ADSS 10.356 Secretariat of State to the UK Legation - violence of the Red Army in Hungary

Secretariat of State to the UK Legation

Reference: AES Hungary 124, minute

Location and date: Vatican, 16.10.1944

Summary statement: Request intervention with the Soviet government regarding occupied parts of Hungary.

Language: Italian

Text:

The Secretary of State has the honour to bring to the attention of the Legation of Great Britain to the Holy See the following:

From news sent directly to the Holy See from Budapest (1) we are informed that those parts of Hungarian territory occupied by the Russians and Romanians have not occurred without episodes of serious violence against the civilian population, episodes that have nothing to do with the conduct of the war.

To cite some examples, the cities of Nagyszalonta, Jöddeàk, Kesermy, Biharugra etc, were scenes of looting, plundering and burning, because of the ill-disciplined behaviour of the soldiers.

More painful than the damage to property has been the violence of the soldiers which has been so great, excessive and frequent that the people are in a state of panic and near despair because of the rash acts occurring here and there.  Not even the sanctity of the cloister has been respected (and some innocent and helpless Sisters have been subject to the most painful violence) (2)

The Secretary of State can not refrain from expressing to the Legation feelings of horror and painful concern that the above facts give rise to, while strongly urging you to appeal as much as you can to the various offices of His Britannic Majesty’s Government to ensure that the aforementioned troops are called back to a sense of discipline and humanity regarding the civilian population and above all to women and children. (3)

Note from the Office: 

22.10.1944

I talked with the Secretary of Mr Taylor. (4)

Notes:

(1) The news was passed to the Vatican via the Royal Hungarian Legation in a communiqué - dated 12.10.1944.
(2) As the Red Army moved deeper into Hungary a pattern quickly emerged.  Hungary was not being “liberated” in the way Poland or Czechoslovakia.  Hungary was a defeated enemy and “to the victor the spoils”.  Treatment of the civilian population by the Red Army varied but was, in general, exploitative and brutal.  Thousands of civilians were killed, tens of thousands of Hungarian women – irrespective of age, religion or Jewishness – were raped, and hundreds of thousands of Hungarians were deported to the Soviet Union where they died in the labour camps of the Gulag.  It was estimated that about 25,000 Jewish men who had been conscripted into the Hungarian army as labourers, were deported to the Soviet Union, along with about 10,000 Jewish women. See Zoltan Vagi et al, the Holocaust in Hungary: Evolution of a Genocide, p 334.  The total number of Hungarian women raped in the last months of the war will most likely never be known, but some contemporary (ie November 2013) research suggests the figure could be as high as 800,000.  Bishop Apor of  Gyor was killed by Soviet soldiers as he attempted to prevent local women from rape.

(3) Two telegrams were addressed to Berne on 27.10.1944 (telegram 718, AES 8272/44) and Washington (telegram 1941, AES 8271/44):  “News of Russian troop behaviour in occupied villages; treatment of some Hungarians is disastrous.  Sacking, burning, killing, numerous violations of religious women: religious practice is practically impossible”. (See ADSS 11).

(4) Franklin C. Gowen (1895-1981), employee of the State Department, was appointed Myron Taylor’s assistant, replacing Harold Tittmann in December 1941.

Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Seredi 29 June 1944

The origins of the June Pastoral Letter, referred to in ADSS 10.265,  lie in the increasing awareness among the Hungarian bishops as to the true nature of the deportation of the Hungarian Jews from May 1944.  More and more accounts of bestial and inhumane treatment of Jews from outside Hungary were now replicated from within Hungary.  The Catholic bishops could no longer avoid the reality of anti-Jewish persecution.  Many of them had acquiesced or tacitly supported the raft of anti-Jewish legislation passed in Hungary since 1938 even though some had raised some protest over the treatment of converted Jews. 

Sometime in June 1944 the document known as “The Auschwitz Protocol” arrived in Budapest via Switzerland and a copy was passed on to the Regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy.  The Regent passed on the information to Seredi.  The Primate had been under pressure from a number of bishops, especially Vilmos Apor and Endre Hamvas.  In addition the Cardinal was also under growing pressure from the Vatican, via Angelo Rotta, the nuncio, to act in a decisive and uncompromising statement condemning the persecution and deportation of the Jews.

The letter, “Successor to the Apostles” was distributed to the dioceses of Hungary, but government agents seized the 700 copies intended for the Archdiocese of Esztergom. The Minister of Justice, Istvan Antal, approached Seredi pleading with him to cancel the letter.  Seredi agreed to do so on condition that the Prime Minister, Dome Sztojay, write to him assuring him that the government would suspend deportations and make the “Jewish Question” a purely internal Hungarian issue.  Upon receipt of Sztojay’s letter on 8 July, Seredi ordered the pastoral letter be followed by a further pronouncement on 10 July (follows this text).

It would highly unlikely that the nuncio, Angelo Rotta, would not have passed on a copy of the letters to the Vatican.

Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Primate Justinian Seredi

on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Hungary,

29 June 1944.

"The successors of the Apostles, that is, the visible head of the Church and all other bishops are the promoters and guardians of God's unwritten, natural, laws and of his written, revealed, laws, especially the Ten Commandments. In this country, all through the thousand years of its history, the Church leaders have always protested whenever someone tried to violate those divine laws, and defended the poor, the defenceless and the victims of persecutions. In these fateful times we, the members of the Episcopate, fulfil our duty when in the name of God we protest against the immoral way in which this war is being conducted. In a war which claims to be just, the killing of defenceless civilians, the bombardment of women and children from low-flying aircraft, the maiming of children through explosive toys dropped from the air, are all means of destruction which cannot be condoned, because they are against Christian moral laws.

"Alas, we also have to point out that whilst in this terrible world conflict we are most in need of God's help and, therefore, should avoid every word and deed which could draw God's wrath upon our nation. We have to admit with deep regret that in Christian Hungary successive measures are being taken which violate God's laws. We do not have to go into details of these measures, because you are very much aware of them yourselves... You know that many of your fellow-citizens — among those who share our faith — are being deprived of all human rights only because of their racial origin. Innocent individuals, none of whose guilt has been established by legal procedure, are subjected to humiliation and persecution. You would understand this thoroughly only if you yourselves were subjected to it.

"We, your bishops, always did and always will, keep aloof from party politics and the pursuit of personal gain. We cannot deny that some members of the Jewish community have had a subversive and destructive influence on the Hungarian economic, social and moral life, and fellow Jews made no protest against it. We do not doubt that the Jewish question has to be solved legally and justly. Therefore, we do not object to, but approve of, any necessary and justifiable reforms of the economic structures, which need to be undertaken for the abuses to be remedied. But it would be culpably defaulting on our moral and pastoral obligations if we failed to defend justice and to protect our citizens and our faithful from being abused solely on the ground of their racial origin. Therefore, during the past months we have incessantly tried by the spoken word and in writing to seek justice and to obtain the abolition of the offensive measures being taken against our fellow ­citizens.

"We are grateful for having been successful now and then in obtaining small concessions, but we have to state with sorrow and deep anguish that we did not get what we most insistently asked for: the suspension of the illegal deprivations and deportations. Confident in the Christian, Hungarian and humanitarian sentiments of the members of the Government, we waited patiently, and did not want to give up hope and refused until now to launch an official protest.

"Alas we see that all our efforts and discussions are ineffective on the most important issues. We, therefore, jointly raise our protesting voice and request the authorities to be conscious of their responsibilities before God and our nation, to respect divine law and remedy injustices immediately. The illegal measures they are making not only cause instability and divide the nation at the time of great tension, national calamity and struggle for survival, but turn public opinion of the Christian world against us and — what is most important — bring God's wrath upon us.

"As always we place our confidence in God and ask you, dear faithful people, to pray and act with us to obtain the triumph of Justice and of Christian love. Beware of taking on yourselves the fearful responsibility before God and mankind by approving of, or helping, the execution of the objectionable measures undertaken by the Government. Do not forget that you cannot serve your country's cause by condoning injustice. Pray and work for all our fellow­ citizens and especially for our Catholic brethren, for our Church and for our beloved country."

In the name of the Hungarian Episcopate
+ Justinian Serédi
Cardinal, Prince Primate, Archbishop of Esztergom

Budapest, 29 June 1944.

It is worth noting that while the tone of the letter demands action to stop the deportations, there is an underlying acceptance of the anti-Jewish laws as morally and legally valid.  

ADSS 10.207 Angelo Rotta to Luigi Maglione - persecution of Jews of Hungary and Note to Hungarian Prime Minister

On 23 May five trains carrying over 15,000 Hungarian Jews left for Auschwitz.

ADSS 10.207 Angelo Rotta to Cardinal Maglione

Reference: Report number 1095/44, N.Pr. 954 (AES 5591/44)

Location and date: Budapest, 23.05.1944.

Summary statement: The persecution of Hungarian Jews; steps taken by the Nuncio to help.

Language: Italian

Text:

On the thorny and painful issue of the anti-Jewish campaign in Hungary I thought it best to not limit myself only to verbal protest with the Hungarian Government, but also to send a [diplomatic] Note. (1)  I did not hope to get much, but the matter is now a documented stance on the part of the Nunciature and indirectly, the Holy See.

I sent the Note to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with an accompanying letter, of which I enclose a copy for you as well. (2)

Unfortunately, as I have already said in other Reports, there are certain elements in the Ministry of the Interior and especially in the two Undersecretaries of the Department of State, Endre and Baky, who have a veritable obsession against the Jews: it is mainly these two gentlemen who basically do as they please (3); while other people, even high-ranking politicians, do not approve of the cruelty with which the campaign is conducted, but out of fear or self-interest, do not dare protest.

About ten days ago, I also wrote to former Prime Minster Imredy (4) begging him, in confidence, to use his influence as a moderating force.  This morning he came to see me.  He was very polite and grateful for the trust shown in him.  He told me that he was not enthusiastic about the measures taken or their implementation; but he added that is was necessary to take into account the difficult conditions in Hungary – the current military situation with the Russians at the border, and the danger of internal revolutionary movements – in order to understand the vigorous measures against the Jews, the greater part of whom are sympathetic to the Bolsheviks. While he told me that he could not promise much, he did not fail to say a good word in the desired direction.

In the course of the conversation I did catch a glimpse of the possibility of a further participation [of Imredy]. Above all else he wishes to be in the Government.  This afternoon his appointment as Minister without Portfolio was announced with special responsibility for coordinating the activities of the Economics Ministry.

PS. 27.05.1944. I received at this time the response of the Ministry to the above Note:  I am sending to your eminence the original text.

Notes:

(1) A “diplomatic note” is the highest form of protest one government can make to another before severing diplomatic ties. Rotta’s note - Number 1058/44 of 15.05.1944; See Appendix 1.

(2)  See Appendix 2.

(3) See ADSS 10.172 n3.  Rotta uses the colloquial phrase “fanno il bello e il cattivo tempo” to describe Endre and Baky.

(4) Bela Imredy (1891-1946), Prime Minister of Hungary 1938-39.

(5) Dated 27.05.1944, number 234, Res. Pol/1944. Not published in ADSS.

APPENDIX 1

Angelo Rotta, Nuncio to Hungary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Original text is written in French]

Nr.1058/44

Budapest 15.05.1944

The Apostolic Nunciature has the honour to address the Royal Hungarian Government on this following matter:

The Apostolic Nunciature has not failed to repeatedly draw to the attention of the Royal Government the injustices in the public decrees published quite recently, to resolve the Jewish question and particularly the lack of discrimination for the Baptised and the inhuman manner in which these decrees are applied.

Until now any requests have remained without effect; on the contrary – as is apparent in this Nunciature – we have come to witness the deportation (even if the thing is disguised) of hundreds of thousands of people.  Everyone knows what the deportation means in practice.

The Apostolic Nunciature was informed about the abused committed yesterday by police in the premises of the Society of the Holy Cross, established by the Hungarian bishops as a religious institution for converted Jews. Police arbitrarily interrupted a religious instruction and threatened participants. (6)

For all that the Apostolic Nunciature feels obliged to protest; motivated, not by a false compassion, but a true sense of justice and Christian charity and for the defense of the sacred concerns of many thousands of Catholics, and so appeals once again to the Royal Hungarian Government that the campaign against the Jews does not exceed the limits of natural and divine positive law against which the Holy See could only protest energetically and with it, the conscience of the Christian world.

The Apostolic Nunciature takes the liberty of requesting:

1. A fundamental distinction between Jews and non-baptised Jews is made, so that Christians are free of the Antisemitic laws. (Even Slovakia has this distinction) (7);

2. That in all cases, in the measures the Royal Government might wish to adopt to safeguard the supreme interests of the state, the human rights of the person are always respected;

3. That the Royal Government will take suitable measures to precent the repetition of abuse or violations against persons or ecclesiastical institutions, such as the arbitrary intrusion by the police on the Society of the Holy Cross.

The Apostolic Nunciature hopes that the Royal Hungarian Government in its wisdom wishes to give a sympathetic response to this appeal in which is echoed the grief of the Holy Father, and not to contradict on this occasion the truly Christian and chivalrous spirit of the noble Hungarian Nation. (8)

Notes:

(6) Vilmos Apor (1892-1945), Bishop of Gyor wrote to the Prime Minister.  See ADSS 10.38.  Apor was the most pro-active of all the Hungarian bishops in defence of the Jews.  

In 1944 he travelled to Berlin to personally appeal for the release of the Jews of Gyor.  Soviet soldiers shot him as he tried to defend local women from being raped.  John Paul II beatified him a martyr in 1997. Yad Vashem named him as one of The Righteous of the Nations.

(7) See ADSS 10.153.  For the Slovakian legislation see ADSS 8.

(8) See ADSS 10.227.

Appendix 2

Angelo Rotta, Nuncio to Hungary to the Prime Minister

[Original text is written in French]

Nr.1059/44

Budapest 15.05.1944

The friendly welcome Your Excellency was kind enough to reserve for me on the first day of your appointment as Prime Minister and the assuring words addressed to me that have been repeated more than once, gave me full confidence that the new Royal Government would not do anything that could create difficulties for the Church.  I am still convinced of Your Excellency’s good will.

Nevertheless, such provisions were enacted while even more serious ones were being prepared, so that I am compelled to present this Note of protest and once again ask for the rights of the Church and her sons.

The mere fact of persecuting men for the sole reason of their race is a violation of natural law.  If God gave them life, nobody in the world has the right to remove them or to deny them the means by which he can keep it: at least they have not committed any crimes.  However the Antisemitic measures, quite aside form the consideration that many Jews by reception of baptism became Christians, are a serious offence against the Church and contradict the Christian nature of the state that Hungary, even today, is proud to profess.

If Slovakia, although a smaller country, and with her particular circumstances, has almost completely exempted Christians from provisions that affect Jews, why is it not possible for the Kingdom of St Stephen, a much larger country whose political and social structures reset on more solid foundations, to do the same?

Completed in full view of the world, I kept the Holy See informed of what is happening in Hungary, and I will also inform on the measures that are being prepared for the deportation of these unfortunate people which already being executed.  The Holy Father, who with much interest and fatherly love, follows the life of this nation – always remembering the grand manifestations of faith and attachment to the Church and the Holy See that was made during his 1938 visit to Budapest – is greatly pained, and I hope that in his capacity as Supreme Pastor of the Church, guardian of the rights of all her sons and defender of truth and justice, he may not be obliged to raise his voice in protest.

As a noble nation, which has justly earned the esteem of the world and as a vanguard of Christian civilisation, you do not want to deny this glorious past and sully your reputation by acts, which will remain as a stain for centuries to come.  We do not want give the enemies of Hungary arguments to accuse it of using methods she repudiates in the Bolshevik enemy of God and civilization!

For all that is noble in Hungary, I come again to Your Excellency that through your kindness, that while the Hungarian government does all it deems necessary for the defence of the country, these measures not be in contradiction to the law, natural and divine, and that the measures already adopted are modified according to the three points made in the attached note. (9)

Your Excellency will forgive me if I speak frankly.  It is because of the esteem in which I hold Your Excellency, for the uprightness of your principles and the good will that has been shown to me, and at the same time my love and attachment to Hungary, and after fifteen years living in Budapest, which I have learned to love and consider to be my homeland. (10)

I always pray for her [Hungary], so that she will remain always great, more prosperous and respected.  But many fear for her future and this torments me now: because the injustice that is being committed and – God does not will it! – innocent blood poured without any consideration, can not attract God’s blessing on the country, which is a blessing more necessary at this moment, a time so full of unknown dangers that even the most powerful feel unable to master.

Notes:

(9) Appendix 1.

(10) Angelo Rotta was nuncio to Hungary from 1930 to 1945.