Page 37 of The Righteous

IT TOOK SEVERAL minutes for the call to John Pehle to be routed through to him at the Treasury Department.

Julia identified herself and mentioned that Theresa was by her side.

She reviewed the contents of the afternoon’s meeting and asked for John’s reaction.

What more did he know about the situation?

What did he advise? What was the WRB prepared to do?

“That’s a lot to digest,” Pehle said. “I will run it all by our group as soon as possible and assemble our recommendations. As for what we know about Hungary’s current situation, the WRB has sources, some very highly placed, and I will get their feedback.

You and Theresa are even better sources.

You’re on the ground in Budapest, and you’re privy to more current information.

At the WRB, we recently learned that Adolf Eichmann has been assigned to Hungary by the Nazi hierarchy. From what you tell me, he’s there now.”

“He is here now,” Julia answered. “He arrived three days ago and has set up headquarters in the Majestic Hotel. It’s in the German compound just to the north of Castle Hill.

It’s scary. That’s less than half a mile away from the Swiss embassy, where Theresa and I are staying.

We are trying to keep track of what Eichmann is doing at the present time, but we don’t have specific information on what he plans to do or when he plans to do it.

Some believe that he will soon begin to assemble Jewish families and send them north to the concentration camps.

That would be consistent with his historical behavior.

That is what he did in Holland, France, Belgium, Slovakia, and other places.

Despite his history, other people here prefer to adopt a wait-and-see attitude, believing that Regent Horthy will restore calm when he returns from his meeting with Hitler.

When and if he does return, Eichmann might leave. ”

Pehle answered, “We have not received information that Horthy is going to return. Our sources tell us that Horthy was placed under house arrest when he arrived at Klessheim, Austria. He was informed about Hitler’s Operation Margarethe, the plan that Germany will assume total control over Hungary.”

“This is Theresa, John. Hundreds of German soldiers are now on our streets, and Adolf Eichmann is here as well, but nothing internal has changed. Yet.”

“Our information is that Prime Minister Kállay has been removed and a Hungarian named Dome Sztójay was appointed in his stead,” Pehle said.

“Sztójay is fiercely loyal to the Nazi cause. Edmund Veesenmayer, a Nazi military commander, was appointed to help Sztójay govern. It seems as though Hungary is now becoming a German protectorate.”

“We had a meeting earlier today,” Julia said.

“Carl had arranged a secret meeting with a highly placed German diplomat. We weren’t told his name or anything else about him, except that he is an insider and very knowledgeable about the Nazi plans.

It was all hush-hush. The man told us that Regent Horthy is on his way home. ”

“Hmm. We hadn’t heard that,” Pehle said.

“There’s no doubt that you have access to better information than I do.

If Horthy returns, it will most likely be in a compromised state, now that Sztójay has been appointed.

I think our biggest concern is what will happen to the Hungarian populace, especially the Jewish populace, now that Eichmann is in residence and the government is changing.

You know as well as I that Eichmann is capable of clearing out tens of thousands of innocent people within a three- or four-month period. ”

“What is your advice for us, John? What should we do?”

“You and Theresa should pack your bags and leave at once. Don’t even bother packing your bags.

Carl Lutz should be able to arrange passage through Switzerland and back home.

You have Swiss IDs—that should keep you safe until you leave.

But beware—IDs are only effective as long as they are honored.

In the meantime, be careful and keep your eyes and ears open. ”

“That’s your advice, John?” Julia said. “You want us to pack up and leave? You sound like my father. You know why we came here. Isn’t it too soon to leave, when we haven’t accomplished anything yet? We came here to help refugees, and we haven’t done that.”

“I know your state of mind. If you are dead set against leaving at this time, and you want to stay to help Theresa’s family and the others, at least do this: Have it be a fluid decision.

Stay for the time being, but evaluate your situation as you go along.

Since you are staying in Budapest for the purpose of aiding refugees, we consider you to be valuable agents of the War Refugee Board.

The fact that Hungary is now the largest Jewish community in Europe places one million Jews in the refugee category and a prime focus of the WRB.

We very much appreciate your service as WRB agents. Take care of yourselves.”

“We will continue to contact you every day and provide information,” Julia confirmed. “If you learn anything or have advice, please contact me on Carl’s line.”

“If and when Jews are being told to move out of their homes and into a central location, or they are herded into ghetto areas, then it’s time to take action, and give me a call.

People will need whatever protection we can offer.

They will need escape routes and personnel to guide them.

Those who can’t or won’t escape will need places to stay out of sight, like you were able to provide in Holland. ”

“When you say ‘protection we can offer,’ are you referring to obtaining letters of protection?” Julia asked.

“In part. Those will have to come from neutral sources, not the United States, but we can help. Diplomatic letters of protection, fake IDs, and phony birth certificates are documents that save lives. Should the situation warrant it, they would be distributed in large amounts. In Hungary alone, we’re looking at almost a million Jews!

Carl Lutz is your number one overseer, and you should follow his directions.

He can furnish Swiss letters and IDs, but he’s only one man.

You will need more providers than just Carl.

Work on trying to develop and enlist other agents.

Here at the WRB, we should be able to give you the identities of possible contacts, representatives of neutral governments who will agree to issue diplomatic letters of immunity.

Carl will be able to help in that regard. ”

“Are there other countries that are willing to issue letters of diplomatic immunity that Germany will honor?” Julia asked. “Will they provide the same level of protection?”

“They have to come from governments that Germany recognizes as neutral. Even then, it’s not a sure thing.

Germany could change its mind. You of all people should remember that the Netherlands declared its neutrality and even entered into a neutrality pact with Germany, only to see it disregarded in 1940 when Germany overran the country.

At this time, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, and certain South American countries are considered neutral by German standards, and immunity and diplomatic credentials are honored. ”

Julia was quick to respond. “You mentioned Sweden as a neutral country. I know someone in Sweden. A very, very good friend.”

“It’s not enough to be a Swedish citizen or even a very, very good friend. One would have to be in a position of authority or dominance in Sweden to have the right to issue and distribute Swedish letters of protection. Who are you referring to?”

“My good friend Raoul Wallenberg. He is a prominent man in Sweden. Shall I reach out to him?”

“That wouldn’t be enough. He would have to be authorized by the Swedish government.

If you contacted him, he in turn would have to apply to the Swedish national cabinet, the prime minister, or even King Gustav to be clothed with proper authority.

If your friend is as prominent as you say, he would probably be well known at those levels, but the request should come from a diplomatic source like the US State Department. ”

“Can you make that happen, John? Can you have Sumner Welles make that request?”

“I can try, but it may be premature. Nothing is happening yet in Hungary to justify issuance of letters of protection for mass emigration. If steps were to be taken by Eichmann, or any of the German officers, to isolate the Jews or place them in immediate danger, the WRB would be justified in requesting, or having the State Department request, that Sweden appoint a diplomat to circulate those letters. Tell me the name of your friend again.”

“Raoul Wallenberg, and he is a terrific friend,” said Julia.

“He’s smart and comes from a very well-connected family in Stockholm.

I met him at the University of Michigan.

He graduated with a degree in architecture.

We were very good friends in college, and I trusted him.

I still do. His uncle is Jacob Wallenberg, a wealthy and responsible businessman.

He got Raoul a job with Kálmán Lauer, who does business all over Europe, including Budapest. Raoul has been to Budapest on business for Lauer, but he is not here right now. ”

“Okay. In the event that trouble starts in Hungary, I will immediately reach out to Sweden and other countries as well,” said John.

“I have another thought. Someone we know here in Washington is familiar with a group called the Aid and Rescue Committee of Budapest. It was formed in 1941 by Ottó Komoly and Israel Kasztner.”

“We know about them. Theresa’s family is friends with the Komolys, and Theresa went to school with their daughter. They all belong to the same synagogue.”

“Well, they are good people to know. The original goal of the Aid and Rescue Committee was to smuggle Jews out of Poland into Hungary. Hungary was safe for Jews, but in Poland, they were sentenced to death. The committee smuggled over one thousand Polish Jews into Hungary. Even last spring, in 1943, the committee was sending emissaries to Poland to search for any surviving Jews. Those who were found were also smuggled into Hungary, although Komoly’s committee is not smuggling Jews into Hungary anymore.

It’s too dangerous. Komoly has made arrangements with the Jewish Agency in Palestine, and they have jointly assisted refugees to immigrate there.

The committee has thus far been successful, but the WRB hasn’t heard from them in some time.

Presumably, they are still active. If I were you, I would try to reach out to Komoly or Israel Kasztner. ”

“I will talk to Carl about Raoul Wallenberg and Israel Kasztner,” said Julia. “I will also ask Carl to tell us what he knows about the Aid and Rescue Committee. Carl may know a way to put us in touch with them. He seems to know everybody.”

“Very good,” said Pehle. “Let me know what you find out. In the meantime, we’ll make plans to send a request out to Sweden for someone who can distribute Swedish letters of protection, should they become necessary.

We’ll be sure to mention Raoul Wallenberg.

Until then, take care of yourselves. Keep your eyes open.

Hungary is a powder keg that can blow at any moment.

Watch yourself! You are brave young women. ”

Theresa set the handset onto the cradle and said, “I think John is right. Eichmann has been sent here for a reason, and Hungary is a powder keg.”

“Then we should be lining up contacts right now,” Julia answered.

“The moment Eichmann begins to make Hungary Judenfrei , the moment he starts going through the neighborhoods and isolating innocent people, that is the moment it is too late to start. We have to be prepared before then. Our best bet is to follow John’s intuition and meet with anyone and everyone who can assist.”

“Right. I agree. Who do we meet with first?”

“Obviously Carl,” said Julia. “The entire defense should be coordinated through Carl. He has the power, the connections, the good sense, and the ability to save the largest number. If I know Carl, he is already thinking along the same lines.”

“I want to meet with Joel Brand,” Theresa said. “Sammy knows him well, and I’m sure he could arrange a meeting with him, but my brother is always so busy, and it’s not easy to talk to him.”

“I have an idea,” Julia said with a devious smile. “What if your mother was to arrange one of her fabulous family dinners? How could Sammy turn her down? I saw him chow down last time when he brought his gorgeous girlfriend.”

“Alana. Her name is Alana. It’s a good idea, but there isn’t any reason to have a big celebration right now. It’s nobody’s birthday.”

“What about holidays?” Julia suggested. “Is there a holiday coming up?”

“Passover is in two weeks, but I don’t like that idea,” Theresa said, shaking her head.

“Even though Passover is the story of the Jewish exodus away from a cruel dictator named Pharaoh, it’s wrong to invite the family to a religious holiday on false pretenses.

You can’t ask them to come to a Pesach meal and change the subject to talk about Eichmann and escape routes.

We should tell the truth. We could invite them all to a family dinner, say it’s very important, and leave it at that. ”

“You’re right. Let’s be honest. It is better to talk to everyone at the same time, and a dinner would accomplish that, but your mother and father would have to be on board.”

“I agree. I’ll talk to Anya and make sure that she is willing to host under those circumstances.

We can offer to help and take her grocery shopping.

We can promise that there won’t be any arguments at the table, that we just want everyone to know the present state of affairs.

If she agrees, then we can go talk to Apa.

If either one disagrees, then a dinner is out of the question. ”