Swiss Embassy, Albert Karolyi
1944 October 23, Front side - Letter granted to Albert Karolyi from Swiss Legation under direction of Carl Lutz.
Tan letter with printed and typed text in German and Hungarian using black ink. At the top center is the red and white cross emblem of Switzerland. At the center is a red overprint stamp from the Legation of Switzerland in Budapest.
Name/Title
Swiss Embassy, Albert KarolyiEntry/Object ID
2014.1.2Scope and Content
1944 October 23, letter granted to Albert Karolyi from Swiss Legation under direction of Carl Lutz.Context
Valdemar Langlet was a well-connected Swedish publisher, Swedish linguistic lecturer at the University of Budapest, and a leader of the Swedish Red Cross in 1944. Along with his wife Nina Borovko-Langlet, they are credited with saving thousands of Jews from deportation to almost certain death at Auschwitz. Beginning in May 1944 Langlet (72 years old at this time) began issuing Swedish “Schutzbrief” letters of protection suggesting that the holders were waiting for Swedish nationality and could not be harmed or deported. With approval of authorities to issue 400 Schutzbrief, by July 1944 Langlet and his Red Cross volunteers had already “fabricated” at least 4,000 booklets that looked like passports that kept the Hungarian Police German Nazi patrols at arm’s length. Langlet, the self-appointed Chief Operations Officer of the Swedish Red Cross, had no authority to do anything and the operation was not known to Sweden until much later. Knowing his respect from the Hungarian authorities would not last, Langlet bypassed the Swedish Ambassador and managed to get a translated report about Auschwitz to Swedish King Gustav V which set in motion a temporary halt to deportations and in July the arrival of Raoul Wallenberg to Budapest to head the Swedish as consular secretary. Raoul Wallenberg was inspired by Langlet and used same method to issue “formal” Letters of Protection renamed to a “Schutz-Pass.” Langlet also created the concept of “Safe Houses” that would also be implemented by diplomats Carl Lutz and Raoul Wallenberg later in 1944. After the war, the Langlet’s returned to Sweden. In 1965, Valdemar and Nina Langlet were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, Israel. *Under Review: The accompanying Schutzbrief was issued on October 12, 1944 to Mr. Albert Karolyi and his wife Erzsebet Neumann. A signature of “Langlet Valdemar” appears on the bottom page 3. Another signature on page 5 (see reverse side of this exhibit piece) might be a signature of “Langlet”? In both cases more research required to verify if he signed one, both or if volunteers signed on his behalf. Also note that on October 23rd Albert and Mrs. (Frau) Karolyi were each issued a Protective Letter from the Swiss Legation under the direction of Carl Lutz. Most likely an unusual bit of luck to have some form of protection from two countries. More research required.Collection
Righteous Among the NationsCategory
Letter
Philatelic Material