Eighty years ago, two trains brought around 1700 Hungarian Jews to Switzerland. The motives of Rudolf Kasztner, who initiated the rescue mission, are still a subject of debate.
The Arrival of the Trains
The two trains that arrived in Switzerland in August and December 1944 came directly from the hellish conditions of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. These trains carried approximately 1700 Hungarian Jews who managed to escape the Holocaust.
- On August 21, 1944, 320 people disembarked at the Badischer Bahnhof in Switzerland. Local newspapers reported that the "deportees" had been tightly packed in freight cars. Upon arrival, they were taken to the hospital by tram for health checks.
- Swiss authorities, who were caught off guard by the operation mediated by the Swiss Red Cross, had to make a quick decision to accommodate the passengers despite Switzerland’s policy of being only a transit country for refugees.
- The second train arrived in St. Margrethen on the night of December 6-7, 1944, carrying around 1400 people who had survived the horrors of Nazi imprisonment.
The Controversy Surrounding Rudolf Kasztner
Rudolf Kasztner, born in 1906 in Cluj (Klausenburg), Romania, is both praised as a selfless savior of Jewish lives and criticized as a naive accomplice of the Nazis, or even a collaborator. The debate over his actions continues to this day.
Deals with the Devil
Those who managed to escape to Switzerland on the two trains commend Kasztner for his courage and determination, while critics like philosopher Hannah Arendt accuse him of selling his soul to the devil. The complexity of moral decisions in the face of absolute evil remains a central theme in the evaluation of Kasztner’s actions.
Negotiating Survival
Kasztner, along with others in the "Relief and Rescue Committee in Budapest," engaged in negotiations with German occupiers, primarily Adolf Eichmann, to secure the release of nearly 1700 Jews from certain death. The process involved intricate deals and maneuvers to outwit the Nazis and save as many lives as possible.
Tragic End
After the war, only about 300 survivors of the Kasztner transports remained in Switzerland. Kasztner himself faced accusations in Israel of collaborating with the Nazis, leading to a controversial trial and his tragic assassination in 1957. The legacy of Rudolf Kasztner continues to spark debates and discussions to this day, highlighting the complexities of moral decisions during wartime.
In conclusion, the story of Rudolf Kasztner and the rescue of Hungarian Jews in Switzerland remains a poignant chapter in the history of World War II, showcasing the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in times of extreme adversity.