At the time of the outbreak of the war, there were about 200,000 Jews in Budapest. Until the German occupation in March, 1944, the Jewish community lived in relative comfort and security. After the German occupation, provincial Jews were systematically concentrated and deported. Under the Horthy regime, deportations of Jews were stopped, but in October, 1944, this regime fell and was replaced by a Nazi backed regime under the infamous Arrow Cross Party. Beginning in November, 1944, over 70,000 Jews were deported. At this time, many neutral diplomats (such as Raoul Wallenberg) exerted great efforts to rescue Budapest Jewry. Many Jews were provided with Schutzpasses (protective documents) which placed holders under diplomatic protection. Most of the deported Jews were sent on a death march to the Austrian border. Due to the approach of the Russian army, many of these marchers were saved. At the time the city was liberated on January 17, 1945, there were about 70,000 Jews left in the ghetto.
Below is a thumbnail of a cover dated April 2, 1940, from the Welfare Bureau of Hungarian Jews to the HICEM organization (Hebrew Immigration Society) office in Santiago, Chile. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Cover" in the left frame to return.
Below is a thumbnail of a form from the Judenrat in Budapest that Stein Lajos was unable to serve in earth moving labor. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Document" in the left frame to return.
Encyclopedia Judaica, CD-Rom Edition, Keter Publishing
Spector, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust (2001), P. 213-18
Copyright © 2003 Edward Victor