The main reason to go to Budapest, beside meeting up with Marco, was to pick up a very special document. Some weeks ago I was contacted via my website if I would be interested in a RAOUL WALLENBERG SCHUTZPASS (Protection letter). Yes, you read correct. A second WALLENBERG was available within just 3 months! Unbelievable! I know only two passport collectors having this important document in their own collection. Mainly you will find them in Holocaust Museums but even there, they are very rare to see. Well, here is the picture of the precious collectible.
Eva (Léderer) Lánczi (October 18, 1918–February 25, 1988) was a soprano opera-singer.
Between 1945–49 she worked at the National Theater in Szeged, and between 1949–1975 at Budapest Opera.She is buried at Farkasréti Cemetery, Budapest.
Beside this document I could aquire two more documents which are not less important when it comes to life-saving documents during the Holocaust. The next two pictures showing a CARL LUTZ – SCHUTZPASS. The first picture is the original and the second picture is the original COPY of a CARL LUTZ – SCHUTZPASS, which has a printed embassy stamp and signature. By now it is not clear for me for what this copy was used for. Maybe for the embassies files? I need to investigate more on this document.
Till now I was already blessed to find these 3 significant documents but the story is not yet finished…
Visiting antique bookstores in Budapest and asking for old passports can be a odd task but if you read further it can end in a very exciting result. To make the story short I found also a SCHUTZBRIEF issued by the SWEDISH RED CROSS and signed by the Swedish righteous VALDEMAR LANGLET.
WALLENBERG, LUTZ and LANGLET are three of the most notable people saving Jews from the extermination by the Nazis. All three are most important when we talk about the Hungarian Jews and all three are honored by the State of Israel as “Righteous among the Nations”.
Again, to make it clear – if you find ONE of these documents then you should be already very happy but if you find THREE of such significant documents during your research then you are just speechless! I am very glad that I can again hand over some of these outstanding documents to a Holocaust foundation.
In 2005 the Carl Lutz Foundation established a Memorial Room in the former garage of the building. The building of Vadász utca 29 (street) was designed by the architect Lajos Kozma in the 30s of the last century as a business center for the Weiss family, dealer of glassware products for building construction. The Hungarian legislation banned the Jewish owner from exercising his profession. The Swiss Embassy’s Emigration Department for Representing Foreign Interest opened in the desolated building July 24, 1944.
The Memorial Room shows a small exhibition, however it is a interesting one also displaying several original Schutzpasses. I do recommend a visit there.
When I was there on August 3rd there was a special event “Day of Humanity” with high ranking officials including the Hungarian Cultural Minister and German Ambassador. I could follow the speeches live by a English translation headset. Two Hungarian Jews reported about there life at this time back in 1944. They are today 95 and 105 years old.
I have to say the Holocaust exhibition is ok but the museum is designed in very dark rooms which I didn`t liked. By today I belive the Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London has still one of the best Holocaust exhibitions in Europe. I haven`t seen the museums in Washington or Jerusalem yet.
My three day trip to Budapest was very fruitful and educating also I got new contacts to document dealers. The city was very hot these days (up to 35°C) and now I am relaxing in refreshing Berlin where I am writing this article.
Enjoy the report and pictures.
