Exceptional Spanish passport - Our Passports
56606
single,single-post,postid-56606,single-format-gallery,eltd-core-1.0.1,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,borderland child-child-ver-1.0.0,borderland-ver-1.8,vertical_menu_enabled, vertical_menu_left, vertical_menu_width_290,smooth_scroll,paspartu_enabled,paspartu_on_top_fixed,paspartu_on_bottom_fixed,vertical_menu_inside_paspartu,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.9,vc_responsive
  • Exceptional Spanish passport
  • 1
  • Spanish diplomat Sebastian de Romero life-saving passport.
  • WW2 Jewish refugee life-saving passport
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Spanish diplomat Sebastian de Romero life-saving document.
  • 8
  • 9
  • Sebastián de Romero Radigales visa.
January 20, 2023
in Holocaust, Passports, WWII
by Neil
0 Comments

Exceptional Spanish passport

 

Life-saving documents.

 

As a collector and researcher, it is always important to keep updated on material published and researched by others, be it private individuals or public institutions that bring out to the public relevant information that concerns important events from the war.

 

A few years ago, I was made aware of a Spanish individual who during the war took a courageous decision and put his inner beliefs and high moral values before his official obligations as a diplomat while posted abroad. One had to come to terms with what was more important and significant, ones’ personal safety and comfort or that of those who needed assistance and saving. Lucky for history and of course for those who met him during those harsh times, this individual decided to act in a humane way, putting values first.

 

Sebastián de Romero Radigales was posted to Greece, Athens, three times: 1937-38, 1939-40 and from April 1943 at the time of the German occupation of Greece.

 

Sebastian de Romero personally felt close and responsible for the Jewish community of Salonika who were of Sephardic decent. These Jews originated from Spain and Portugal centuries ago and were expelled during the 15th Century. Many ended up in north Africa, the Levant and Greece as well. More can be learned via the above links.

 

During his 3rd term in Athens, de Romero decided to help the Jewish community, especially those who had Spanish papers. He wanted to issue them entry visas to Spain and help them before the Germans could put their hands on them. Though his government made it very difficult for him to assist the Jews, by issuing strict requirements for those who wanted to enter the country on March 18th, he was able to issue life-saving ID’s and passports to around 300 Jewish men, women and children. Many of those ended up in the German concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen, where they spent time from August 13th 1943 to February 2nd 1944. Today we can say that about 367 Jewish refugees from Salonika were interned by the Germans until their release and safe travel via Vichy France into Spain via the border crossing at Cerbère, south-eastern tip of France bordering with Spain (more can be read on Spain’s’ activities during the war via this link). Sadly, other Jewish families from the capital were not as fortunate and found their death in German Extermination camps. More can be read on the fate of the Jewish community of Greece here.

 

He was awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations by Israel’s Yadvashem institute in 2014.

 

I have added several images of a 1943 Spanish consular passport issued and signed by Sebastian de Romero, and IDs issued as well by him. Also, a Spanish passport from Jerusalem post-war with a visa signed by him while still posted to Athens, 1947.

 

We are all truly grateful to this courageous individual and others who acted bravely as he did during those harsh long 6 years of war that took the lives of millions.

 

 

Smaller image source: Yad Vashem.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading “Our Passports”.

 

 

 

 

Neil Kaplan
No Comments

Post a Comment