ADSS 10.265 Angelo Rotta to Luigi Maglione - positive steps for Hungarian Jews

10.265 Angelo Rotta, Hungary to Cardinal Maglione

Reference: Telegram 224 (AES 4581/44)

Location and date: Budapest, 14.07.1944 @ 18.40 (Received Rome 15.07.1944 @ 17.00)

Summary statement: Positive results from the steps taken by the pope and bishops for the Hungarian Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

I received telegram 251 (1) … to Regent Horthy (2) and was most appropriate.  His Highness, who had tried to keep the nunciature aware of the true state of affairs, was shaken by an abortive coup that took place  … led precisely by fanatical anti-Semites. (3) Also very useful was the pastoral letter prepared by the Cardinal Primate (4) that was to be read in all the churches of (?) Hungary last Sunday.  The Government “got wind” of it and begged Cardinal Seredi to withdraw it; the Cardinal has suspended publication of the letter upon the promise of the ending of the deportations and granting exemptions for the baptised Jews.  In fact, you will notice a … deportations are suspended. (5) … the Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior had much of his power removed (6) … in all areas concerning the Jews.  There is still debate about the extent of exemptions in favour of Christians; some members of the Government show a lot of bad faith. (7) The general political situation is uncertain; we hear a lot of talk about a probable change of government. (8)

Note of Giovanni Montini:

Audience with His Holiness, 17.07.1944.  For those concerned, let them know of the concern of the Holy See and the result that has been obtained.

Notes:

(1) Not published in ADSS; see ADSS 10.242, n2.

(2) See ADSS 10.243

(3) The anti-Horthy and pro-German faction in the Hungarian government planned a coup for early July with German support.  Their intention was to put the Arrow Cross party in power with Laszlo Endre as prime minister.  One of the first actions was to resume deportations.  Under the guise of a flag consecration ceremony significant numbers of pro-German forces took up positions in Budapest.  Suspicious that Baky and Endre were planning a revolt, Horthy ordered forces loyal to the government into the city and ordered the other forces to leave Budapest. The attempted coup failed.

(4) Cardinal Justinian Seredi

(5) Admiral Horthy order Prime Minister Sztojay to stop deportations from Budapest on 06.07.1944.

(6) In the archives of the Apostolic Delegate in Istanbul a note from Budapest dated 18.07.1944 was found. It concerned the state “of provisions taken by the Hungarian Government with regard to the Jews”. (See ADSS 10.305, n9).  On 01.07.1944 there had been an approach for a group of Jews (Telegram 254 [AES 476/44]).  Angelo Rotta replied on 17.07.1944: “I received your telegram 254.  If the appropriate steps are made, the Hungarian Government is willing to give permission for them to leave; please submit the necessary certificates promptly”. (Telegram 226, AES 4618/44).

(7) Most likely, the two secretaries cited here were Laszlo Endre and Laszlo Baky. See ADSS 10.172, 207.  On 28.06.1944 at the first meeting of the Crown Council since the German takeover in March, Horthy ordered deportations to stop and for the dismissal of Baky and Endre.  Neither order was agreed to.  Shortly after Angelo Rotta sent this telegram to Rome, oversight of Jewish matters was taken away from Endre.

(8) See ADSS 10.233

ADSS 10.263 Casimir Papee, Polish Ambassador to Luigi Maglione - Hungarian jews

10.263 Casimir Papée, Ambassador of Poland to the Holy See, to Cardinal Maglione

Reference:  Number 122/SA/47 (AES 4571/44)

Location and date: Vatican, 13.07.1944

Summary statement: New on the deportation of Hungarian Jews.  Estimated that 400,000 Jews have been sent to Oswiecim (KL Auschwitz-Birkenau)

Language: French

Text:

By order of my government I have the honour to present to your Eminence news that the German authorities have taken the Hungarian Jews to Poland, to the Oswiecim concentration camp, where they are put to death.  It is impossible to establish the exact number of these Jews, but it seems that already about 400,000 have been deported.  Among them were many Polish citizens. (1)

Since June of this year, they are in the process of deporting a second part, of approximately 350,000.

It seems that the action of the extermination of the Hungarian Jews follows the example of the extermination of the Polish Jews.

In bringing the above to the knowledge of your Eminence, allow me to respectfully ask that you consider the question of a possible intervention of the Holy See to the Hungarian Government, to end and prevent this crime, as well as to warn the Hungarian Government of the possible consequences for Hungary for its collaboration with Germany. (2) 

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.233.  Deportations from Hungary had ceased on 09.07.1944 on Horthy’s orders, in part, because of the intervention of the pope and other world leaders.

(2) The editors of ADSS suggested Randolf Braham’s the Destruction of the Hungarian Jews  (1963) and Jenö Levai’s The Black Book on the Martyrdom of Hungarian Jewry (1948).  A more contemporary study of the subject may be found in Zoltán Vági, László Csősz and Gábor Kádár (2013) The Holocaust in Hungary: Evolution of a Genocide, Alta Mira Press & USHMM.

ADSS 10.262 Maglione to Amleto Cicognani - Hungarian Jews

10.262 Cardinal Maglione to Amleto Cicognani, Ap Del USA

Reference: Telegram 1721 (AES 4301/44)

Location and date: Vatican, 12.07.1944

Summary statement: The Holy See is doing everything possible to help the Hungarian Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

Representatives of American Christians of Hungarian Descent have telegrammed imploring the help of His Holiness for the Jews of Hungary. (1)

I ask your Excellency to make known to all interested parties that the Holy See has been long working to improve conditions for the aforementioned people, adding if it is deemed appropriate, that recently the Holy Father has intervened with Regent Horthy, communicating with him personally. (2)

Notes:

(1) Professor Louis Toth (1893-1977), Mgr Elmer Eordogh (1875-1955) and others of The American Christians of Hungarian Descent telegrammed from New York on 08.07.1944.

(AES 4522/44)

(2) See ADSS 10.243.  On the same day the Secretariat of State telegraphed to the Apostolic Delegate in London.  Godfrey wrote to Easterman on 14.07.1944, and added a post script, that he received news from the Holy See: “the Holy Father has appealed personally to the Regent of Hungary on behalf of your people and that he has been assured that the Regent will do all possible to help”. (AES 4954/44).  Easterman thanked Cardinal Maglione in a telegram on 17.07.1944.

ADSS 10.254 Maglione to Amleto Cicognani - Hungarian Jews

10.254 Cardinal Maglione to Amleto Cicognani, Ap Del USA

Reference: Telegram 1707 (AES 4205/44)

Location and date: Vatican, 05.07.1944

Summary statement: Information on steps taken for the Jews of Hungary.

Language: Italian

Text:

 I received your telegram number 2098. (1)

The Apostolic Nunciature in Budapest is actively addressing the issue of non-Aryan Hungarians. (2)

I commend to Your Excellency’s attention the telegram of His Holiness of Sunday 25 June, which addressed an open personal appeal to Regent Horthy (3) asking him to do what was in his power for so many unfortunate people who suffer because of their nationality or race.

Regent Horthy has replied assuring that he will do all that is possible to enforce humanitarian and Christian principles. (4)

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.225

(2) See ADSS 10.233

(3) See ADSS 10.243

(4) See ADSS 10.250

ADSS 10.253 Bernard Griffin, Westminster to Cardinal Maglione

As news of the Hungarian deportations continued to spread across the neutral and western world, protests grew in intensity.  This is one of the many that flowed into the Vatican throughout July.  It is also worth taking note of the dates below.  Griffin sent the telegram on 3 July.  Rome had been liberated for a month, but it took four days to reach the Vatican.

10.253 Bernard Griffin (1899-1956) (Westminster 1943-56) to Cardinal Maglione.

Reference: Telegram 548 (AES 4376/44)

Location and date: London, 03.07.1944 @ 11.48; (Received Rome 10.07.1944 @ 13.00)

Summary statement: Request intervention for Hungarian Jews.

Language: English

Text:

Have been requested by the World Jewish Congress (1) to support their appeal to Holy Father to intervene on behalf of Hungarian Jews. (2)

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.249

(2) Response sent 14.07.1944 via Telegram 179 (AES 4376/44): “Holy See even through Papal Nunciature Budapest has left nothing undone and is still dong everything possible to alleviate sorrowful plight all those who are suffering on account nationality or race”.