihre Verhinderung. (Copenhagen: Rigsarkivet, Duckwitz Archives, 1957; and Jerusalem: Yad Vashem Archives File #027/13).  Duckwitz, Georg Ferdinand. Die Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden im Herbst 1943—Plan und Durchführing. (Copenhagen: Rigsarkivet, Duckwitz Archives, 1964).  Yahil, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy.(Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), p. 151.)

Friedrich Wilhelm Lübke

Lübke was the German Chief of Shipping in Aarhus, Denmark.  During the deportation of Jews, he “discovered” an “engine defect” that prevented the ship Monte Rosa from transporting deported Jews to the German concentration camps.  Lübke worked with Duckwitz in this scheme.  After the war, he became the Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein.  (Werner, Emmy E. A Conspiracy of Decency: The Rescue of the Danish Jews during World War II. (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2002).)

Heinrich Bertram

Bertram worked with Friedrich Lübke to make sure the ship Monte Rosa was “out of order” to help prevent the deportation of Danish Jews in October 1943.  (Werner, Emmy E. A Conspiracy of Decency: The Rescue of the Danish Jews during World War II. (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2002).)


German Legation, Rome, Italy (Katz, 1969; Zimmerman, 2005, pp. 224-242)

Consul Eitel Friedrich Möllhausen, German Acting Consul General in Rome, 1943

Eitel Friedrich Möllhausen became the German Acting Consul General in Rome, Italy, after the Consul General had been seriously injured in an automobile accident. Möllhausen thwarted a plan by Himmler to deport all of Rome’s Jews in September 1943.  Möllhausen understood that the deportation of the Jews would mean that they would be murdered.  Möllhausen approached German Field Marshall Kesselring to help him to stop the planned deportation.  Kesselring supported Möllhausen.  As a result, many Jews were spared deportation. Möllhausen even wired German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop personally to try to rescind the order to deport the Jews of Rome. Möllhausen used the term “liquidate” in his personal telegram to Ribbentrop.  Ribbentrop was furious over Möllhausen’s use of the word “liquidate,” and reprimanded Möllhausen for his indiscretion.  (Katz, Robert. Black Sabbath: A Journey Through a Crime Against Humanity. (Toronto: MacMillan, 1969), pp. 53-65, 135-139. Möllhausen, Eitel Friedrich. Die Gebrochene Achse [The Broken Axis].  (Luxembourg: Alpha Verlag, 1949). Möllhausen, Eitel Friedrich. Il giuoco è fatto! (Florence, 1951).  Rahn, Rudolph. Ruheloses Leben: Aufzeichnungen und Erinnerungen [Restless Life: Reflections and Memories]. (Dusseldorf: Diederichs Verlag, 1949). Gutman, Yisrael (Ed.). Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, 4 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1990), p. 1301. Michaelis, Meir. Mussolini and the Jews: German-Italian Relations and the Jewish Question in Italy, 1922-1945. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978), pp. 351, 354, 362-366, 369.  Zimmerman, Joshua D., Jews in Italy under Falist and Nazi Rule, 1922-1945, Cambridge University Press, NY, 2005, pp. 224-242.)

Legation Secretary Gerhard Gumpert (Katz, 1969; Zimmerman, 2005, p. 233)


German Legation, Vatican (Katz, 1969; Zimmerman, 2005, pp. 224-242)

Ernst von Weizsäcker, Ambassador to the Holy See (Zimmerman, 2005, pp. 230-232, 233, 235)

Consul Albrecht von Kessel (Zimmerman, 2005, pp. 230-232, 233, 235)


German Navy (Kriegsmarine), Copenhagen, Denmark (Duckwitz; Yahil, 1969, p. 267)

Facilitated rescue of Danish Jews by seeing that patrol boats were being repaired during October 1943 rescue by Danish fishermen

German Commander of the Port of Copenhagen (Yahil, 1969, p. 267)


German Soldiers (Wehrmacht; Gutman, 2007; Katz, 1969; Zimmerman, 2005),

Rome, Italy

Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, German commander Italy (Katz, 1969; Zimmerman, 2005, pp. 229, 232, 233, 235)

Stadtkommandant General Rainer Stahel, Italy (Katz, 1969; Zimmerman, 2005, pp. 227-228, 231, 232)

Belorussia

Hauptfeldwebel Hugo Armann● (b. 1917), stationed Baranowicze (Baranovichi) railroad station, 1942 (Gutman, 2007)

Lithuania

Oskar Schönbrunner● (b. 1908), paymaster German military, Vilnius, Lithuania, 1941-1944.  Set up shops utilizing Jewish workers in shoe making and sewing German military uniforms.  By declaring them essential war workers, protected them from certain deportation to the death camps.  In addition, he took care of his Jewish workers by giving them extra food rations and supplies.  He obtained release of Jews in the Ludiski Jail (Gutman, 2007, pp. 146-147).

The Netherlands

Dr. Gerhard Wander●+* (1903-1945), German Army officer, Jewish Aryanization Office, Military Occupation Administration, Hague, Holland.  Worked with Dr. Hans Georg Calmeyer, chief, Department of Jewish Aryanization Office, and Professor Dr. Hans Weinert.  Exempted Jews from arrest and deportation by classifying them “half Jewish” or “Aryan.”  At least 3,000 Jews were saved by this process.  Wander defected from German Army and joined the Dutch Underground in September 1944.  He was caught and was shot on January 22, 1945 (Gutman, 2007, pp. 80-81, 160).

Dr. Hans Georg Calmeyer●, chief, Department of Jewish Aryanization Office

Professor Dr. Hans Weinert

Poland

Major Max Liedtke● (1894-1955), military commander, Przemysl, Southern Poland, temporarily protected the Jews of Przemysl from deportation

Alfred Battel●, Przemysl, Southern Poland, temporarily protected the Jews of Przemysl from deportation

Leonard Bartlakowski● (d. 1953), airman Luftwaffe, stationed Rawa Ruska, Poland

Oberleutnant Albert Battel● (d. 1952), stationed Przemysl, South Poland

Hauptmann (Captain) Hans Hartmann●, Unit 547 Heereskraftahrzeug Army Repair Depot, Lwow, Eastern Galicia

Fritz Müller●, Choroszcz agricultural farm near Bialystok, Poland

Dr. Karl Mütte, MD● (or Müttje), army doctor, German field hospital, Przemyslany District, Eastern Galicia

Walter Rosenkrantz●, officer, Przemyslany District, Eastern Galicia

Franz Weschenfelder●, Non-Commissioned Officer, medical unit, Schutzpolizei, Stanislawow, Poland (Eastern Galicia)

Hellen Weschenfelder●

Tunisia, North Africa

Sergeant Richard Abel●

Ukraine

Oberleutnant Dr. Fritz Fielder●, Horodenka/Ukraine, saved 50 Jews during SS action in December 1941

Obertruppführer Willi Ahrem●, commander Todt Organization, forced labor camp, in Nemirow, Ukraine

Other Areas (or location not specified)

Major Eberhard Helmrich● (b. 1899), rescued Jews

Donata Helmrich● (wife), rescue Jews

Sergeant Otto Nickel● (b. 1897), stationed Nowe Miasto (Neustadt), near Ciechanow (Zichenau)


Ezio Giorgetti Rescue Network Operation, Village of San Mauro Pascoli, Italy (Gutman, 2007, p. 381)

Saved 38 Jewish refugees during the German occupation, September 1943-September 1944.

Ezio Giorgetti●

Osman Carugno●


Girotti Rescue Network, Dominican Theological Seminary, Turin, Italy (Santa Maria delle Rose; Gutman, 2007, pp. 381-382)

Father Giuseppe Girotti●+* (1905-1945), rescued numerous Jews in Turin area, was arrested August 29, 1944, imprisoned and deported to Dachau concentration camp, where he was murdered in April 1945


“Gold Fund,” see also Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC), France, Unitarian Service Committee, Lisbon, France

Mary Jayne Gold, an American heiress, provided funds for the Emergency Rescue Committee in Marseilles, France, and for the Unitarian Service Committee in Lisbon, Portugal.  (Subak, 2010)


The Good Shepard Committee Rescue Network (Protestant; A Jó Pásztor Bizottsag), Budapest, Hungary, established October 1942

The official name of the committee was “The Good Shepherd Missionary Subcommittee of the Universal Convent of the Reformed Church of Hungary” (A Magyarországi Református Egyház Egyetemes Konventje Jó Pásztor Missziói Albizottsága).  It was sponsored by the Universal Convent of the Reformed Church of Hungary.  It worked with Hungarian Evangelical Church and the Jewish Council.  The Committee set up Protestant Orphans’ Home in Noszvaj and Budapest.  It hid and sheltered Jews in Budapest during Arrow Cross rule, after October 1944 and distributed protective papers. 

(Bereczky, Hungarian Protestantism, pp. 19, 43,46; Braham, 1991, pp. 492-493, 494, 897, 1187, 1197-1198; Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2007, p. 201, 249, 232-233, 261; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 86-87; Munkácsi, Hogyan történt?, pp. 151-154)

Reverend József Éliás (former Jew), leader (Braham, 1991, pp. 492-493, 1187, 1197-1199, 1203, 1362)

Reverend Gábor Jenö Sztehló●, in charge of labor servicemen and converts (Braham, 1991, p. 1187; Gutman, 2007)

Reverend Gyula Muraközy, director, Committee (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Dr. Imre Kadar, secretary, Committee (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Deacon Emil Hajos (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Reverend Dr. Károly Dobos●, director (Braham, 1991, p. 1197; Gutman, 2007)

Mrs. Károly Dobos● (Ilona; Gutman, 2007)

Emil Koren● (Lutheran; Gutman, 2007)

Magda Koren● (Gutman, 2007)

Dr. Ferenc Benkö  (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Andor Borbas

Reverend Gyula Nägy(Braham, 1991, p. 1198)

Reverend Sándor Boros(Braham, 1991, p. 1198)

Irén Homonny●, Department A, ICRC (Gutman, 2007)

Mária Homonny●, Department A, ICRC (Gutman, 2007)

Andras Keken●, Lutheran minister, Deak Square Church, Budapest (Gutman, 2007)

Ilona Tukka●, YMCA (Gutman, 2007, p. 333)

Worked with:

The Holy Cross Society (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

The Jewish Council (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Miksa Domonkos

International Committee of the Red Cross, Budapest, Section B

Reverend Gabor Sztehló (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Dr. János Petery (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Professor Papp (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

International Committee of the Red Cross, Budapest, Section A

Otto Komoly+* (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Swedish Red Cross

Valdemar Langlet (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Nina Langlet (Braham, 1991, p. 1197)

Alexander Kasser


Gräbe Rescue Network, Rovno (Volhynia), Ukraine (Gutman, 1990; Gutman, 2007, p. lix, 95-96)

Protected Jewish wokers from deportation by claiming exemptions for them for doing essential war work for Germany.

Herman Friedrich Gräbe● (1900-1986), representative Josef Jung Company


Great Britain, Members of Parliament

Leopold Amery, British Member of Parliament (MP)

Leopold Amery, a Member of the British House of Commons, complained about the British policy of not helping Jewish refugees.  (Gilbert, Martin. “British government policy towards Jewish refugees (November 1938-September 1939). Yad Vashem Studies, 13 (1979), 157.)

Victor Cazlet, British Member of Parliament (MP)

Victor Cazalet served on Rathbone’s Refugees Committee and became its Chairman in1941.  He wrote numerous pro-refugee articles after he had witnessed the persecution of Jews in Vienna.  In May 1943, Cazalet denounced the outcome of the Bermuda Conference, which did nothing to help Jewish refugees.  (Kushner, Tony.  The Holocaust and the Liberal Imagination: A Social and Cultural History. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994). Katzburg, Nathaniel. “European Jewry and the Palestine question.” Yad Vashem Studies, 13 (1979), 256.)

Alfred Duff Cooper, British Member of Parliament (MP)

Alfred Duff Cooper, a Member of the British House of Commons, complained about the British policy of not helping Jewish refugees.  (Gilbert, Martin. “British government policy towards Jewish refugees (November 1938-September 1939). Yad Vashem Studies, 13 (1979), 157.)

Eleanor Rathbone, British Member of Parliament (MP)

Eleanor Rathbone, a Member of the British Parliament, founded the National Committee for Rescue from Nazi Terror and co-founded the All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Refugees.  These groups denounced the British government’s lack of support for refugees.  Rathbone urged public demonstrations against the British refugee policy.  In October 1942, Rathbone met with Polish courier Jan Karski and received firsthand knowledge regarding the genocide of Jews in Europe.  (Kushner, Tony.  The Holocaust and the Liberal Imagination: A Social and Cultural History. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994), pp. 11, 35, 42-44, 58-59, 136, 138, 140, 151, 167, 172-175, 179, 182-187, 196, 200, 219, 270, 275, 277. Penkower, Monty Noam. The Jews Were Expendable: Free World diplomacy and the Holocaust.  (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1983), pp. 99, 101, 120, 234. Wasserstein, Bernard. Britain and the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979), pp. 159, 166, 181-183, 185, 194. London, L. Whitehall and the Jews, 1933-1948: British immigration policy, Jewish refugees and the Holocaust. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), pp. 85, 103, 130, 148, 166-168, 205, 207-208, 228, 231, 233. Gilbert, Martin. “British government policy towards Jewish refugees (November 1938-September 1939). Yad Vashem Studies, 13 (1979), 143.)

Josiah Wedgewood, British Member of Parliament (MP)

Wedgewood was the first MP to put an official Parliamentary Question (PQ) to the British Home Secretary regarding Jewish refugees.  In 1933 and 1937, he called on the British government to use the League of Nations charter to protect Jews in Silesia.  In 1938, after the Austrian annexation, he proposed a suspension of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, which would allow more Jewish immigration to the United Kingdom.  In February 1939, he called for British economic aid for Jewish refugees to other countries, in particular Jews trapped in the Balkans.  Wedgewood was also a critic of the policy of returning enemy aliens.  (Kushner, Tony.  The Holocaust and the Liberal Imagination: A Social and Cultural History. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994), pp. 64, 89. Gilbert, Martin. “British government policy towards Jewish refugees (November 1938-September 1939). Yad Vashem Studies, 13 (1979), 157.)


Embassy of Great Britain, Berlin, Germany

Frank Foley, ● British Vice Consul in Charge of Visas in Berlin, 1933-1939

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.  (Gutman, 2007, pp. 169-170.  Smith, Michael. Foley: The Spy Who Saved 10,000 Jews. (London: Hodder & Stroughten, 1999).)


Embassy of Great Britain, Lisbon, Portugal

Ambassador Sir Ronald Campbell, Great Britain, in Lisbon, Portugal, 1943-45

Sir Ronald Hugh Campbell was Great Britain's wartime Ambassador to Lisbon.  Campbell was responsible for obtaining transit visas for stranded Jews in Eastern Europe.  He persuaded Portugal to issue entrance visas.  In April 1944, he persuaded the British Colonial Office to give destination visas to more than 1,000 rabbis and their families.  The destination visas were to Mauritius, which was a destination in name only. Using these life-saving documents, the Jewish refugees were able to escape through Europe.  (Morse, Arthur D. While Six Million Died: A Chronicle of American Apathy. (New York: Random House, 1967), pp. 43-44, 50.  Feingold, Henry. The Politics of Rescue: The Roosevelt Administration and the Holocaust, 1938-1944. (New Brunswick, NJ:(New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1970), p. 214.)


Consulate of Great Britain, Frankfurt, Germany

R. T. Smallbones, British Consul, Frankfurt, Germany, 1938-39?

British consular official in Frankfurt, Germany, R. T. Smallbones, had made an agreement with the local Nazis and Gestapo that would release prisoners from German concentration camps on the strength of his word that a visa had been granted to the internee.  Smallbones knew it was important to grant visas quickly and minimize red tape.  Smallbones issued many visas to Jewish refugees in Frankfurt.  (London, L. Whitehall and the Jews, 1933-1948: British immigration policy, Jewish refugees and the Holocaust. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), p. 115.  Gilbert, Martin. “British government policy towards Jewish refugees (November 1938-September 1939). Yad Vashem Studies, 13 (1979), 127-128, 130.)


Consulate of Great Britain, Kovno, Lithuania, 1940

Thomas Preston, Consul for Great Britain in Kovno, Lithuania, 1940

Thomas Preston was a consul for Great Britain in Kovno, Lithuania.  In 1940, in Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania, Preston provided 400 illegal Palestine certificates for Jews who were able to escape from Lithuania through Istanbul to Palestine.  In addition, he provided 800 Jews legal travel certificates.  A few hundred of these Jews were able to cross the Baltic Sea to neutral Sweden.  At least 400 forged copies of the Preston visas were discovered by British officials in Istanbul.  (Bauer, Yehuda. American Jewry and the Holocaust. (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1981), p. 120.  Gilbert, Martin. Atlas of the Holocaust: Completely Revised and Updated. (New York: William Morrow & Company, 1988, 1993).  United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Flight and Rescue. (Washington, DC: Author, 2001), p. 58.  British Foreign Office document FO 371-23610, report by Thomas Preston from Kovno, Nov. 7, 1939.)


Greek Government (Gutman, 1990, p. 104; Gutman, 2004; Gutman, 2007)

Princess Alice● (Gutman, 1990)

Princess Alice of Greece, a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria—and mother of Prince Philip of England—hid and saved Jews in her personal residence in Athens.  For this, she was made a Righteous Person by the State of Israel in 1993.

Archbishop George Damaskinos●, Vice Regent, Metropolitan of Athens, Acting Head of State for Greek Government in Exile (Gutman, 2007)

After the Greek government went into exile, Archbishop George Damaskinos, Metropolitan of Athens, became temporary head of state.  During his tenure as Metropolitan of Athens, he encouraged members of the Greek Orthodox Church and clergymen to hide Jews throughout Greece.  He made numerous protests against the Nazi persecution of Jews.  He issued church encyclicals, hid Jewish children, and issued false Baptismal Certificates to Jews.  For his actions, he was declared Righteous Among the Nations in 1969.


Greek Government-in-Exile


Greek Consulate, Vienna, Austria

Moshe Galili, the Af-Al-Pi operative in Vienna, negotiated for Greek visas from the Greek Consulate General in Vienna.  (Perl, William R. The Four-Front War: From the Holocaust to the Promised Land. (New York: Crown Publishers, 1978), pp. 58-59.)


Greek Embassy, Ankara, Turkey

The Greek Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, sent communications to Greek citizens in Athens to help Jews escape from the transit camps in Athens.


Greek Orthodox Church, Athens, Greece (Gutman, 1990, pp. 104-105)

Archbishop Damaskinos●, Metropolitan of Athens


Greek Popular Liberation Army (Ellenikos Laikos Apeletherotikos Stratos; ELAS), Greece (Gutman, 1990, p. 104)


Group 2000 (Gutman, 2004, p. lii)

Miss J. J. Tongeren


Groupe Maurice Cachoud, Nice, France


Gruber Bureau (Büro Grüber), Berlin, Germany, established November 1938 (Gutman, 2007, pp. 97-99, 122, 155-156)

Important rescue and relief center for persecuted German Jews.  Had several officers.  Berlin office employed 30 individuals.  Helped Jews to successfully emigrate from Germany.  Grüber, Maas and Sylten were all arrested by Nazi authorities for helping Jews.

Probst (Dean) Heinrich Grüber●+ (b. 1891-1976)

Pastor Hermann Maas●+ (1877-1970)

Werner Sylten●+* (1893-1942), assistant to Grüber, arrested, deported to Dachau concentration camp, murdered August 26, 1942

Worked with Reichvereinigung leaders:

Rabbi Leo Baeck, head

Otto Hirsch, council member

Paul Eppstein, council member


Paul Grüninger Rescue Action (Gutman, 2007, p. 523)

Colonel Paul Grüninger●+, Swiss police, Swiss Border Post, St. Gallen, Swtizerland.  Between 1937-1939, allowed approximately two to three thousand Jews to illegally enter at his border crossing in St. Gallen.  He was discovered and put on trial in 1940.  He was fired from the police and lost his pension and police career.

Worked with:

Ernst Prodolliet●, Swiss diplomat (Gutman, 2007)


Grubbenvorst Village Rescue Network, Netherlands (YV M31/8339a Henricus Vullinghs; Moore, 2010, pp. 250-251; Smedts, 1978)

Hid and sheltered Dutch Jews.  Worked actively with the Westerweel Group to help local Jews evade capture and deportation.

Mathieu Smedts, leader (Smedts, 1978)

Henricus Vullinghs, Parish Priest (YV M31/8339a Henricus Vullinghs; Smedts, 1978)

P. J. H. Slots, chaplain (Smedts, 1978)


Benedykt Grynpas Rescue Network, Brussels area, Belgium (Gutman, 2005, pp. 82, 132)

Rescue operation, founded and led by Benedykt Grynpas●.  Grynpas and his wife set up a network to place Jews in hiding and provided shelter and aid for Jews during the German occupation.

Benedykt Grynpas● (Baptised Jew), founder, leader, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, p. 132)

Father Jean-Baptist Janssens●, Jesuit Society (SJ), awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 132, 147)

Father Jean-Baptist de Coster●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005, pp. 82, 132)

Father Jean Baptist de Ligne-Prince●, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005)

Father Henri van Oostayen●, Red Cross, awarded Righteous Among the Nations title (Yad Vashem Archives; Gutman, 2005)


Gwarda Ludowa (later Armia Ludowa or Polish People’s Army; KB; Bartoszewski, 1969; Datner, 1968; Gutman, 1980; Ringelblum, 1974)


Hájek Underground Communist Group, Prague, Czechoslovakia (Gutman, 2007, pp. 43-44)

Provided false identity documents and found hiding places for members of Hashomer Hatzair in Prague.

Milos Hájek●+ (b. 1921), leader

Arnost Neuman (Jewish), Hashomer Hatzair, student, University of Prague

Vojtek Feuerstein (Jewish), Hashomer Hatzair, leader


Hauer-Frieschmuth Rescue Action, Vienna, Austria (Gutman, 2007, p. 11)

Provided endangered Jews with counterfeit papers, documents and stamps.

Edith Hauer-Frieschmuth●, underground organizer, member Aussee Area Resistance Movement, Austria

Monika Taylor (Jewish)


Dr. Imre Haynal Rescue Operation, Kolozsvár/Cluj (Gutman, 2007, pp. 227-228)

Dr. Imre Haynal, MD●, director, Medical Clinic Kolozsvár/Cluj, hid, sheltered, fed and protected numerous Jews in the clinic he directed


Headquarters Group, Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army; Gutman, 1990, p. 1730)


Helsinger Sewing Club, Denmark (Yahil, 1969)

Erling Kaiser, founder


Henri-Dunant Refugee Children Center of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland (Gutman, 2007)

Rose (Rösli) Naef●


High Commissioner for the Administration of Liberated Territories (Inhalt Comisar Pentru Administrarea Transilvaniei Eliberate), Romania, see Special Department on Jewish Questions in the Liberated Territories, under Romanian Government


Higher Operation (Höher Einsatz), Germany, Part of Union for Peace and Liberty


Hjort-Sep-Heger Circle Rescue Network, Berlin, Germany, see Berlin Committee


Höher Einsatz, see Higher Operation


Holger Danske Group, Denmark (Kieler, 1993; Yahil, pp. 247, 487 FN 71; Goldberber, pp. 87, 148;  Flender pp. 103-115; Jakobsen ms., p. 152, cited in Yahil, 1969; Yad Vashem, 027/13)

The Holger Danske Group was a Danish underground and resistance organization.  They helped rescue Jews during the German deportation actions of October 1943.  The organization was named for the Danish hero Holger Danske.  They engaged in sabotage actions during much of the German occupation.

Jens Lillelund, Leader, Rescue Activist

Jørgen Kieler, Leader, Danish Student

Mogens Staffeldt, Member


Holy Cross Society of Budapest (Szent Kereszt Egyesület), Hungary, established in fall of 1939 by Baron Moric Kornfeld (Jewish convert)

Major relief, protection and rescue organization of Jews in Hungary, originally created in 1939 to protect Jews who became Catholics.  Supported Jewish refugees in Hungary after start of World War II.  Protected Jews during the German occupation.  It established the Association of Christian Jews of Hungary.

(Braham, 1991, p. 1196.  Meszléni, Antal, “Zichy Gyula kalocsai érsek Lélek és életmentö akciója” [The Campaign of Gyula Zichy, the Bishop of Kaloscsa, for the Saving of Souls and Lives], in A Magyar katolikus egyház és az emberi jogok védelme, pp. 97-113, cited in Braham, 1991.  Cavallier, József, “A Püspöki kar és a Magyar Szent Kereszt Egyesület embervédö munkája” [The College of Bishops and the Life Saving Work of the Hungarian Holy Cross Society], in A Magyar Katolikus egyház és az emberi jogok védelme, pp. 84-85, cited in Braham, 1991.)

Baron Moric Kornfeld (Jewish convert), founder (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Count Gyula Zichy, Bishop of Kalosca, Committee leader (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Dr. József Cavallier+ (wounded), Secretary General, Committee (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Father József Jánosi, leader of the Holy Cross Society after December 1940 (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Bishop Endre Hamvas, patron (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Bishop Vilmos Apor, patron (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Mrs. Béla Ronai+ (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Dr. Margit Kormos, MD (Braham, 1991, pp. 1196, 1203n69, 70)

Worked with:

Monsignor Angelo Rotta, Papal Nuncio (Braham, 1991)

Father Genarro Verolino, Nincio’s Office (Braham, 1991)

Welfare Bureu of Hungarian Jews (Magyar Izaeliták Párfogo Irodája; MIPI; Braham, 1991)

National Hungarian Jewish Aid Campaign (Országos Magyar Zidó Segitö Akció; OMZA; Braham, 1991)

Children’s Rescue Action was sponsored by:

Ottó Haggenmacher (Braham, 1991, p. 1198)


Holy Synod Bulgarian Orthodox Church, see Bulgarian Orthodox Church


Home Army (Armia Krajowa; AK), est. Feb. 14, 1942. Operated under Polish Government-in-exhile in London, England (Ainstein, 1974, pp. 638-642; Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 98-100; Ciechanowski, 1974; Gutman & Krakowski, 1986; Gutman, 1980; Korbonski, 1981; Ringelbaum, 1974; Tec, 1986, pp. 123-124; Terej, 1978)

AK Information and Propaganda Office, Section on Jewish Afairs, established February 1942

Henryk Wolinski, director

Adela Uszycka●, AK

Bartoszek, AK

Józef Pszenny, AK

Henryk Iwanski, Security Corps, AK

Pawel Remba, Security Corps, AK

Wojtek Kominek, AK

Jan Elewski, AK

General Kazimierz Sawicki (“Prvt”), Commander, Home Army (AK), Lvov District, worked with Zegota (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 98)

Colonel Wladyslaw Filipowski (“Janka”), Commander, Home Army (AK), Lvov District, worked with Zegota (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 99)

Colonel Stephan Czerwinski (“Jan”), Commander, Home Army (AK), Lvov District, worked with Zegota (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 99)

Major Pochocki (Iryszard”), Chief of 2nd Deartment, Home Army (AK), Lvov District, Zegota Section (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 99)

Cadet Officer Swieczkowski (“Stukas”), Home Army (AK), Lvov District, Zegota Section (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 99)

“Z” Section, Zegota Section, Home Army (AK).  Helped Jews in ghettoes and concentration camps.  Helped Jews escape and hide.  Supported Jewish fighting underground activities.  Supplied arms, ammunition and explosives.  Aided in liaison and communication between the various underground organizations.  Killed informers and those involved in blackmailing Jews.  (Bartoszewski, 1969, pp. 99-101)

Second Department, Home Army (AK), District Command, Lvov, Poland (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 102)

Pawel Lisiewicz (“Lis”), Szare Szeregi, liaison officer (Bartoszewski, 1969, p. 102)


Home Prince Baudouin, Belgium

Hid 40 Jewish children in home.  Organized by Victor Christyn de Ribaucourt● (Mayor of Seville), Onhaye, West of Dinant.  He was aided by is wife, Elisabeth Christyn de Ribaucourt●.  (Gutman, 2005, pp. 66-67, 86)


Hospital of Cirie, Italy (Caracciolo, 1986)

Dr. Mussa, Chief Physician at the Hospital of Cirie, “took sick people and others into the hospital knowing that they were Jewish, that they were wounded, and that they were partisans and pregnant women who went into hiding to give birth.”


Hover Committee, USA

Gilbert Redfern, in Lithuania


Hungarian Army Soldiers (Gutman, 2007, pp. 211-212, 221-222, 234, 245, 258-259)

Kálmán Ferenczfalvi●, officer, helped Jews escape forced labor units, and on a death march, took Jews to ICRC protected building in Budapest

First Lieutenant Guido Görgey● (Gutman, 2007)

Jenö de Thassy● (Gutman, 2007)

Kálmán Horváth, commander Jewish forced labor, Miskolc Area, Hungary, saved Jews in the unit he commanded

Dr. Captain Marton Kaba, Budapest, Hungary, gave Jews protective identity papers and hid Jews in his personal residence

Father Ferenc Kalló●*, hospital chaplain, priest(Gutman, 2007)

Father Kalló, with Dr. Konrady, hid numerous Jews in Hungarian Army Hospital No. II in Buda, during the Nazi occupation and Arrow Cross reign.  Father Kalló was murdered for helping Jews.

Captain Emil Kelenhegyi●, Commander, Communications Corps Company, Hungarian Army.  Protected two Hungarian Jews in his command (Gutman, 2007, p. 250-251).

Captain András Képes-Harja●, Commander, Anti-Aircraft Unit, Hungarian Army.  Protected two Hungarian Jews in his military unit (Gutman, 2007, p. 252).

Belá Király●, Officer, 201st Division, Hungarian Army.  Saved Hungarian Jews by taking them into his Army command (Gutman, 2007, pp. 252-253).

Vnce Király●, Corporal First Class, Hungarian Army.  Hid Hungarian Jews during German occupation of the town of Jaszkiser, Hungary (Gutman, 2007, pp. 253-254).

Barna Kiss●, Sergeant, Labor-Service Company No 101/2.  Enabled Hungarian Jews under his command in the Labor-Service Company No. 101/2 to survive the war (Gutman, 2007, p. 254).

Dr. László Konrady, MD●, head of Internal Medicine, Hungarian Army Hospital, No. II, in Buda (Gutman, 2007)

Dr. Konrady, with Father Kalló, hid numerous Jews in Hungarian Army Hospital No. II in Buda, during the Nazi occupation and Arrow Cross reign.  Dr. Konrady was later sent to the International Red Cross Hospital.

Balázs Lengyel●, Hungarian Army, Budapest, saved Jews while in uniform(Gutman, 2007)

Major István Fehér (Lévai, 1946; Braham, 1981, p. 539)

Major István Fehér was active in the rescue of Jews while working in the Department of Cooperation.

Adorján Stella (Braham, 1981, pp. 344, 843, 998; Levai, 1948, pp. 389-390)

Adorján Stella was an officer of the Reserve, won a gold medal for bravery for helping Jews in Budapest.  Stella was also responsible for providing refugees with legitimations and housing.

László Tamási (Asaf, 1990, p. 104; Lévai, 1946)

László Tamási transferred Jews to labor service companies protected by the neutral legations and the Red Cross.

István Vasoényey, commander Kistarcsa Internment Camp, near Budapest (Gutman, 2007, pp. 337-338)

Improved conditions in camp.  Saved Jews in camp from deportation to the Auschwitz death camp.  WarnedJews of impending actions.  Worked with Dr. Sandor Bródy of the Jewish Council.

Ervin Zimándi, officer, deputy commander 202/2 Division Anti-Aircraft, Budapest (Gutman, 207, p. 342)

Saved Jews by providing them false military identification papers and stamps.


Hungarian Clergy

Cardinal Seredi, Head Catholic Church (Braham, 1991, p. 1200n14; László, 1979, pp. 217-235; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 44-96, 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Count István Bethlen (Braham, 1991, p. 1063; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Reverend Albert Bereczicy, Reformed Church, worked with Jewish leader Otto Komoly (Bereczky, Hungarian Protestantism and the Persecution of the Jews of Budapest, p. 47; Braham, 1991, pp. 1119-1120; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Bishop Vilmos Apor, Bishop of Györ (Braham, 1991,pp. 1178-1179, 1190-1191; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Bishop Áron Marton, Archdiocese in Transylvania (Braham, 1991, pp. 1191-1192; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Ferenc Virág, Bishop of Pécs (Braham, 1991, p. 1190; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Sándor Kovács, Bishop of Szombathely (Braham, 1991, p. 1190; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

Bishop Ravasz (Braham, 1991, p. 1185; Levai, 1948, pp. 145-149, 185, cited in Braham, 1991; Levai, Szürke könyv, pp. 72-83, cited in Braham, 1991; Meszlényi, 1947, pp. 114-147, cited in Braham, 1991)

József Cavallier, Head Protestant, Holy Cross Society, Budapest (Braham, 1991, p. 1187)

Reverend Albert Bereczky, Reformed Church (Braham, 1991, pp. 1189-1199; Levai, Zsidósors Magyarorszagón, pp. 197-198, cited in Braham, 1991)

Monsignor Béla Varga, Roman Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1198, 1203n63)

Dezsö Angyal, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)

András Egyed, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)

Géza Izay, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)

Ferenc Kálló, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)

Father FerencKöhler, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)

Jacob Raile●, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)

László Remente, Catholic (Braham, 1991, pp. 1193, 1203n64)


Hungarian Consulate, Brussels, Belgium

Hungarian Consul in Brussels, Belgium

The Hungarian consulate in Brussels, Belgium, tried to intervene on behalf of 23 Hungarians interned in Belgium.  After the German occupation of Hungary in the spring of 1944, these Hungarian Jews in Belgium were unprotected.  (Braham, Randolph L. The Politics of Genocide: The Holocaust in Hungary. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981), p. 263. Braham, Randolph L. “The treatment of Hungarian Jews in German-occupied Europe.” Yad Vashem Studies, 12 (1977), 136.)


Hungarian Consulate, Prague, Czechoslovakia

Hungarian Consul in Prague, Czechoslovakia (Braham, Randolph L. The Politics of Genocide: The Holocaust in Hungary. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981), p. 259.)


Hungarian Consulate, Marseilles, France

Honorary Hungarian Consul in Marseilles, France, July 1940

The honorary Hungarian consul in Marseilles helped Jewish refugee Hecht.  (Hecht oral statement.)


Hungarian Consulate, Paris, France

Hungarian Consul General in Paris

In 1942, the Hungarian consulate in Paris informed the German government that it expected “most favored” status be applied to Hungarian citizens.  Further, it demanded that Hungarian passports be honored and any Hungarian citizens interned should be released as well as Hungarian national property.  The Hungarian consulate estimated that in early 1943, approximately 1,600 Hungarian Jews were in occupied France.  The Hungarian consul also intervened on behalf of Jewish Hungarian nationals in the Vichy zones of occupation and in the French concentration camps.  Until the German occupation of Hungary, the consulate in Paris continued to pressure Berlin to release Hungarian Jews in Vichy France.  (Braham, Randolph L. “The treatment of Hungarian Jews in German-occupied Europe.” Yad Vashem Studies, 12 (1977), 137-139.)

Károly Binder, Hungarian Consul in Paris, France

Károly Binder was a Hungarian Consul in Paris, France, and helped rescue Hungarian Jews.  He worked with Antal Uhl and they both distributed Christian identification papers to Jewish refugees in Paris.  (Hetényi, Varga K., “Those Who Were Persecuted Because of the Truth.” Ecclesia, Budapest, 1985.  Lévai, J. “Grey Book on the Rescuing of Hungarian Jews.” Budapest: Officina, 1946. Szenes, S., “Unfinished Past.” Budapest: Author, 1984. Asaf, Uri. Christian support for Jews during the Holocaust in Hungary. In Braham, Randolph L. (Ed.) Studies on the Holocaust in Hungary, pp. 65-112. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1990), p. 106. Braham, Randolph L. The Politics of Genocide: The Holocaust in Hungary. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981), pp. 263-264.)


Hungarian Legation, Berlin, Germany

László Tahy, Hungarian Legation Secretary, Berlin, Germany, 1943?

On September 17, 1942, the Hungarian legation in Berlin informed the German Foreign Office that it expected interned Hungarian Jews in the German occupied areas of France, Belgium and the Netherlands to be freed.  In addition, their property was to be considered Hungarian property, and was not to be confiscated by the Germans.  In April 1943, the Hungarian Legation Secretary stationed in Berlin, László Tahy, protested the treatment of Hungarian Jews in Nazi occupied territory.  This temporarily protected Hungarian Jews from being treated in the same brutal manner as other Jews in Nazi occupied territories.  (Braham, Randolph L. “The treatment of Hungarian Jews in German-occupied Europe.” Yad Vashem Studies, 12 (1977), 128, 131, 134, 136.)


Hungarian Independence Movement, Maygar Fuggetlensegi Mozgalom (MFM), Est. 1942

Koroly Kiss, Founder


Hungarian-Jewish Labor Service Company (Gutman, 2007, p. 174, 181, 184, 245, 263, 265-266, 267-268, 280)

Tibor Almásy●, commander, Sopron’s Military Camp No. 48, saved the lives of 360 Jews under his command

Jewish Labor Service Company No. 107/302, Budapest, Hungary, Lieutenant Endre Balogh●+†, commander.  Saved numerous Jewish laborers in his labor unit from arrest and deportation.  Lt. Endre Balogh was subsequently arrested by the Arrow Cross and badly beaten.

Jewish Labor Service Company, Galánta (Galana), Hungary, Corporal József Bauman●, Hungarian Army

Jewish Labor Service Company No. 101/2, Sergeant Barna Kiss●, Hungarian Army

Lajos Fülöp●, commander, Jewish Labor Unit, 1943-1944, protected Jews in his labor unit, later hid them in the forest to protect them from death marches or deportation.  (Gutman, 2007, pp. 215-216)

Kálmán Horváth●, commander, Jewish forced labor unit, Miskolc Area, Hungary.  Saved the Jews in his unit.  Saved Jews in Miskolc Ghetto by enlisting them into the unit.  (Gutman, 2007, p. 234)

First Lieutenant József Kovács●, commander Jewish Labor Service Company, No. 6/4.  First Lt. József Kovacs, commander of Labor Service Company 6/4, saved and protected the lives of numerous Hungarian Jews in his Labor Company.  Kovacs’ actions were discovered and he was relieved of his command.  As further punishment, he was sent to the Russian front.

Lieutenant Antal Körösi●, Labor Service Company commander.  In charge of 220 Jewish laborers between 1942-1944.  Körösi was known as kind and humanitarian toward his workers.  He sheltered them from overwork and physical abuse.  He openly allowed all who wanted to to escape.  Many survived the war.

Second Lieutenant Zoltán Kubinyi●+, commander, Labor Service Company, No. 105/52.  Saved the lives of Jews in his labor company by helping them escape at the end of the war.  He was arrestedby the Soviet Army and died in Russia.

Captain Mihaly Meixner●, commander, Labor Service Company, No. 102/301.  Stationed Györ, Hungary.  Protected Jews under his command and helped many to escape to safety.

Colonel Imre Ozoray●, Hungarian Army commander, forced labor unit, 1944-1945.  Colonel Ozoray commanded a forced labor unit with Jewish women.  He allowed and even recommended that they escape to safety.  Many hid in Ozoray’s personal residence in Rákosfalva, Hungary.  He was helped by his wife, Maria Ozoray●, and son, Imre Ozoray, Jr. ● (Gutman, 2007, pp. 293-294).

First Lieutenant Jenö Pillér●, Hungarian Army, Commander Labor Service Company No. 107/II, stationed in Lawoczne, Poland.  Protected and saved many Jews under his command (Gutman, 2007, pp.299-300).

Captain Andor Zsoldos, commander Labor Service Company No. 10/6, Zombor Isombor, Hungary, saved numerous Jews under his command between 1942-1945 (Gutman, 2007, p. 344)

Gyula Wagner●, Sergeant Major Hungarian Army Reserves, Deputy Commander Labor Service Company No. 104/7.  Saved 230 Jews of his company from deportation (Gutman, 2007, pp. 341-342


Hungarian Ministry of Defense, helped and protected Hungarian Jews in the labor service system, see also Hungarian Labor Service (Braham, 1981, pp. 1122, 1163n191; Levai, Szürke Könyv, pp. 114-117)


Hungarian Ministry of the Interior, Hungary (Braham, 1981; Gutman, 2007, pp. 176-177)

Ference Keresztes, Minister of the Interior, helped Slovakian Jews in Hungary before German occupation (Braham, 1981, p. 1050)

Dr. József Antal●, head, Civilian Refugee Department, Ministry of the Interior, 1939-1944, saved Jewish victims of the Nazi and Arrow Cross forces; worked with the Polish Committee for Refugee Affairs in Hungary


Hungarian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Education

Undersecretary Mester, supported Otto Komoly, Jewish Rescue leader, during the German occupation of Hungary (Braham, 1981, pp. 1120, 1162n184)


Hungarian-Polish Committee for Refugee Affairs, Hungary, active 1939-1944, see also The White Cross, Hungary (Gutman, 2007, p. 321)

Countess Erzsébet Szapary●, “Good Polish Countess”


Hungarian Red Cross

Dr. Gyorgy Gergely, director

Dr. Gyorgy Gergely was active in saving Jews from Nazi and Arrow Cross persecutions in Budapest, 1944-45.  He was one of the main assistants to Friedrich Born and Hans Weyermann.  Gergely helped maintain the Red Cross protected houses, supplied food and medical aid to Jewish refugees, distributed protective papers, and maintained a vigilance in guarding the Red Cross buildings.  (Kramer, T. D. From Emancipation to Catastrophe: The Rise and Holocaust of Hungarian Jewry. (New York: University Press of America), pp. 244-286. Lévai, Jenö. Black Book on the Martyrdom of Hungarian Jewry. (Central European Times Publishing, 1948). Braham, Randolph L. The Politics of Genocide: The Holocaust in Hungary. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981).)

Sarolta Lukács, deputy director of the Hungarian Red Cross

Sarolta Lukács, the Deputy Chairman of the Hungarian Red Cross in Budapest, 1944-45, worked closely with Dr. Valdemar and Nina Langlet of the Swedish Red Cross.  (See Langlet, Valdemar. Verk och dagar i Budapest (Work and Days in Budapest). (Stockholm: Wahlstrom & Widstrand, 1946). Asaf, Uri. Christian support for Jews during the Holocaust in Hungary. In Braham, Randolph L. (Ed.) Studies on the Holocaust in Hungary, pp. 65-112. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1990), p. 89. Lévai, Jenö. Black Book on the Martyrdom of Hungarian Jewry. (Central European Times Publishing, 1948).)


Hungarian Refugee Relief and Rescue Organization, Zurich Switzerland

Pastor Hans Schaffert●


Hungarian Rescue and Relief Underground, activists who worked in rescue networks or organizations

Gyula Kandó●, Ata Kando●, provided forged documents, gave money, hid Jews in Budapest

Sára Karig●+, member Social-Democratic Party, provided forged papers, gave money, hid Jews, worked with Swedish Red Cross and Asta Nilsson

Alexander Kasser●+ (Sándor Kasza), Swedish Red Cross, assistant to Valdamar and Nina Langlet, distributed Swedish protective papers

Kázmér Kállay●+, businessman, worked with Swedish Legation, provided protective papers, smuggled Jews to Slovakia

János Kálmán●, employee Hungarian Welfare Ministry, distributed documents to help Jews survive, personally hid Jews in his residence

Györgi Kohári●, rescue operation, Budapest, Hungary.  Saved dozens of Hungarian Jews by helping them escape from Jewish forced labor units.  He provided forged identity papers and found them safe hiding places in Budapest.

Korecz-Török Rescue Operation, Budapest, Hungary.  Brother and sister rescue operation rescue many Budapest Jews during the Arrow Cross reign after October 1944 takeover.

Rozália Korecz● (nee Török)

József Török●

István Marton●, Hattyú Laundry, Budapest, Hungary.  Employed and protected Jews in his laundry factory and in the ghetto (Gutman, 2007, p. 278).

László Nagy●, Civil Defense, Budapest, Hungary.  Assistant to Ara Jeretzian●, commander of Budapest’s civil defense of the city’s Sixth Quarter.  Nagyopened a cliic in a Swedish “protected house” in Budapest, which operated as a hospital.  Hid, cared for and protected numerous Jews during the Nazi and Arrow Cross occupation (Gutman, 2007, p. 276).

Dr. Géza Petényi, MD●, Director of Pediatrics, White Cross Hospital, Budapest.  Hid dozens of Jews under his care in the White Cross Hospital and residents in Budapest (Gutman, 2007, p. 298).

Poór and Pásztor Family Rescue Operation, Budapest, Hungary, distributed forged documents, worked with Zionist Youth Underground, hid and shetered Jews in Budapest (Gutman, 2007, pp. 300-301).

Miklós Poór● (“Vitez”)

Mrs. Miklós Poór●

Miklós Poór, Jr. ●

Lajos Pásztor●

Mrs. Lajos Pásztor●

Károly Somogyi (Háy) ●+, hid Jews in factory in Budapest, used protective documents to rescue Jews from forced labor units, created and distributed forged documents and stamps, his Jews in his residence (Gutman, 2007).

János Sürü●, Budapest.  Sürü’s house became a factory for making forged identity and protective papers.  Hid Jews in his residence (Gutman, 2007, p. 317).

István Szalkai●, Budapest.  Hid, sheltered numerous Jews.  Posed as Arrow Cross man to save Jews from arrest and death (Gutman, 2007, pp. 320-321).

Countess Erzsébet Szápary●+, leader of the Hungarian-Polish Committee for Refugee Affairs (active 1939-1944), White Cross Organization, saved Jews (Gutman, 2007, p. 321)

Ákos Talan●, medical student, Budapest, Hungary, saved Jews, produced and distributed protective papers and stamps, worked with Mihaly Hórvath (Gutman, 2007, pp. 325-327)

Sister Zsuzsanna Ván Rescue Operation, Budapst (Gutman, 2007, p. 339)

Sister Zsuzsanna Ván, director, Order of the Society of the Holy Virgin, Budapest, his 35 Jewish children and 18 adults in her convent during the Arrow Cross occupation of Budapest.

Dr. Kalnam Zolnay, employee in Hungarian Ministry of Justice, Budapest (Gutman, 2007, p. 343)

Saved Jews by providing themwith forged papers, certificates and official stamps.  Hid Jews in his apartment during Arrow Cross occupation of Budapest.

Father Jakob Raile Rescue Network, Budapest (Gutman, 2007, pp. 303-304)

Father Jakob Raile●, director monastery at No. 52 Maria Street, Budapest, hid 150 Jews in his monastery.  Protected them from Arrow Cross and Nazi raids.  Worked with Swedish Red Cross and Vatican nuncio’s office.  Distributed Vatican baptismal certificates.

Janós Antal

Baroness Gizella Apor

Ferenc Bády

Tibor Baranszky

Dr. Ferenc Bartha

Dr. Lazló Bisits

Jozsef Bosze

Erzsebet Bosze

Dr. Sandor Brody

Mrs. Istvan Csanyi

Ilona Tukka●, director, YMCA residence in Budapest (Gutman, 2007, p. 333)

Hid Jewish girls and women during German occupation and Arrow Cross rule in Budapest.  Worekd with Gábor Sztehlo● and the Good Shepard Rescue Network.

Vanczak Rescue Operation, Budapest (Gutman, 2007, pp. 335-336)

Hid and cared for dozens of Jews in their metal furniture factory in Budapest during German and Arrow Cross occupation of the city.

Bela Vanczák

Margit Vanczák

Zsuzsanna Vanczák


Hungarian Soldiers

Miklós Mátyás●, Hungarian Army, stationed at Army headquarters at Csepel, near Budapest.  Saved Jews in forced labor units (Gutman, 2007, p. 279).

József Mravik●, First Sergeant Major, Army headquarters, Budapest.  Saved Jews in “protected houses” (Gutman, 2007, p. 284).

Major General Vilmos Nagybaczoni-Nagy●+, Minister of Defense, Hungary, September 1942 through June 1943 (Gutman, 2007, pp. 286-287).

Gyözö (Victor) Papp●, Budapest.  Rescued Jews (Gutman, 2007, p. 295).

Dr. Lázlo Petrovics, MD●, internal medicine, officer, Hungarian Medical Corps, Budapest, Hungary.  Hid and cared for a number of Jews in his residenceand in other places in Budapest (Gutman, 2007, pp. 298-299).

Lieutenant Colonel Imre Ravinczky●+, Hungarian Army, commander of Labor Battalion No. 10, Transylvania, Nagybanya/Baia Mare (now Romania).  Instituted reforms to treat Jewish laborers humanely, helped them avoid deportation to Auschwitz and escape to safety toward the end of the war (Gutman, 2007, pp. 305-306).

Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Balázs Simon●, officer, Hungarian Medical Corps, director, military hospital, Buda, 1944-1945.  Saved Hungarian Jewish men who had escaped from Inter-Service Company No. 701/21, located in Buda.  Hid them in hospital during Arrow Cross occupation of the city.  160 Jewish men were saved (Gutman, 2007, p. 313).

Dr. Árpád Szabó, MD●, Hungarian Medical Corps, saved two Hungarian Jews (Gutman, 2007, pp. 317-318, 330).

Captain Dr. Imre Szabó●, Military Hospital No. 1, Budapest, Hungary.  Saved Budapest Jews, worked with Sándor Tonell● at the Military Hospital (Gutman, 2007, pp. 318-319).

Ferenc Lajos Szabo●, Budapest (Gutman, 2007, p. 325)

Andor Szécseny●, Budapest (Gutman, 2007, p. 325)

First Lieutenant József Telmann●, Reserve Officer, Hungarian Army.  In charge of work assignments for Jewish forced labor units.  Telmann sent Jewish units to safe places to avoid deportation ot the death camps.  Hid Jews in his residence (Gutman, 2007, p. 329).

First Lieutenant Jenö (Eugene) de Thassy●, Military Clerk, Budapest, Hungary (Gutman, 2007)

Saved Jews in Budapest by providing papers and hid Jews.  Worked with Hungarian underground.  Cooperated with the Father Jakob Raile Rescue Network and Catholic monasteries.  Also worked with Vatican and Red Cross rescue networks.  Also worked with fellow Army officers Guido Görgey●.

Dr. Sandor Tonelli, MD, Lieutenant, Hungarian Corps commander, District Military Hospital No. 1 (Gutman, 2007, p. 330)

Along with Army officer Arpád Szabó, protected Jewish men of Labor Service Company No. 107/35 using his hospital as a hiding place.  Saved approximately 40 Jewish men and their families.  Tonelli also protected Jewish children in an orphanage located next to his military hospital.


Hungarian Student Organizaton, Zurich, Switzerland

President Stefan Eisenberg