Gestapo-like terror of Jews and their Hungarian saviours

When we hear the term war heroes, we instantly think about soldiers in their uniforms being awarded a medal for their merits in a war. They are heroes indeed, but in every war, there were those people who did not get mentioned or received any recognition for their actions.

When it comes to the Second World War, Hungary had many ordinary civilians who risked their lives, not only to protect the country, but also to save Jewish friends from certain death.

We know of hundreds of Hungarians who were brave enough to hide or help Jews escape, even if they were total strangers to them.

Honouring their bravery, we would like to introduce some of them.

In the Winter of 1945, the “nyilasok”, members of a radical right-wing death squad, the Arrow Cross Party, only needed a gun and an armband to do whatever they wanted to in the capital without any retribution.  András Kun, the commander of the anti-semitic group, together with his companions massacred hundreds of people in two hospitals and a nursing home – writes szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu.

“The majority of Jews living in Budapest tried to survive in ghettos at these times, only a small group of them was deported.” – says historian Balázs Lenthár.

However, it would be a mistake to think that the whole population was watching the events senselessly.  

In the 12^th district on the Apor Vilmos Square, we can find the Igazak Fala – The Wall of True People with the names of those carved who were saving people during WWII.

The Jad Vashem Remembrance Center awarded the majority of them, but we aim to also mention those who had not received this honour. Most of these people’s names are utterly unknown for Hungarians as well, even though they lived just in the neighbourhood of our parents or grandparents. Moreover, some of them are actually here today thanks to them.

Ferenc Kálló, a priest, helped Jews until the end, even if he had to do so in secret. From 1944 he saved hundreds of people but unfortunately with time he became suspicious. He was tricked into going and giving the final unction to someone on his death bed. His body was found the next day – a bullet killed him.

Dr Kálmán Zolnay, despite working in the Ministry of Justice, could not agree with the anti-semitic politics in the country.

He saved the wife, the son and the unborn child of one of his friends who was taken for labour service. Moreover, he used his own apartment in the capital to save people. Finally, Zolnay had to hide as well, as none other than András Kun himself moved to the building he lived in.