Raoul Gustav Wallenberg

Swede. Raoul Gustav Wallenberg

Occupation:

diplomat

Date of Birth:

August 4, 1912

Place of Birth:

Stockholm, Sweden

citizenship:

Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden

Date of death:

July 17, 1947 (34 years)

Place of death:

Moscow, USSR

Father:

Raoul Oscar Wallenberg

Mother:

May Vising Wallenberg

Honors and Awards:

Raoul Gustav Wallenberg (Swedish Raoul Gustav Wallenberg, August 4, 1912, Stockholm -. 17 July 1947 [1], the Lubyanka, Moscow) - the Swedish diplomat who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. After the occupation by the Red Army in Budapest was arrested in January 1945, flown to Moscow and allegedly died in a Soviet prison. [2]

Raoul Wallenberg was born on August 4, 1912 in Kappsta commune Lidingö, near Stockholm, Sweden. Wallenberg's parents were married shortly before his birth. Father - Raoul Oscar Wallenberg, served as an officer in the navy in Sweden, he died of cancer three months before the birth of her son. Mother - May Vising Wallenberg, the daughter of a professor of neurology Pera Visinga [3].

Paternal belonged to the famous family in Sweden (Eng.), Russian., Of which there were many well-known Swedish diplomats and financiers. His grandfather - Gustav Wallenberg, a diplomat at the time of the birth of Raoul served as Ambassador of Sweden in Japan [3].

Wallenberg's maternal line was a descendant of one of the first representatives of the Jewish community in Sweden, a Jew by the name of Bendix, who became a goldsmith and passed into Lutheran [3].

In 1918, his mother remarried Fredrik von Dardel over, who then worked at the Swedish Ministry of Health. In this marriage were born two children - Nina and Guy von Dardel (Eng.) Russian, who later became a nuclear physicist.. Stepfather treated Raoul as a native children loved it. [3]

Raoul Wallenberg was engaged in the education of his grandfather. At first he gave his grandson to military training, and then sent to France to learn French. Before sending to France Wallenberg already owned Russian, German and English. As a teenager, Wallenberg became interested in architecture, so in 1931 he went to study architecture in Ann Arbor, University of Michigan. University, he graduated with honors, and was awarded a medal.

Employment in business

Despite the wealth and status of their family in Sweden, in 1933, he went to Chicago, where he worked in the Swedish pavilion "Chicago World's Fair" (Eng.) Russian .. In the summer of 1934, he visited his relatives in Mexico [3].

In 1935, Wallenberg returned to Stockholm, puts his project of a swimming pool for the competition and took second place. Since before his departure to the United States he had promised his grandfather, grandson wants to see a successful banker, do business, Wallenberg went to Cape Town (South Africa). Here he went to work in the familiar company of his grandfather. Raul selling building materials company in cases he traveled all over the country. Before leaving, he received from the employer's brilliant characterization [3].

In 1936, Wallenberg visits to Turkey of his grandfather, who served as the ambassador of Sweden in this country. Gustav Wallenberg grandson finds a new job, "the Dutch bank" in the territory of Mandatory Palestine, in the city of Haifa. In Haifa, he meets young Jews fleeing from Nazi Germany. This meeting made a deep impression on him. John Bierman, a researcher who has written a book about Wallenberg, notes that this could be due to the awareness of Raul's involvement with the Jewish people. [3]

Wallenberg was proud of belonging to Judaism, he spoke of himself at that time as follows: "A person like me, half Wallenberg and half Jew, you can not break". [3]

In 1937, the death of his grandfather Gustav. Now Raoul could do what he wanted. He become an architect could not due to the fact that the American diploma required confirmation to work in Sweden, and once again get behind the study Wallenberg did not want to, thought it was too late to study in twenty-five years. In addition, because of the "Great Depression" in Sweden a little built. Then he decided to go into business, a deal with a German Jew, who invented a new kind of zippers. The enterprise failed, then Raoul asked his uncle to Jacob for help. Jacob offered him to develop the project, which is intended to be used in the territory belonging to him a plot of land. In view of the start of the war, all construction was halted in the country, Raul was again left without work. [3]

Uncle Jacob gave him a job at the Central European Trading Company, owned by a Hungarian Jew Kalman Lauer. Eight months later, Wallenberg became a partner Lauer, one of the directors of the company. During this period he traveled extensively through Europe and lived in Stockholm, the hotel "Larkstad", had many friends and acquaintances. In keeping with common humanistic and liberal views, Raoul Wallenberg was terrified orders of the Nazis in Europe, but he could not change. Despite the excellent work performance, he did not like his work. [3]

Actress Vivek Lindfursh recalled that one evening Wallenberg told her about what was happening in Europe. With vehemence he recounted to her about how the Nazis cruelly persecuted the Jews. [3]

diplomatic service

Year of the memory of Raoul Wallenberg. Mark Hungary 2012

In July 1944, Wallenberg was appointed first secretary of the Swedish diplomatic mission in Budapest. Taking advantage of his diplomatic status, he gave many Jews Swedish "protective passports" that gave owners the status of Swedish nationals awaiting repatriation. Former director of the Special Archive of the USSR Anatoly Prokopenko argues that Soviet intelligence agent recruited by a conducted surveillance of Wallenberg in Budapest on this dossier, he discovered in 1991 in the main archive of the KGB [4].

He also managed by threats of punishment for war crimes to convince some of the German generals to carry out Hitler's orders on the removal of Jews to the death camps. Thus he prevented the destruction of the Budapest ghetto in the last days before the coming of the Red Army. If this theory is correct, the Wallenberg managed to save at least 100 thousand Hungarian Jews. In one only the Budapest ghetto at the time of the arrival of Soviet troops were 97 thousand Jews. A total of 800,000 Jews living in Hungary before the war, survived 204 thousand. Many of them owed their salvation to Raoul Wallenberg.

There are several versions later life Wallenberg. After the occupation of Budapest by Soviet troops 13 January 1945 together with his chauffeur V. Langfelder was arrested by the Soviet patrol in the International Red Cross building (in another version - he came to the location of the 151 th Infantry Division and asked for a meeting with the Soviet command; for the third version - was arrested by the NKVD on the apartment). After that he was sent to the commander of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, Malinovsky, who intend to communicate something. But on the way he was again detained and arrested by the Military Counterintelligence SMERSH. According to another version, after being arrested in the apartment Wallenberg was sent to the headquarters of the Soviet troops.

Professor Bengt Yangfeldt claims that Wallenberg in the car when his detention was found a lot of gold and jewels that have been entrusted to him by Jews. According to Yangfeldta, this could be a reason for the arrest, because the Soviet authorities could assume that this is an attempt to export the Nazi gold. Yangfeldt believes that all these values were abducted by Soviet counterintelligence, as they were not registered as property of Wallenberg with his arrest. In addition, he points out that the Soviet troops in Budapest, then looted the Swedish Embassy [5].

March 8, 1945 Budapest "Radio Kossuth" which was under Soviet control, reported that Raoul Wallenberg was killed during street fighting in Budapest.

At the end of the USSR

It is not contested that Wallenberg in Budapest taken to Moscow, where he was held in prison in the Lubyanka. There are indications of German prisoners, who were at that time in prison, in which they claim that communicated with Wallenberg through telegraph prison until 1947. After that, according to them, Raoul go somewhere [6].

After the disappearance of Wallenberg, Sweden made a few inquiries about his whereabouts, but the Soviet side reported that such information is not available. And in August 1947, Vyshinsky officially announced that Wallenberg in the Soviet Union and the Soviet authorities do not have about him is not known. But in February 1957, the Soviets acknowledged that Wallenberg was arrested and taken to Moscow, where he died of a heart attack July 17, 1947 [6].

The archive was discovered by the Russian Foreign Ministry note AY Wyszynski (№ 312-B on May 14, 1947), VM Molotov, which expresses a reason: "Because the Wallenberg case to date remains motionless, I ask you oblige comrade. Abakumov submit a certificate on the merits and proposals for their elimination. " May 18, 1947, VM Molotov on this document wrote a resolution: "Comrade. Abakumov. Please report to me. " July 7, 1947 Vyshinsky sent VS Abakumov a letter in which he asked to give an answer for the preparation of responses to the next appeal from the Swedish side. In the register of documents of the secretariats of the MGB and the Soviet Foreign Ministry registered letter Abakumov to Molotov on July 17, 1947, but it was not found in the archives. [6]

After the collapse of the USSR

In December 2000, the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia has decided to rehabilitate the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg and his driver Vilmos Langfeldera on the basis of the Russian Federation Law "On the Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression" from October 18, 1991. Relevant opinion of the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office approved the Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov. According to prosecutors, "during an inspection to establish the real reasons for his arrest and detention in prisons and Langfeldera Wallenberg, the actual circumstances of their death, the existence of the criminal case, the personal affairs of prisoners of war arrested or failed cases" [2]. In conclusion prosecution said [7]:

Wallenberg and Langfelder in January 1945, being employees of the Swedish Legation in Budapest, and Wallenberg, besides possessing diplomatic immunity of a neutral country, which is not at war against the Soviet Union, were arrested and detained under the guise of prisoners of war and detained for a long time until their death in the Soviet prisons on suspicion of spying for foreign intelligence services.

Conclusion The Prosecutor General's Office has been criticized. Historian and journalist Vladimir Abarinov believes that the prosecution could not be argued, what exactly was suspected Wallenberg and his driver, indicate the status in which they were kept in prison, and draw conclusions about the unfounded repression, if not actually found the case file [ 8].

In April 2010, American historians S. Berger and Birstein V. It was suggested that a version of the death of R. Wallenberg 17 July 1947 was false. During work in the Central Archive of the FSB, they found that 23 July 1947 Head of the 4 Division 3 of the main department of the Ministry of State Security of the USSR (military counterintelligence) Sergey Kartashov for 16 hours, questioned some "prisoner number 7" and Vilmos Langfeldera and Sandor Cato. Langfelder driver was Wallenberg. It is assumed that the "prisoner number 7", most likely, was Raoul Wallenberg [9].

The memory of Wallenberg

Wallenberg monument on the street. Wallenberg in Tel Aviv District Ramat Hahayal

Street them. R. Wallenberg in Jerusalem, Israel

Raoul Wallenberg Monument in London, UK

Plaque in Budapest, Hungary

Monument in Stockholm, Sweden

Plaque in Linkoping, Sweden

Wallenberg is one of the most famous people who saved Jews during the Holocaust. One of his biographers, Paul Levine wrote [10]:

Raoul Wallenberg was one of a relatively small number of Christian religion in Europe, which in the years 1933-1945. really tried to come to the aid of the Jewish brethren.

For services to humanity Wallenberg put monuments in many cities around the world, particularly in Stockholm, Budapest, New York, London, Moscow [11] Tel Aviv, Bratislava, Santiago and others.

November 26, 1963 the Israeli Institute of Holocaust and Heroism Yad Vashem awarded the Wallenberg title of Righteous Among the Nations. [12] In 1981, US Congressman Tom Lantos, one of the rescued Wallenberg in Hungary, initiated assignment Wallenberg an honorary US citizen. He is also an honorary citizen of Canada (1985), Hungary and Israel. In 1981, the United States was created by the Committee of Raoul Wallenberg - to "perpetuate the humanitarian ideals and the nonviolent courage of Raoul Wallenberg." Committee annually awards the prize Raoul Wallenberg persons carrying out these goals. In 1997, in his honor in the United States has issued a postage stamp. [13] July 26, 2012, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the US Congress, "in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during the Holocaust". [14]

Named in his honor

• Street in Berlin

• Streets in many cities of the State of Israel

• The Institute of Special Pedagogy and Psychology (ISPiP) in St. Petersburg

• Children's fund them. Raoul Wallenberg, Stockholm, Sweden

• Concerto for Orchestra memory of Raoul Wallenberg "Yellow Star" ( "Purim-spiel in the ghetto") Isaac Schwartz [15].

• Street in Washington, DC

• Street in Batumi

• Street in Mukachevo

• Street in Budapest

The culture

Raoul Wallenberg was the character of several film credits. In 1985 he was made a TV movie "Wallenberg: The Story of a Hero" (English Wallenberg:. A Hero's Story), the main role played by Richard Chamberlain. Director Kjell Grede took another movie about Wallenberg - "Good evening, Mr. Wallenberg" (English Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg.), Which was released in 1990, starring Stellan Skarsgård.

It is also about the fate of Wallenberg was shot several documentaries. One of them was shot in 1983 by David Harel, he was named "Raoul Wallenberg: buried alive" (born Raoul Wallenberg Buried Alive.). Another film - "Wallenberg: The Story of a Hero" (. English Wallenberg: A Hero's Story) was shot in 1985 Lamont Johnson. In addition, it was filmed "Raoul Wallenberg: Between the Lines" (born Raoul Wallenberg:. Between the Lines) - Karin Altmann, 1986 "The search for Wallenberg" (English Searching for Wallenberg.) - Robert L. Kimmel, 2001 [16] . In 2011, director Gregory Ilugdin took a script by Sergey Barabanov documentary "Solo for single owls" [17] [18].

Russian writer Edvard Radzinsky's novel "Josef Stalin. Last mystery 'claims through its literary character, the Georgian revolutionary Fuji, that the reason for the capture and death of Wallenberg's efforts to become the head of the Gestapo G. Muller use diplomatic ties Wallenberg for bargaining over conditions of their capture by Soviet troops, buy off the release of prisoners of concentration camps. "Wallenberg with such information, we do not want to leave at liberty" - said Fuji.

Writer Julian Semenov brought Wallenberg one of the novel "Despair" heroes - one of the series of books about the Soviet spy Stirlitz, offering their own interpretation of the diplomat's death.

In the novel brothers Vainer "executioner Gospel" by the mouth of the protagonist, the MGB officer, claimed that Raoul Wallenberg was still alive six years after his death, declared in 1947.