ADSS 10.233 Angelo Rotta to Luigi Maglione - Hungarian Jews

By the time Nuncio Angelo Rotta sent this telegram to Cardinal Maglione in Rome, the number of deported Hungarian Jews had risen to 340,000.  

Jews in Budapest were ordered into designated houses in preparation for deportation.  

The increasing urgency in Rotta's communications with the Vatican appear to me to indicate that he had come to believe that the deported Jews were being murdered.  Unfortunately, with few exceptions, Angelo Rotta was almost the only senior Catholic prelate actively working to save the Jews of Hungary.  In his correspondence with government ministers Rotta referred to the "baptised Jews" as his first priority - in appropriate diplomatic language, but in this document the nuncio's language is rapidly becoming more inclusive.  His description of the transports bears the hallmarks of either someone who had seen it first hand, or a description given to him from a trusted source.    

In this document Rotta was convinced that the tensions that were dividing the Hungarian cabinet over the deportations would reach a breaking point in favour of halting.  He believed a direct intervention from the Holy See, and by this he could only mean the pope, would push the hesitant and more moderate elements into action against the "fanatical elements" who went far and above the demands set out by the Germans.

ADSS 10.233 Angelo Rotta to Cardinal Maglione

Reference: Telegram 206 (AES 3889/44)

Location and date: Budapest, 18.06.1944 @ 20.00 (received Rome 19.06.1944 @ 20.00)

Summary statement: News on the deportation of the Hungarian Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

I received your telegram number 244. (1)

Unfortunately (news?) reports are true.  It is calculated that more than 300,000 people have been deported (2); it is said that of those confined one third (able-bodied men) are used for work; the other two thirds one can only make assumptions; some serious people speak of “extermination camps”: it is certain that their treatment in places of concentration and especially during the transport there, is truly horrendous.  In each goods wagon up 70, 80 or more people are packed without distinction of age, gender, religion.  The wagons are sealed and people receive little or nothing … many die of asphyxiation, of thirst or discomfort during travel.  Already … in my protest Note (3) presented to the government, I hinted at the true nature of deportation.  Thirteen days ago, in reply to the Government response, I sent a second energetic Note (4) with a copy, via diplomatic courier, to your Eminence.  The Cardinal Primate (5), in the name of the episcopate, presented a Memorandum to the Government in April, but there has been no public collective action in response to the invitation I made: there has been almost nil result.

As I mentioned last time the Government is weak, with some very fanatical elements that even go beyond the German demands.  I sent a copy … with the Minster of Foreign Affairs to the Regent as is usual. (6)

There is talk of a Government (7) crisis and a hesitant attitude in the face of demands from the Apostolic Nunciature for favourable treatment for the baptised and human treatment for all.

Direct intervention from the Holy See would be very useful, if not necessary, as the wagons are already ready to deport … Budapest who are now moving into houses intended for their exclusive dwelling in (?) difference districts of the city. (8)

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.225, Attachment.

(2) The figure was closer to 340,000.

(3) See ADSS 10.207, Attachment.

(4) See ADSS 10.227, Attachment.

(5) Justinian Seredi (1884-1945)

(6) Miklos Horthy (1868-1957)

(7) See ADSS 10.265. Döme Sztojay (1883-1946) was replaced by General Géza Lakatos (1890-1967) on 29.08.1944.

(8) See ADSS 10.243. Jews in Budapest had been given until 24.06.1944 to move into designated and clearly marked “Jewish houses”.

ADSS 9.433 Salvatore Asta notes on Padre Benedetto

ADSS 9.433 Fr Salvatore Asta (1) notes on Padre Benedetto.

Reference:  ASS Guerra Varia 43/10

Location and date:  Rome, 19.11.1943

Summary statement: Information on the activity of Fr Marie-Benoît for the Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

 Dr Carlo Carapelle, Commissioner for Immigration – in Via Romagna – told me in confidence, that he had been instructed to denounce some people, including Padre Maria-Benedetto, Capuchin, because they have forged his [Carapelle’s] signature and the stamp of his institution, in order to obtain ration cards for approximately 300 foreigners. (2)

He wishes to save Padre Benedetto who is considered to be an appointee of the Vicariate or the Holy See. (3)

It seems that in the meantime, the said religious, has made an effort to help these poor unhappy people obtain ration cards, believing that the agency had granted the appropriate permissions.

It would be necessary to prevent the lodging of the denunciation, and also to prevent the people, almost all Jewish, who have received the ration cards, from being handed over to the German authorities.

Dr Carapelle promises his support and that to help them reach their goal it would be a good idea to have a word with Commissioner De Dominicis from the same office.

Dr Carapelle, the Commissioner for Migration and Colonisation, ensures that as long as the current situation with regard to the Jews exists, he will suspend the lodging of the denunciation against the people who have forged his signature and the High Commission’s stamp.

20.11.1943: Note of Angelo Dell’Acqua

I told Padre Benedetto repeatedly, (and the last time in a very clear manner), to use the utmost caution and prudence in the interests of the Jews …:  It seems, unfortunately, that he did want to listen to the humble advice offered to him … (4)

Note of Cardinal Maglione:

But is there anything that can be done now?  I do not think so.

Notes: 

(1) Salvatore Asta (1915-2004), worked in the Secretariat of State

(2) The organisation was Padre Benedetto’s Comitato Assistenza Profughi – Committee of Assistance for Refugees.  See ADSS 9.264, 267, 412, 415

(3) The “vicariate” refers to the administration of the Diocese of Rome.  The pope is the bishop of Rome, but the administration of the diocese is entrusted to the pope’s vicar, hence the term vicariate. Vatican City State is not included in the Vicariate of Rome.  Governorship of the Vatican City is overseen by the Governor of the Holy See, an office held at the time by Marchese Camillo Serafini (1864-1952) and the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

(4) The editing of this note could be open to suggestion that the editors decided to omit something less than positive in Dell’Acqua’s comments.

ADSS 9.487 Notes of the Secretariat of State on steps taken for Jews

Although many in the Vatican were aware of rescue activities occurring throughout the city, there were varying degrees of anxiety and concern over the nature of the activities and the level of involvement, voluntary or otherwise, that could bring unwanted attention from the Germans.  Padre Benedetto and his colleagues with Delasem, the Italian Jewish aid agency, operated and planned schemes that caused some serious angst in the Vatican.  In this document we see the "angst" along with remarks that point to serious mistrust and suspicion about Jews. 

ADSS 9.487 Notes of the Secretariat of State

Reference:  ASS 1943, Razza 11

Location and date:  Vatican, 29.12.1943

Summary statement: Information concerning steps taken for the Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

 A trustworthy person has learned directly from Israelite elements existing in Rome that there is an organization made up of people of the Jewish faith and individuals “of responsibility in the Vatican” which has as its aims:

1. to issue Vatican City identity cards with false information and bilingual cards (white and yellow) to Jews; (2)

2. to facilitate the admission of members of the Jewish faith to [religious] institutions or communities;

The same person refers to:

a) that some of those elements have been talking to friends and acquaintances and sometimes ostentatiously showing, as proof, the documents referred to above;

b) that people have announced that the son of X has been admitted into the Palatine Guard of Honour;

c) that there are many individuals in Rome who have shown the documents referred to in point 1 to others.(5)

Notes: 

(1) Not identified.

(2) These documents in German and Italian were given to Vatican employees.

(3) See ADSS 9.371

(4) Angelo Dell’Aqua (1903-1972), Secretariat of State, noted: “Several times I have observed that various persons employed at the Vatican or close to Vatican circles interest themselves too much (in a manner that I dare to call almost exaggerated) in the Jews, favouring them, maybe even with elegant schemes … I have always believed … in using the maximum prudence in speaking with Jews, to whom it would be better to speak less … Regarding the bilingual cards … in my opinion it would be opportune to make an inquiry in order to avoid possible trouble …”

(5) The group referred to in this document was the Comitato Assistenza Profughi (Committee for Assitance for Refugees) founded by Padre Benedetto ofm cap in late 1943.  Padre Benedetto’s work created some measure of upset among some in the Vatican.  Susan Zuccotti wrote: “Strangely, when Dell’Acqua’s notes were published in ADSS, Padre Benedetto denied he had ever met or spoken with him.  Perhaps Dell’Acqua had sent an assistant”. Susan Zuccotti (2013) Père Marie-Benoît and Jewish Rescue: How a French priest together with Jewish friends saved thousands during the Holocaust, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, p160 n10.

Angelo Dell'Acqua

1903-1972

19 July 1943 / 2013 Anniversary of the bombing of Rome

Last weekend marked the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Rome and the first time Pius XII left the Vatican since May 1940.  The pope's response to the tragedy of bombed Rome was an example of spontaneous action in the face of great need.  It raises the terrible question as to why a similar action was not employed when the Jews of Rome were rounded up and faced even greater danger three months later.

This clip is from YouTube.

The relevant ADSS references are found in Volume 7, documents 301-303, 305-307, 309-311. 

This report was posted on the Vatican news website.

On 19 July 1943, the United States Air Force bombed Rome: 9,125 bombs fell from 690 airplanes with 930.30 metric tons of explosives, resulting in 1800 deaths. Egidio Picucci recalled that Monday, 70 years ago. “The scene facing the people when the explosions stopped, when the rumble of the airplanes, which in the waves that followed disrupted everything, began to muffle, aroused general disbelief. The city walls seemed like ragged backdrops of a stage carried away by the wind. The morale of the people was at rock bottom. No one expected an attack of that kind and everyone roamed, lost and silent, around the dusty streets filled with rubble. Rome, the Eternal City, was no more. In order to provide relief to the people’s distress, the providential news came in that the Pope was to visit San Lorenzo in the afternoon around 5:30 p.m. At that time people ran to the basilica, in front of which the people encircled him, speaking more with their eyes and tears than with their words. Pius XII was visibly moved and opened his arms as if to pull everyone closer to him and not let them go”.

L’Osservatore Romano recalled this tragic event and the two visits the Pope made to the wounded city following the two bombings. The second bombing took place on 13 August. “In a strictly private setting, without any escort (…) accompanied only by Mons. Giovanni Battista Montini, Substitute of the Secretariat of State, the Pontiff at 5:20 pm, after having received the first news on the extent of the disaster, left the Vatican to go as soon as possible bringing relief in person to the victims. Faced with many sad sights of destruction the Holy Father stopped the car for a long time and asked for news of the victims and the scope of the damage. His extremely pale face showed his inner pain. (…) With difficulty, in front of the ruined pronaos of the Temple, His Holiness was able to climb down while a wave of excitement erupted from everyone’s heart. Defying the impassable terrain, (…) he kneeled (…) inviting everyone to the Christian prayer for the victims”.

The bombs also caused incalculable damage to the historical-religious patrimony of the city, especially damaging the cemetary of Verano (even striking the tomb of Pope Pacelli’s family) and the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The basilica was subsequently rebuilt, beginning in 1946. The work was made possible thanks to the work in those difficult years of Giovanni Battista Montini, Richard Krautheimer and Fr Antonio Ferrua.

Paul on Pius at the ADL New York 10 January

Vacations are wonderful times of the year, and I have been enjoying mine, but it is nearly time to get back into the work mode and so I am heading off to New York shortly for this special occasion.  

If you are able to join me at the Anti-Defamation League National Headquarters I would very much enjoy meeting you.  Please follow the details given below.  I am especially grateful to Abraham Foxman, the ADL, Lynne Rabinoff, Lauren Steinberg, Palgrave Macmillan and my good friend Eric Greenberg for making this event possible.