Raoul Wallenberg

Raoul Wallenberg Main Photo (http://www.chgs.umn.edu/histories/wallenberg/images/W.jpg)

"To me there's no other choice. I've accepted this assignment and I could never return to Stockholm without the knowledge that I'd done everything in human power to save as many Jews as possible." These were the words of heroic Raoul Wallenberg. He risked his life to rescue a group of people who were victims of hatred only because of their religion. Through Wallenberg’s intelligence, bravery, access to wealth, and global friends, he saved over 100,000 Jews from Nazis’ torture and death.

Raoul Wallenberg on a bike. (http://www.si.se/upload/Docs/Pressmeddelanden/Bilder/Raoul%20Wallenberg%20cykel.JPG)

Wallenberg was born in Sweden on August 4, 1912 to a wealthy family and was exposed to diverse cultures. He graduated with honors from Swedish secondary school, and then successfully completed a four year architecture program at The University of Michigan. There were no architecture jobs available in Sweden. For this reason, Wallenberg went to South Africa to work for an international trading company. After six months of working for the trading company, he joined a Dutch bank. He was sent to work in Palestine. It was here that he met the Jews who had fled from Hitler, and this had a huge influence on him. The Jewish people would share their survival stories and Wallenberg was compassionate.

Raoul Wallenberg on the phone. (http://www.stbrendanschool.com/WWII/Holocaust/RaoulWallenbergInBudapestOffice441126.jpg’)

This hero was able to save thousands of Jews by serving as the head of the World Refuge Board (W.R.B.) in Budapest. The W.R.B, an organization established by the United States, was dedicated to saving Jews from the Nazis. Wallenberg was chosen to oversee this special mission in Budapest. He was permitted to issue 1700 Schutz passes, passports that would protect Jews under Swedish law. Somehow he managed to create and distribute over 15,000 Schutz passes. Wallenberg combined the W.R.B money with his own money and purchased buildings that served as safe houses for the persecuted Jews.

Raoul Wallenberg on the phone in his office. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/images/_36827_raoul_w.jpg)

Through Wallenberg’s extensive contacts, and diplomacy, he was able to save thousands more Jews throughout Europe. He diplomatically threatened General August Schmidthuber that he would be tried for war crimes if he did not stop the massacre of 70,000 Jews. This threat convinced the General to immediately cooperate. Wallenberg had a close relationship with an influential baroness in Sweden, who had the power to maintain the validity of issued Schutz passes. His ties to sympathetic businessmen in other countries allowed Wallenberg to convince them to establish safe houses (like the ones in Budapest) for the Jewish people.

Raoul Wallenberg helping people undercover. (http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00Nt8tVbNIa7I/340x.jpg)

Rather than hire others to enter dangerous situations to save the Jews, Wallenberg would actually put his own life in danger. In 1944, he was distributing passes secretly from the top of a moving train car headed for the death camps. The guards saw him and were ordered to shoot, but they miss fired intentionally because they were so amazed with his bravery. On a few occasions, Wallenberg would join the Jews in death marches and try to distribute food, blankets, and medical supplies. After World War II finally concluded, he traveled to the dangerous Soviet Union to say goodbye to his friends at the safe houses. He was taken by the soviet military and never seen again.

Raoul Wallenberg was fearless in his commitment to saving the Jewish victims of the Nazis. His goal was to help others in any possible way. In order to accomplish his mission, he used his global network, courage, intelligence, and creativity in preventing the annihilation of countless Jews.