Historical context
During a worldwide time of crisis and chaos, one hundred thousand lives were saved due to the efforts and values of one man, Raoul Wallenberg. Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, was born in 1912, into a very wealthy family which greatly benefited him. After graduating from Michigan University in 1935, he got involved with the genocide in Germany, and acted against the treatment of racial and religious diversity led by Adolf Hitler during the time period between 1933 and 1945. He became an inspirational leader with sense of bravery and selflessness, saving as many lives as he could. Wallenberg used his intelligence and skill in order to save the lives of thousands of Jews in surrounding countries through Europe. Wallenberg grew up in Sweden, and later traveled around Europe and Germany in order to achieve his seemly unrealistic goals at the time, saving Jews and helping stopping the genocide.
Wallenberg’s father died before he was born, leaving him with just his mother, who later remarried and had two more children, and his grandfather who helped through a great education. Raoul studied architecture in Michigan University, but after graduating in 1935 there were no jobs for architects in Sweden. Consequently, Wallenberg accepted a position in a company in South Africa and worked for a Jew as a banker in Palestine. While working, he got to know many Jews who escaped from Germany and who told him some of the cruel actions of the Nazis. This knowledge affected him deeply inspiring him to do more. In a letter to his grandfather, he wrote, “I want to do something more positive than sit behind a desk all day saying no to people” (Gale). Afterwards, he traveled to various places and witnessed many horrors involving the Jews.
Wallenberg’s father died before he was born, leaving him with just his mother, who later remarried and had two more children, and his grandfather who helped through a great education. Raoul studied architecture in Michigan University, but after graduating in 1935 there were no jobs for architects in Sweden. Consequently, Wallenberg accepted a position in a company in South Africa and worked for a Jew as a banker in Palestine. While working, he got to know many Jews who escaped from Germany and who told him some of the cruel actions of the Nazis. This knowledge affected him deeply inspiring him to do more. In a letter to his grandfather, he wrote, “I want to do something more positive than sit behind a desk all day saying no to people” (Gale). Afterwards, he traveled to various places and witnessed many horrors involving the Jews.
Europe at the time was in a delicate position, World War One had left its mark. WWI started in 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) but it officially began when Germany invaded Belgium in August 4, 1914. Horrible times came until finally on June 28 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed by Germany ending WWI, this treaty limited Germany’s power in their army and asked for the repairing of the disaster WWI had created. A lot of events occurred during the time period between WWI and WWII but what really influences the story of the great leader Raoul Wallenberg was when in 1933 Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany to then in 1934 start increasing the size of the army leading directly to the start of World War Two.
In 1941, Hungary formed an alliance with Germany in World War Two, but after a heavy loss in their army, Hungary’s government tried to negotiate peace with the other countries involved in the war such as the U.S, Great Britain, The Soviet Union, and France. Germany rejected the idea of an alliance with the other countries, and in 1944 took over control in surrounding areas. Hungary in this time was house of around seven hundred thousand Jews, who were now all in danger. The ambassadors of neutral countries stationed in Hungary helped the Jews by giving them “protective passports” or in other words gave them the rights to be treated as citizens of the country, thus saving them from the Nazi Party. Wallenberg took this opportunity with the connections he had, to rescue hungarian Jews even though there was a high personal risk. Wallenberg said “If I can help, If I can save a single person, I will go” and he went to work at the Swedish Embassy located in Budapest.
In 1941, Hungary formed an alliance with Germany in World War Two, but after a heavy loss in their army, Hungary’s government tried to negotiate peace with the other countries involved in the war such as the U.S, Great Britain, The Soviet Union, and France. Germany rejected the idea of an alliance with the other countries, and in 1944 took over control in surrounding areas. Hungary in this time was house of around seven hundred thousand Jews, who were now all in danger. The ambassadors of neutral countries stationed in Hungary helped the Jews by giving them “protective passports” or in other words gave them the rights to be treated as citizens of the country, thus saving them from the Nazi Party. Wallenberg took this opportunity with the connections he had, to rescue hungarian Jews even though there was a high personal risk. Wallenberg said “If I can help, If I can save a single person, I will go” and he went to work at the Swedish Embassy located in Budapest.
There was a sizable amount of dominant issues around the time of Wallenberg’s great existence. The major dominant issues on this time period consist of the Holocaust and World War Two. In short, World War Two, which started with the occupancy of Poland on September 1st, 1939 and ended debatably in September of 1945, in Japan, was the fight against tyranny, involving the majority of the world including Japan, Germany, United States, and more. The Holocaust, which happened during the time of World War Two, was when the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler became ruthless and extremely violent. In 1933 when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, he aspired to conquer the world and become the greatest leader of all time. As a result of his extreme aspirations, he began to target Jews and other minorities with violence to drive them out of the population, in order to create the “ideal” world. In 1945 Hitler is defeated by the Allies and the Holocaust came to an end.
The Holocaust and World War Two had the greatest impact on Wallenberg because that was the cause of his leadership and reason to save minorities facing the violence. Wallenberg was facing against the German Army and going directly against Hitler’s beliefs, which most likely caused Wallenberg’s disappearance. Specifically, the event that significantly impacted Wallenberg’s life would be when he decided to become involved in the fight against the Nazis during the Holocaust. This affected him because it completely altered his life. For example, he began going directly against a dictator who had been ruling with immense amounts of power for many years. Wallenberg became an inspirational leader throughout the entire world, because of these essential time periods and events towards history, and the way the world is today.
The moment Wallenberg arrived to Budapest, he began to communicate with the Neutral Ambassadors, and even with high ranked Nazis like Eichmann. Adolf Eichmann was the man in charge of the deportation of the hungarian Jews to their deaths. Wallenberg started making thousands of protective passports, and to speed up production, he set up a special branch with the Swedish embassy. The workers there were dedicated to their production and hired around four hundred people, mostly Jews, to work on the passports. This provided a safe place to work and a safe environment to hide from the Nazis.
The Jews also faced the danger of being killed by the The Arrow Cross Party, which was a national socialist party, who controlled the Hungarian government and also was a threat to the minorities being targeted. To prevent the violence from the Arrow Cross Party, Wallenberg opened thirty two buildings that he called “safe houses” in Budapest where he housed around twelve thousand of Jews. These buildings were considered extensions of Swedish territory and as a result were protected from the Nazi’s.
But, In order to truly understand the reasoning behind Wallenberg's impressive leadership style, one must know all about forces he selflessly went against in order to fulfill his goals as the inspirational leader he truly was. Wallenberg fearlessly challenged the Germans with his actions. He personally confronted Eichmann, who was personally responsible for an attempt to kill Wallenberg.
The Holocaust and World War Two had the greatest impact on Wallenberg because that was the cause of his leadership and reason to save minorities facing the violence. Wallenberg was facing against the German Army and going directly against Hitler’s beliefs, which most likely caused Wallenberg’s disappearance. Specifically, the event that significantly impacted Wallenberg’s life would be when he decided to become involved in the fight against the Nazis during the Holocaust. This affected him because it completely altered his life. For example, he began going directly against a dictator who had been ruling with immense amounts of power for many years. Wallenberg became an inspirational leader throughout the entire world, because of these essential time periods and events towards history, and the way the world is today.
The moment Wallenberg arrived to Budapest, he began to communicate with the Neutral Ambassadors, and even with high ranked Nazis like Eichmann. Adolf Eichmann was the man in charge of the deportation of the hungarian Jews to their deaths. Wallenberg started making thousands of protective passports, and to speed up production, he set up a special branch with the Swedish embassy. The workers there were dedicated to their production and hired around four hundred people, mostly Jews, to work on the passports. This provided a safe place to work and a safe environment to hide from the Nazis.
The Jews also faced the danger of being killed by the The Arrow Cross Party, which was a national socialist party, who controlled the Hungarian government and also was a threat to the minorities being targeted. To prevent the violence from the Arrow Cross Party, Wallenberg opened thirty two buildings that he called “safe houses” in Budapest where he housed around twelve thousand of Jews. These buildings were considered extensions of Swedish territory and as a result were protected from the Nazi’s.
But, In order to truly understand the reasoning behind Wallenberg's impressive leadership style, one must know all about forces he selflessly went against in order to fulfill his goals as the inspirational leader he truly was. Wallenberg fearlessly challenged the Germans with his actions. He personally confronted Eichmann, who was personally responsible for an attempt to kill Wallenberg.
To further continue the research of Raoul Wallenberg, the highly educated and influential diplomat from Sweden, there is much more knowledge to be found. Yet we question how Wallenberg was able to save thousands of Jews, and work directly against the Nazi’s, while having such close ties with the Germans and such power, influence, and commitment to the Swedish Embassy? How did he get away with it for as long as he did? in other words What enabled Wallenberg to be a leader in Nazi resistance during World War Two? More research and knowledge may continue to further expand our understanding of Wallenberg’s brave actions for a greater cause.