Skip to content

NEWS

In response to those who killed

    Google translation from russia. Rearranged by Maribeth Barber.

    Swedish businessman and diplomat Raoul Gustav Wallenberg was born on August 4, 1912 to one of the wealthiest families in Sweden. He studied at the University of Michigan (USA), where he received his diploma in architecture. In 1936 he went to work in Haifa (then part of Palestine).

    He returned to Sweden in 1939 and became a partner in Kalman Lauer’s Hungarian export-import firm. In the summer of 1944, as the first secretary of the Swedish Mission, Wallenberg went to Budapest. Hungary, in March 1944, had been invaded by German troops. Taking advantage of his diplomatic immunity, Wallenberg saved, according to various sources, from 20 to 100 thousand Jews by issuing them Swedish passports. He placed them in specially purchased houses that were proclaimed as Swedish property, and thus were protected by international law. He also bribed German and Hungarian officials, promising ample supplies in exchange for Jewish lives.

    On January 13, 1945, Wallenberg was arrested by the Soviet patrol in the International Red Cross building in Budapest. (In another version of the story, he came to the location of the 151st Infantry Division and asked for a meeting with the Soviet command. According to a third account, he was arrested at his apartment.) After being questioned, he was sent under guard to Debrecen for a meeting with the commander of the Second Ukrainian Front, Rodion Malinovsky, who wanted to speak with him. On the road he was again detained and arrested by military intelligence (in another account, he was sent to the headquarters of a group of Soviet troops after being arrested in his apartment).

    Read More »In response to those who killed

    Journalist seeks release of secret files on top-Nazi Eichmann

      “BERLIN (AP) _ The basics of Adolf Eichmann’s story are well documented: Commonly known as the “architect of the Holocaust” for his role in coordinating the Nazi genocide policy, he fled Germany, was captured in Argentina by Israel’s Mossad, and hanged after trial in Jerusalem.

      But Germany’s intelligence service, the BND, is sitting on 4,500 pages of files on Eichmann a reporter thinks could fill in gaps about his postwar life: Who helped him escape? How much did Germany know about where he was? Is there more to the story of his capture?

      The files could also help shed light on claims that the Vatican helped war criminals hide or escape after World War II _ allegations church officials have always strenuously denied.

      Read More »Journalist seeks release of secret files on top-Nazi Eichmann

      “R. Wallenberg Fate” with A. Prokopenko

        In the Moscow studio were Anatoly Prokopenko, former chairman of the Special Section of the State Central Archives of USSR; Ilia Altman, Director of the society “Holocaust”.

        The title of the session was “Raoul Wallenberg’s fate” and the parties agree that more needs to be done in order to ascertain the fate and whereabouts of the Swedish hero.

        Anatoly Prokopenko remarked “And as you know the Commission included people from the KGB, as it was called then.

        Read More »“R. Wallenberg Fate” with A. Prokopenko

        Hur sjönk “Sten Sture”?

          Den 25 januari 1947 försvann det svenska handelsskeppet S/S ”Sten Sture”. Fartyget hade levererat malm till Gdansk och var destinerad till Helsingborg med last av kol. Ombord fanns minst 18 besättningsmän, bland dem sjökapten Gösta Rudnert.

          Det förmodades under alla år att fartyget förlist nordost om Bornholm efter att ha seglat på en mina. Stewarden Manfred Jönssons kropp flöt i land på Bornholm i april 1947. Den övriga besättningen förmodades också ha drunknat, och inga övriga undersökningar genomfördes.
          I februari 1948 försvann ytterligare två svenska fartyg utanför Gdansk, ”Kinnekulle” och ”Iwan”, med totalt 18 personer ombord.Medan bara vrakdelar påträffades av ”Iwan” återfanns ”Kinnekulle” flytande men tom på danskt vatten.

          Read More »Hur sjönk “Sten Sture”?

          Responses of the Central Archive of the Russian FSB on the questions of experts S. Berger and B. Birstein in the case of Raoul Wallenberg

            Google translation from russia:
            Embassy of Sweden
            Moscow
            Chief of the Central Archives of the Russian FSB
            Mr. A. Trambitskomu
            MoscowRegarding the responses of the Central Archive of the Russian FSB on the experts’ questions
            C. Berger and B. Birshtein in the case of Raoul Wallenberg
            Dear Trambitsky!
            I hereby wish to thank the Central Archive of the Russian Federal Security Service, through you for the informative material, including answers to questions by experts C. Berger and B. Birshtein and conclusions of the archive in the case of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish side of the transmitted № 581 from November 2, 2009. At present, our experts continue to analyze the material. Mrs. Berger is going to Moscow next spring.
            We read with great interest the responses of the FSB, especially with what is said about the use of the term “held” in connection with several key interrogation in July 1947, as well as very high probability that the prisoner number 7, which questioned 22 and 23 July , was Raoul Wallenberg.
            If this hypothesis is confirmed, it will be a new, almost sensational fact to determine the fate of Wallenberg, given the importance that is still attached to the day of 17 July 1947, which is dated as Abakumov letter to Molotov on Wallenberg, and report Smoltsova.
            The Russian side proceeds from the fact that July 17 is the date of death of Wallenberg, the Swedish side also believes that in this day there have been developments of decisive importance for the fate of Wallenberg.
            It is therefore imperative to find more information about what events might have occurred during the 17 to 23 July, and, above all, to get an opportunity to discuss what can be done on this issue.
            Mr Trambitsky, would be very grateful for your recommendations for further action.Sincerely,

            Thomas Bertelman,
            Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
            Ambassador of Sweden to the Russian Federation

            Read More »Responses of the Central Archive of the Russian FSB on the questions of experts S. Berger and B. Birstein in the case of Raoul Wallenberg

            The Fight of Their Lives

              By Susanne Berger Judisk Krönika, November 2009
              Independent consultant to the Swedish Russian Working Group on the fate of Raoul Wallenberg (1991-2001)

              When Raoul Wallenberg disappeared into the Soviet Union in January 1945, his parents, Maj and Fredrik von Dardel, began a desperate, three decade long struggle to save their son. A closer reading of Fredrik’s diary – a meticuluous chronicle of the couple’s efforts – shows the enormous obstacles they faced. Surprisingly many of these remain stubbornly in place today.

              Read More »The Fight of Their Lives

              Letter to 10 Presidents and Prime Ministers

                Your Excellencies, Some of you may be aware of our ongstanding correspojndance with the Europeen Parliament (copies enclosed) and your governments. For your information, with reference to the Russian government’s position on the Wallenberg case, the Russian government has officially rehabilitated Raoul Wallenberg… -> More