Haunting images of the Jews of Budapest in October 1944.

Posting document after document relaying the tragedy that struck Hungarian Jewry after the Arrow Cross Fascists seized power in October 1944 was one way the historian attempts to piece together the narrative and provide interpretation of events.  Angelo Rotta's detailed and accurate descriptions of the events engulfing the Jews of Budapest provide a powerful entree into the unfolding tragedy.

Another source of the tragedy that I have only come across recently are the photographic records made by official German photographers, officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Propaganda.  The German Federal Archive has engaged in a joint project with Wikipedia and made available thousands of images from the war years. On 6 December 2008 the archive made over 100,000 images available via Wikimedia Commons.

It is not hard to imagine that Angelo Rotta had scenes like this in mind when he sent his reports to Rome.  Images such as this have appeared before, but seeing it in the context of the dozens of photos taken it is even more evocative. It is the face of the little girl in the lower right and the anger in the face of the young guard on the left that caught my eye and reminded me yet again, that history is the story of human beings.

Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-680-8285A-25,_Budapest,_Festnahme_von_Juden.jpg

About the photographer, Faupel, we know next to nothing.  The collection can be viewed here.

ADSS 10.431 Tardini to Orsenigo - Hungarian Jews

10.431 Domenico Tardini to Cesare Orsenigo, Nuncio Germany

Reference: Telegram 1137 (AES 9073/44)

Location and date: Vatican, 05.01.1945

Summary statement: Nuncio must make new interventions for the Hungarian Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

Continue to push appeals (1) from the Holy See pleading for intervention for the Hungarian Jews against whom serious measures continue.

Your Excellency is asked to strive to make efforts for those Jews citing the principles of humanity and justice. (2)

Notes:

(1)  See ADSS 10.430.

(2) Orsenigo replied on 12.01.1945 (Telegram 408, AES 1065/45): “The Foreign Ministry replied that the Hungarian Government is the competent authority.”

ADSS 10.430 Tardini to Cicognani (USA) - Hungarian Jews

10.430 Domenico Tardini to Amleto Cicognani, Ap Del USA.

Reference: Telegram 2074 (AES 9072/45)

Location and date: Vatican, 03.01.1945

Summary statement: Holy See is doing everything possible for the Hungarian Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

I received your telegram 2534. (1)

The Holy See has never neglected its serious concern for the Jews of Hungary for whom the Apostolic Nunciature and the Hungarian bishops were constantly labouring. (2)  Indeed, to alleviate the suffering of the Jews, His Holiness has recently made available a generous sum of money to the Apostolic Nunciature. (3) It is now not possible to communicate with Budapest.

The Apostolic Nunciature in Berlin is concerned in this regard. (4)

Notes:

(1) ADSS 10.426

(2) For the activity of the Nunciature, see 10.321, 371, 408, 415.  For the Hungarian bishops, see 10.223 and 265.

(3) See ADSS 10.412.

(4) See ADSS 10.431.

ADSS 10.381 Tardini to Bernardini, Switzerland - Hungarian Jews

10.381 Domenico Tardini to Filippo Bernardini, Switzerland.

Reference: Telegram nr 747 (AES 6994/44)

Location and date: Vatican 02.11.1944

Summary statement: Overview of the steps taken by the Holy See for the Jews of Hungary.

Language: Italian

Text:

With reference to the report of your Excellency, 23401 of 28.07.1944, I wish to apprise you of the following. (1)

The Holy See has always endeavoured, using every means in its power to alleviate the dreadful pain of those who suffer because of their nationality or race.

As soon as Hungary began to stir the so-called racial question, the Holy See repeatedly made interventions with the Government for those of Jewish ancestry, directing its response with more than a diplomatic note. (2)

Last June (1944), when the situation became worse and severe measures against the Jews were impending, not excluding deportation, the Holy See actively worked for the adoption of less odious measures, encouraging among others, the Hungarian bishops, to get more actively involved. (3)

His Holiness, then, on 25.06.1944 personally sent an open telegram to Regent Horthy (4) asking him to use all his power to save many people from further death and suffering.

It was precisely such action that suspended the deportation of the Jews and mitigated their conditions until a few weeks ago. (5)

Soon further news reached us of the worsening situation following recent political events in Hungary.  The Holy See was quick to once again take interest in this serious problem. (6)

I can assure your Excellency that despite the increasing difficulties of communication, nothing will be left undone to bring relief to such persons.

In this sense the Apostolic Nunciature is working with the Hungarian episcopate who repeatedly send statements and protests to the authorities. (7)

The Holy Father has offered prayer on the occasion of the day announced by Cardinal Seredi for Sunday 29.10.1944 for refugees, and has deigned to send a personal and open telegram (8) to his Eminence where once again his keen interest is manifest for “persons exposed to persecution and violence because of their religion or race or for political reasons”.

I would add that the August Pontiff has just received a telegram from Mr Saly Braunschweig, President of the Swiss Israelite Community, imploring help for the Jews of Hungary. (9) Your Excellency is asked to assure Mr Braunschweig that his telegram arrived and please give him the information above.

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.279.  It appears Bernardini’s report took an exceptionally long time to reach Rome.  This is not altogether surprising.  By early November Allied troops were nearing Bologna and non-essential communication was becoming increasingly difficult.

(2) See ADSS 10.207, attachments, 10.223, 10.227 and attachment, 10.308.

(3) See ADSS 10.216, 242 n2, 370.

(4) ADSS 10.243.

(5) ADSS 10.265

(6) ADSS 10. 370, 371.

(7) ADSS 10.207, 227, 265, 308.

(8) ADSS 10.376.

(9) Saly Braunschwieg (20.07.1891-10.02.1946), President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Switzerland (1942-1946). Telegram sent 28.10.1944 (AES 6994/44).

ADSS 10.375 Amleto Cicognani, USA to Sec State - Slovak and Hungarian Jews

For ease of reading I have set out note 3 with more space.  It is a time line of action and reaction as the Vatican attempted to find out what had happened to Jews holding American (USA & Latin America) passports and citizenship.  For more details see the USHMM, Holocaust Research Project and Dachau KZ.

10.375 Amleto Cicognani, Ap Del USA to Secretariat of State

Reference: Telegram nr 2434 (AES 7047/44)

Location and date: Washington, 25.10.1944 @ 17.00, received Rome 26.10.1944 @ 13.00.

Summary statement: Request for information from USA War Refugee Board on the Jews of Slovakia and intervention for the Jews of Hungary.

Language: Italian

Text:

The Director of the official government agency for refugees (1) requests the Holy See to pass on any relevant information about 400 Jews holding Latin American citizenship or passports (Salvador, Paraguay), arrested in Bratislava interned in Mariathal who were transferred from that city to Germany around the 08.10.1944. (2) The Director would be grateful if the Holy See would make this information available to the representatives of the United States in Berne and Madrid. (3)

We continue to hear news of unceasing massacres of Non-Aryans in Hungary.  The Jewish Committees beg the Holy See to proclaim that churches in Hungary are shelters with the law of asylum and bishops and priests are to receive Jews to save them from death. (4)

Notes:

(1) John William Pehle (1910-1990). A memorandum from Myron Taylor (1863-1959), personal representative of President Roosevelt to the Holy See, dated 28.10.1944, recounting the news was sent by the War Refugee Board, and passed to the Pope on the same day. (AES 7093/44)

(2) Giuseppe Burzio (1901-1966), Charge D’affaires, Bratislava (1941-1945) telegraphed the nunciature in Berne on 30.10.1944 (telegram nr 740/102; AES 7047/44).  Burzio said the Jews in question had been transferred to an unknown destination in Germany.

(3) This document has not been found. 

Taylor urged the Holy See to intervene. (Memorandum, 15.11.1944, nr 267; AES 7627/44; nr 396).

Domenico Tardini (1888-1961) asked for more information from Burzio (telegram nr 110, 16.11.1944; AES 7300/44).

On the 16.11.1944 Amleto Cicognani (1883-1973), Apostolic Delegate to the USA (1933-1959) asked for the intervention of the Holy See on behalf of the Red Cross to send parcels to 250 Non-Aryans holding South American passports and resident in Bergen Belsen (telegram nr 2466; AES 7694/44).

Tardini asked Cesare Orsenigo (1873-1946), nuncio to Germany (1933-1945), for help on 21.11.1944 (telegram nr 1019; AES 7694/44).

Tardini then informed Cicognani on 29.11.1944 that the Slovak government did not know the destination of the Jews deported to Germany (telegram nr 2013; AES 7700/44).

On 05.12.1944 Burzio telegraphed that a census of the deportees was underway and that only 13 had been recognised as United States citizens; they were possibly resident in Bergen Belsen, Hanover (telegram nr 122; AES 8087/44). 

At the same time Orsenigo replied to the Secretariat of State: “The Government notes that the Jews referred to in telegram 1019, and who hold passports of South American republics, are citizens of those republics and as such come under the care of the protecting power” (telegram nr 367, 05.12.1944; AES 8100/44). 

Burzio sent a list of the deported people in a letter shortly after (letter nr 2434, 16.12.1944, AES 934/45). He pointed out that for the most part American – USA and Latin America – citizenship or passports, had for the most part, not been taken into consideration.  He confirmed that the thirteen US citizens were in Bergen Belson camp, near Celle, Hanover.

(4) See ADSS 10.376.

ADSS 10.369 Tardini to Bernardini, Switzerland - Slovak and Hungarian Jews

10.369 Domenico Tardini to Filippo Bernardini, Switzerland.

Reference: Telegram nr: 696 (AES 6913/44)

Location and date: Vatican, 23.10.1944

Summary statement: Efforts of the Holy See for the Jews of Hungary and Slovakia.

Language: Italian

Text:

I request your Excellency to communicate this to the Apostolic Delegate in Turkey.

Number 226. I received telegram 212. (1) The Apostolic Nunciature in Bratislava was quickly interested in the situation of the Jews in Sered camp. (2)

I can assure your Excellency that the Holy See, despite increasing difficulties with communication, continues to follow with particular attention the fate of the Slovak and Hungarian Jews and will leave no stone unturned to bring relief to such persons. (3) 

Notes:

(1) The Jewish Agency in Jerusalem sent a message to the Delegate in Istanbul on 14.10.1944, with news that “over 5,000 Jews are concentrated in a camp at Sered and about 2,000 of them are at risk of deportation, which means certain death.  We respectfully ask you to transmit our request to the Secretariat of State of the Holy See to intervene on behalf of those 2,000 Jews and save them from deportation and death”. (Archives of the Istanbul Delegate)  On 18.10.1944 Filippo Bernardini telegraphed the Vatican (telegram nr 444, AES 6913/44): “The Apostolic Delegate in Turkey has sent the following: Number 212: I received telegram 219. “Holy See urgently requested to intercede to Jews in Sered camp Slovakia, threatened with deportation and death”.

(2) On 22.10.1944 Tardini telegraphed Bernardini (telegram nr 697; AES 6914/44): “I ask you to communicate the following to the Apostolic Nunciature in Bratislava: “The Holy See is urged to intercede for the Jews interned in Sered concentration camp and who are threatened with deportation and death.  I ask your Excellency to take the steps you deem most appropriate and then inform me of any news”.

(3) Apostolic Delegate to the UK, William Godfrey had already written to Chief Rabbi Hertz: “that news had already reached the Vatican of the plight of your people in that country and that the Holy See had at once renewed its efforts with the Government there and had at the same time invited the Slovak Bishops to increase their efforts as far as possible on behalf of those who were stricken by the new racial laws.  I am instructed by the Vatican Secretary of state to make known to you that nothing will be left undone to help your people in any way open to the Holy See”. (Archives Apostolic Delegate, London)

Gates of Sered Camp. (Yad Vashem)

Sered:

Between 1941 and 1945 there were three camps at Sered sometimes operating at the same time.  The camps’ purposes were the same – the removal of Slovakian Jews from the life of the nation, through expulsion, expropriation of property and finally, deportation to the death camps “in the East”. With the exception of the German operated camp, the Slovak government was directly responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of Sered.

1. Labour Camp for Jews established in September 1941 by order of Alexander Mach, Minister of the Interior and placed under the responsibility of the Hlinka Guard.  The primary purpose of the camp was to concentrate Slovakian Jews, most of whom had been expelled fro Bratislava as part of the “aryanisation” of Jewish businesses, prior to despatch for forced labour.  Exploitation of Jewish workers proved an economic boon for the Slovak government.  In 1943 Jewish labour earned the government in excess of 2 million Slovak Crowns. The camp was dissolved during the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944.

2. A “Concentration Centre for Jews” was set up in 1942 to facilitate the deportation of Slovak Jews to Auschwitz.  It was closed in September 1944.

3. Sered concentration camp was established under German control in September 1944 as the last phase of the “Final Solution” in Slovakia.  SS Haupsturmführer Alois Brunner was commandant. Under Brunner’s watch an estimated 7,400 Jews were sent to Auschwitz between 30.09.1944 and 01.11.1944.  Most were murdered upon arrival.  From 16.11.1944 until the evacuation of the camp on 31.03.1945 more than 4,000 Jews were moved to Sachsenhausen, Terezín and Ravensbrück. Many of these deportees survived.

Much of the information here came from the review of Ján Hlavinka and Eduard Nižňansky, (2009) Pracovný a koncentračný tabor v Seredi 1941-1945, Bratislava: Dokumentačné stredisko holocaust, by Daniel Putík, pp 98-102. 

(The article cited above came from the website for the Studia Territorialia, published by the Charles University in Prague.  More than that I do not know.  If anyone can supply more details I will be very grateful.)