Per Anger – an angel in a dark period of time
1946 Lebanese passport with an interesting visa.
One of the darkest moments of mankind and another devastating chapter of World War Two was the German occupation of Hungary towards the end of the conflict that ravaged the continent for over 5 years by then.
During the German occupation, the final solution was being implemented to the full. Adolf Eichmann was sent to Hungary to take charge of the deportation of country’s Jewish population and in a period of about 10 weeks 437,000 Jews were sent to their deaths in Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland.
Jews were being herded towards the capital from all over the country, with scores being shipped away as cattle or just NUMBERS to their death to neighboring occupied Poland. For those who wanted to live and survive, all means and all threads of hope were grasped and no stone was left unturned.
But salvation, not to all but to some, would come from unexpected sides, parties who where up to that moment silent, cold and unwilling to do the right thing when it was needed most.
Foreign diplomats began to take steps forward, with and without consent of their superiors, to assist and help those who were facing death head on. Diplomats posted to Budapest began to act. Finally, mankind was awaking from years of sleep and indifference.
A Swedish diplomat named Per Anger was posted to the Hungarian capital as 2nd Secretary to the diplomatic mission on November 1942. It was his actions that began issuing of temporary Swedish passports and life-saving-certificates following the German invasion of the country in 1944, a move that encouraged others to do the same and assist the Hungarian Jews being hunted sown by Adolf Eichmann. Today, many families around the world can appreciate more their survival and thriving due to the actions of this amazing individual who faced evil back in those dark hours.
The short article here will present an example of his applied signature to a passport. But not to one issued dung the war but to one that was used afterwards, during his early post-war postings. Around 1946 he was sent to the Swedish legation in Cairo, and here we can find the interesting visa issued inside a 1945 Lebanese passport, issued to the Honorary Consul of Iraq Jack Bassili.
I am always reminded that, sadly, our world lacks brave and courageous men, and has more of self centered and selfish individuals who put their welfare first and not mankind and the good that can be offered and shared. Current events worldwide are proof of what we are truly are, even if it is not easy or “comfortable” to hear and accept.
Small image source: Yad Vashem on-line source.
Thank you for reading “Our Passports”.
