Language:
English
Year of publication:
2005
Titel der Quelle:
Holocaust Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
11,3 (2005) 84-104
Keywords:
Wallenberg, Raoul,
;
Jews
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Jews History 1939-1945
Abstract:
Wallenberg's report (pp. 88-91), sent to Sweden, dates from the "Indian summer" after the deportation of Hungarian Jews from the provinces and before the coup of October 1944 that put in power the Arrow Cross thugs who massacred Jews in Budapest. Wallenberg expressed the view that things might improve for Budapest's Jews. His activities were a form of "bureaucratic resistance" that took advantage of the willingness of some Nazis to spare, at least temporarily, those Jews with protective papers from neutral countries. He indicated that 250 Jews were working with him and, thus, had special status. His observation about the plundering of Jewish property reflects the largest theft of private property ever in Europe. Wallenberg also referred to the enormous pressure he felt from thousands of desperate Jews who sought his help. Stresses that only after October 1944 did Wallenberg risk his life and emerge from relative anonymity to become a focus of attention of both victims and perpetrators. Contends that the way his life ended (as a victim of Stalin's Gulag) should not be the main focus, but rather the way he lived, choosing to help save the lives of Jews who were very different from himself.
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