ADSS 10.408 Rotta to Tardini - request by neutral powers to end persecution

10.408 Angelo Rotta, Hungary to Domenico Tardini

Reference: Report nr 2611/44 (N Pr 972) (AES 1157/45)

Location and date: Budapest, 27.11.1944

Summary statement: Joint request by the neutral powers to end the persecution is not hopeful. (Attached)  Nuncio has issued 13,000 letters of protection.  Fanaticism of Arrow Cross fascists.

Language: Italian and French

Text:

I think it appropriate to send a copy of the Memorandum presented on 17.11.1944 to the Head of State, Mr Szalasi, so that there is a record should the archive of the Nunciature be destroyed. (1)

The aforementioned Memorandum, mentioned in my telegram number 324 (2) was presented by the Swedish Minister (3) and I, in the name of the Representatives of the Neutral Nations who had met at the Nunciature twice to discuss the matter.  In summary it is a description of the real state of affairs rather than an exaggeration.  There is no hope for a practical result given the material mentality of religious ignorance and the fanatical hatred against the Jews by the Arrow Cross (4), which in the execution of the orders issued

to them were enacted with a really incredible brutality.  It  [the memorandum] was decided upon to make an act propelled by civil and Christian conscience.

Notes:

(1) See Appendix.

(2) ADSS 10.407.

(3) Carl Ivan Danielsson (1880-1963), Swedish Minister in Budapest 1942-45.  Danielsson was named “Righteous Among the Nations” in 1982.

(4) See ADSS 10.265 n3.

(5) Ibid n8.

(6)

Appendix: (French)

From the Nunciature to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Budapest, 17.11.1944.

The Representatives of the Neutral Powers accredited in Budapest (7) have the honour to address the Royal Government of Hungary with the following:

When, in August, roughly half a million Jews had already been deported outside of Hungary and the governments of the Neutral Countries had positive information on what the deportations really meant, the Representatives of the aforementioned Powers made a collective approach to the Royal Hungarian Government to prevent the resumption of deportation.  The approach was then welcomed, and hundreds of thousands of lives were saved.

In the aftermath of 15 October the new Hungarian Government and His Excellency, Mr Szalasi himself, made categorical and solemn declarations that there would be no deportation or annihilation of the Jews.  Despite this the representatives of the Neutral Powers learned from absolutely reliable sources that the deportation of all Jews was again determined and it is pushed with a fierce energy, while the whole world is witness to the brutalities that accompany its execution (small children are torn from their mothers, the elderly and sick forced to sleep in the rain or in adequate shelter, men and women left for days without food, tens of thousands of people crammed into a single workshops, women violated, shootings etc)

Now, as was the case in summer, it is said that it is no deportation, but compulsory labour abroad.  The Representatives of the Neutral Powers know very well the horrible reality that lies for these unfortunate people and that hides under this name.   Moreover, all it would take would be to see that even small children, the elderly and the sick are also taken, to be convinced that it [“forced labour] is not working, while the atrocities, which accompany the transport well, predict the ending of this tragic exodus.

Faced with the enormities, the Representatives of the Neutral Powers can not evade the duty imposed on the by a sense of humanity and Christian charity, to express their deepest regret with to the Royal Hungarian Government and ask:

1. that the decision to deport the Jews be revoked and that measures be taken to execute an immediate suspension, so that the unfortunate people who have taken far from their homes can return as soon as possible;

2. only people for reasons of employment should be required to reside in concentration camps with suitable and humane treatment (food and adequate shelter, health and religious assistance, respect for their lives etc);

3. full and genuine implementation of the provisions dictated by the Royal Hungarian Government in favour of the Jews who under the protection of the Legations accredited to Budapest. (8) In fact, incidents of violations are increasing, and it is really surprising to see the contempt that junior employees show towards the orders given by higher authorities.

The Representatives of the Neutral Powers hope that the Royal Hungarian Government will understand this approach and return to the declarations and promises of His Excellency Mr Szalasi.  This approach is not only inspired by a sense of compassion for the persecuted Jews, but also by a sentiment of profound commitment to Hungary, that we would like see free from an action that would defile its glorious history forever.  And the government that now bears the heavy responsibility of the people’s future may wish to spare them the calamities to which they would be exposed to reprisals which the Powers at war with Hungary have threatened should the deportation or annihilation of the Jews continue (without saying that the eventual occupiers of Hungary might apply the same methods to the people of Hungary).

For their part, the Representatives of the neutral Powers, have no other purpose than to help relieve human suffering and intensify their efforts to assist victims of the war.  However the response that the Hungarian Government makes to this approach is bound to have great influence on their policies with regard to the Hungarian people; and if they respond favourably it will be a stimulus that will push them to work with greater effort and for the good of the Hungarian people, especially in the painful case of the expansion of foreign occupation.

The Representatives of the Neutral Powers are confident that the noble Hungarian Nation, resuming their ancient Christian traditions, will want, even in this difficult time, to be faithful to the principles and methods that have made Hungary a civilised country, admired by the whole world.

Note of Tardini:

26.02.1945 Seen by the Holy Father.

01.03.1945. Bravo Monsignor Rotta!  Will we share this document with Osborne and Mr Taylor?  What do they say?

Notes:

(7) The copy of this aide-memoire does not have signatures.
(8) The journal “Uj Magyarsag” on 12.11.1944 published the following:

“In conformity with an agreement concluded by the Government (Hungarian) with the Neutral States, those Jews who are under the protection of the neutral Legations and who can prove this by showing a temporary passport, a letter of protection or a protection passport with a photograph, with the Legation seal, and an authentic signature, are permitted to enter a house marked with the Yellow Star reserved for them, before 15 November.  The Jews protected by the foreign Legations can contact the Association of Hungarian Jews for information about the residences reserved for them.  The authorities do not expect these Jews to move to new residences.  All Jews interested in the residences, can freely chose whether or not they wish to move into the new residences. However, those Jews who do not want to go into the Jewish homes before 15 November, will permanently lose the protections of the neutral Legations, and, consequently, will be subject to the strict measures applied against them by the Government.”

(Communicated to Amleto Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate USA by Kurt R Grossmann (1897-1972), Assistant of the “Rescue Department” of the World Jewish Congress.) 

Grossman added “The report proves that the protection documents granted by the neutral governments have lapsed, at least outwardly, but may have benefited the Hungarian Jews.  I share this news with your Excellency in the hope that the Holy See will continue with its commendable efforts on behalf of the Jews. 

Cicognani in turn sent the text to Tardini on 12.01.1945. (Nr 125/45, AES 1064/45). 

A separate document has a note by Montini:

“12.01.1945. Certificates of protection issued by the Budapest nunciature for the Jews (16,000).  Is this true?  Mons. Verolino?” 

Gennaro Verolino (1906-2005), who had been attaché to the Budapest Nunciature confirmed: “08.12.1945: The Hungarian government had granted the exemptions and facilities to the Jews who held passports or other documents of protection issued by the Foreign Legations.  On the basis of this concession, the Apostolic Nunciature granted over 15,000 letters of protection during the Szalasi regime.” (AES Comm. Socc)

ADSS 10.407 Rottal to Sec State - Jews forced into ghetto; grave military situation

10.407 Angelo Rotta, Hungary to Secretariat of State

Reference: Telegram 324 (AES 7889/44)

Location and date: Budapest, 26.11.1944 @ 17.00 (Rec’d Rome 27.11.1944 @ 13.00)

Summary statement: News of persecution of the Jews – ghettos, inhumane, frequent murders, many suicides.  Military situation is grave

Language: Italian

Text:

The fight against the Jews is escalating, it is accomplished in a truly inhuman manner; all Jews are forced to live in the ghetto, great confusion; Arrow Cross party (1) believes everything is lawful against the Jews, theft, injuries, murders, frequent suicides.  The government promises but has neither the strength or good will; this Apostolic Nunciature continues to take steps in favour of the Jews, especially the converts; something has come of the collective appeal to the representatives of the neutral countries (2) since the enemy has threatened retaliation.  Military situation is very serious (3); great uncertainty about … Budapest; many ministry offices already evacuated; buildings (?) mined; the splendid Margaret Island (4) whether through criminal act or negligence was blown up causing many casualties.  I have heard of food and fuel shortages.

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.265,n3.

(2) See ADSS 10.408, appendix.

(3) Soviet and Romanian troops entered the eastern suburbs of Budapest on 07.11.1944 but halted their advance because of fatigue and overstretched lines.  They resumed the attack on the city on 19.12.1944 and encircled it on 26.12.1944.  Fighting was fierce and murderous.

(4) Margaret Island in the middle of the Danube links both sides of the city.  On 04.11.1944 the bridge on the Pest side were blown up; by whom has never been determined.  The explosion occurred during the day when there was heavy traffic on the bridge.  During the siege of the city the island was used as a parachute drop zone and for improvised airstrips.  Fighting on the island was brutal and merciless.  The Germans destroyed the bridge on the Buda side of the island on 18.01.1945 during their retreat from the city.

ADSS 10.172 Angelo Rotta to Luigi Maglione - persecution of Hungarian Jews; situation of baptised Jews

ADSS 10.172 Angelo Rotta, Hungary to Cardinal Maglione

Reference: Report 915/44; N.Pr. 949; (AES 3317/44)

Location and date: Budapest, 28.04.1944

Summary statement: New antisemitic legislation. Total exclusion of Jews from economic life, creation of ghettos, restrictive rations, no exemptions for baptised Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

I am following my report number 855/44 of 19.04.1944 concerning the general situation in Hungary. (1)

With regard to the Jews, there has been a continuing intensification of the fight against them.  A new decree totally excluding them from commercial life, so that their shops are closed and they are obligated to hand over all their merchandise.  Meanwhile their homes, in some cases, may be requisitioned, and they can be also forced to live in a “ghetto”, which according to the local authorities are to be formed in the cities or in the more important villages.  This has already been done in the north-eastern regions of Hungary, that is, those closed to the frontier threatened by the Bolsheviks.  There are also restrictions regarding rations in the sense that they are not granted certain foods, and other foods are reduced in quantity after the introduction of special ration cards. (2)

Given that the decrees are racially based, many thousands of baptised [Jews], for the most part Catholics, are gravelly affected by these draconian measures, all the more so since the Government established a Jewish Central Committee for the easier application of the decrees.  Christians are at the mercy of this committee, which will, of course, sacrifice them first, to meet the demands of the Government.(3)

Yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I spoke with the secretary general (4) and demanded that serious action be taken by the Government against these provisions, noting once again the inhuman and anti-Christian dimension of the fight against the Jews.  I said that the Holy Father could not help but be profoundly grieved seeing Hungary, who had gloried in being a Christian nation, was now heading in a direction that lead to conflict with the doctrine of the Gospel.

The Foreign Affairs ministry understands these things; but there is, unfortunately at the Ministry of the Interior various elements, and above all, the two under-secretaries (5) who are fanatical anti-Semites and who for reasons they do not disclose and who are more papal than the Pope, in the sense that that they sometimes even go beyond what the Germans demand.

Some of the Jewish-Catholics, who feel a little abandoned, would like vigorous action in defence of their rights promoted by the ecclesiastical authorities.  Without doubt you are interested in the contents of the letter and conversation his eminence, the Cardinal Primate (6), addressed to the Prime Minister (7).  But he [Cardinal Seredi] lives in Estergom, and has not been seen in Budapest, and has, so far, not said a word of comfort for the afflicted:  the other bishops generally wait for the Primate’s initiative in questions of general interest.  Practically, it seems to many that the ecclesiastical authorities are not dealing with the issue out of excessive caution, even when this does not correspond to reality.  Certainly more prompt and direct action, before the publication of certain decrees, would not have been ineffective.  I know that soon, his eminence, Cardinal Serédi will go back to the Prime Minister on this issue and will submit a memorandum.

It is hoped that the combined action of the Nunciature and his eminence the Cardinal Primate will obtain some benefits in favour of the baptised Jews and that elemental human rights are safeguarded in the manner of treating the other Jews.(8)

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.153.

(2) The process of ghettoization in Hungary began on 09.04.1944.  All Jews living outside of Budapest were to be concentrated in a series of ghettos.  A ghetto in Budapest was not set up until November 1944.  Along with ghettoization, the German implemented through Hungarian government agencies a special rationing system for Jews.  Jewish rations were set below the rates for all other groups.  The intention was to starve the Jews and reduce any likelihood of resistance.  The nuncio would not have know that the decision to deport all the Jews of Hungary had been made with joint German-Hungarian cooperation five days before.  Deportations were due to start on 15.05.1944 – less than three weeks after this report was sent to Rome.

(3) Local government bodies established Zsidó Tanács – Council of the Jews – from March onwards.  Samu Stern (1874-1947) was the president of the Jewish community of Pest and head of the national organisation of the councils.

(4) Secretary General – not identified but possibly the more moderate and humane Miklós Arnóthy Jungerth (1883-1957 )

(5) See ADSS 10.207. Undersecretaries – László Endre (1895-1946), László Baky (1898-1946) and shown below just before their executions, were Adolf Eichmann’s collaborators in the concentration and deportation of the Jews of Hungary.  Both men were tried as war criminals after the war and executed.

(6) Justinian Serédy (1884-1945)

(7) Döme Sztojay (1883-1946)

(8) See ADSS 10.179.

New York Times: The Holocaust just got more shocking

A colleague emailed me a link to The New York Times for an article that had the eye-catching headline "The Holocaust just got more shocking".  Eric Lichtblau's article makes for blistering reading, and shocking it is.

A longitudinal study conducted by research scholars at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Geoffrey Megargee and Martin Dean revealed an almost unbelievable 45,500 sites of Nazi terror across Europe.  Megargee and Dean are the editors of the USHMM Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933-1945.  Volumes 1 and 2 of a planned 7 volume work are now available.

This article is another piece of evidence that points to a more wide spread knowledge of German atrocities than we had before.  It would have been all but impossible not to know of some aspect of the terror inflicted upon millions of people - Jews and non-Jews.  It would also have been near impossible for the pope and the leaders of the Catholic Church throughout Europe not to have known that the information they received detailing the persecution of the Jews and others deemed "life unworthy of living" was largely accurate and part of a systematic process of "racial reorganisation" across the entire continent.  Of course information came to Rome in piecemeal fashion and took time to verify, but the sheer scope of Nazi terror  revealed in this article suggests that the information coming in must have borne a disturbing similarity.  The records in ADSS support this theory.

ADSS 8.497 Note of Casimir Papee on massacres of Jews Poland

 While most of the posts on the deportation and murder of the Jews so far have focussed on the Slovakian Jews, the Vatican was also aware of the growing scale of murder of Jews across the rest of Europe.  Casimir Papee (1889-1979), the Polish ambassador, incarcerated with other Allied diplomats in Vatican City, received information from varying sources about conditions in German-occupied Poland.  This information was duly passed on to the Secretariat of State and from there it would have almost certainly been passed to Pope Pius XII.  

The Jews of Vilna had lived under the insecurity of German terror since the invasion in June 1941.  Except for a brief period of relative stability between January and March 1942, Vilna's Jews were gradually murdered or worked and starved to death.  By the time the ghetto was liqudated, nearly 40,000 Vilna Jews were dead.

Between 1920 and 1939 Vilnius / Vilna was a part of Poland.  During the war the city was occupied by Soviet forces, September 1939 - June 1941, German troops June 1941-July 1944, and returning Soviet forces in July 1944.  Shortly afterwards Vilna was declared part of the Lithuanian Soviet Republic.

The references to Warsaw confirmed what was known about the deportation of Jews to Treblinka that had commenced on 24 July 1942.  By early October 1942, 310,000 mostly Warsaw Jews had been murdered.  Papee sources were very accurate both in the number of Jews killed and the means of their deaths.

All this was adding to the pressure building up among many of the Allied diplomats who were urging the pope to make an unambiguous statement condemning the mass-murder of European Jewry.

Reference: Nr 49/SA/122 (AES 7258/42, orig)

Title: Note of Casmir Papee, Polish Ambassador to the Holy See

Location and date: Vatican City, 03.10.1942

Summary statement: News concerning the massacre of Jews in Poland.

Language: French

Text:

The massacre of the Jews by the Germans in Poland has attracted public notoriety.[1]  These slaughters are done in large groups, by various means, inter alia, by asphyxiation in buildings especially adapted.

1. According to information from a very reliable source it is confirmed that the ghetto of Vilnius, where there were originally 80,000 Jews, then reduced to 30,000 and finally to 12,000. (This fact was already known.) Around Vilna, Niemencyzn (village of 2,000 inhabitants), 600 Jews were killed; in Nowa Wilejka, 100 killed; in Ejsyzki 200 killed.

2. It is reported from another source the ghetto of Warsaw is methodically emptied. Part of this ghetto, known as “The Little Ghetto” is already empty. Each day groups of more than a thousand Jews are taken along by rail to Lublin, towards the East.  It appears, according to information coming from a citizen of an Axis state who had seen “from the edges”, that the Jews are initially concentrated in a camp, or they are put to death; it is, in any case, established that their families never hear of them again.  One expects that during the next months the entire Jewish population of the ghetto - comprising 300,000 Jews – will be deported, and that their dwelling places in this part of the city will be intended for Aryans.

 [1] Cf ADSS 8.493, 496.