Agnes Hirschi from Berne escaped the Holocaust in Hungary as a child – thanks to the Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz, who later became her stepfather. She is now fulfilling her pledge to tell others about what Lutz did in saving her and thousands of others from Nazi brutality.
It was winter 1944/45 and a battle was raging in German-occupied Budapest. Every time the air-raid siren sounded, six-year-old Agnes Hirschi held on to her doll and hurried into the dark, dank cellar with her mother. “We never left the cellar for two months after Christmas, because it was no longer safe at ground level,” she recalls. Hirschi is now 85 and lives near Berne. She is one of over 20 people profiled in a new book called “The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors”. But what happened to her was different to the stories of those who survived the concentration camps. “I was lucky, because my mother and I found refuge,” she says.
It was diplomat Carl Lutz, Swiss Vice-Consul in Budapest from 1942 to 1945, who gave them refuge – and whose memory Hirschi wants to keep alive most of all. The cellar was at Lutz’s own address, where little Agnes and her mother Magda Grausz were housed in the staff quarters. Magda, a young Hungarian Jew, was employed as housekeeper at the Swiss embassy. It was thanks to this working relationship that Lutz was able to protect her and her daughter from persecution by the Nazis and Hungarian fascists. Lutz became Agnes’s stepfather after the war, after he and Magda fell in love and got married in 1949. It was the second marriage for both of them.
The newly-weds moved to Berne with Agnes after the war. Agnes learned German, went to school, completed commercial training, started her own family, worked as a journalist at the “Berner Zeitung”, and later got involved in the Reformed Church. The fact that she came from a Jewish family and had fled the Holocaust in Hungary was a secret she kept to herself for decades. And it was only gradually that she realised the scale of what her stepfather did in Budapest. Lutz not only saved her and her mother but prevented an estimated 50,000 Hungarian Jews from being deported, shot dead or sent on brutal death marches.
In his job at the Foreign Interests Service in the Swiss legation in Budapest, Lutz was responsible for issuing visas to Jews emigrating to Palestine (a British protectorate at the time). He was able to take advantage of this. Following Germany’s invasion of Hungary in March 1944, terrified Jewish men and women gathered in front of the Vice-Consul’s bureau in Budapest, called the “Glass House”. The diplomat was at his wit’s end. What should he do? After wrestling with his conscience for a few days, he developed a ruse that led to one of the largest civilian rescue operations of Jews during the Second World War.
Lutz and his staff obtained permission to issue letters of protection to 8,000 Jews for emigration to Palestine. Interpreting the 8,000 not as persons, but as families, they issued tens of thousands of additional letters for many more, establishing 76 safe houses for them around Budapest. Lutz was not overtly daring, says Hirschi. “He was introverted and did not talk much.” Instead, the Appenzell-born diplomat was guided by his Methodist faith. Risking so much to deny the Nazis took a lot of out of him. But on returning to Switzerland after the war, all he heard in his home country was sniping and criticism. He was deeply disappointed, his stepdaughter says. But Hungary, the US, Germany, and Israel gave him the credit he deserved.
As Lutz lay on his deathbed in Berne in 1975, embittered and lonely, he asked his stepdaughter to promise that she would tell others about what he did and raise awareness among young people about the horrors of the Holocaust. Since retiring 20 years ago, Hirschi has been fulfilling the pledge she made to Lutz back then. She has travelled far and wide, giving talks and spreading the message at exhibitions and events at home and abroad. Hirschi has consequently also met some of the people who were saved by her stepdad. In 2018, she and historian Charlotte Schallié published “Under Swiss Protection” – a book that retraces Lutz’s diplomatic wartime rescue efforts through the lens of Jewish eyewitness testimonies.
It was only shortly before the book came out that Hirschi had also begun telling others about her own personal story. The first time was at an exhibition in Berne. It was a relief after having kept quiet for so long, she says. She has since been able to clear up a few grey areas. For example, she now knows more about her Jewish origins. But she also gets emotional talking about her life. Whenever she visits Swiss schools, she notices how keen the children are to ask her about her experiences. Carl Lutz’s heroics and the history of the Holocaust are of great interest to them, she says. Her work seems to be bearing fruit. “That pleases me.”
Her stepfather, the once forgotten saviour of so many Jews, has finally been honoured in Switzerland too. The federal government formally recognised his humanitarian actions in 1995. In 2018, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs dedicated a room to him at the Federal Palace, with Agnes Hirschi subsequently attending the inauguration of a commemorative plaque. Hirschi appreciates these efforts. “I only wish my stepfather had still been alive to appreciate them too.” She welcomes the fact that the planned memorial to Swiss Holocaust victims (see box) will also honour compatriots who helped those persecuted by the Nazis. For her part, Hirschi wants to continue informing and educating people – “for as long as I still can”.
“The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors” Portraits of Holocaust survivors who found a new life in Switzerland after the war. Published by the Gamaraal Foundation/Anita Winter. Stämpfli Verlag, 2023. 96 pages; CHF 30, EUR 39.
Digital exhibition: www.last-swiss-holocaust-survivors.ch
Switzerland plans to build a national memorial to the victims of the Nazis, after parliament adopted a motion to this effect last year. This spring, the federal government is due to make an initial announcement on how it plans to implement the motion. In addition, there is currently a debate on whether to criminalise the public display of Nazi symbols like the swastika in Switzerland. The National Council Legal Affairs Committee expressed its support for the measure at the beginning of the year. It proposes creating special legislation to this end.
Note after the editorial deadline for this article: In the meantime, the Federal Council has approved the application for the realisation of a memorial in the city of Bern. On 26 April 2023, it also approved a credit of CHF 2.5 million for the implementation of the project. Read more in the media release issued by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad on the Federal Council's decision.
(RED)
Comments
Comments :
Extraordinaria historia, de Suizos en contra del nazismo. Al final del tunel, hubo un reconocimiento, que era justicia.
Una alegria para los ciudadanos suizos que vivimos en Argentina, Sud America.
Als aufmerksame Leserin der „Schweizer Revue“ eine Anmerkung zu dem Bericht über Carl Lutz:
Bereits 2016 erschien das Buch „Das Glashaus: Carl Lutz und die Rettung ungarischer Juden vor dem Holocaust“ im Herbig Verlag München, Autorin: Erika Rosenberg, ISBN: 9783776627879.
Ich gratuliere Ihnen für die Publikation dieses Artikels über diesen Held und Retter der Juden und, ich nehme an, anderer Ausgestossener. Ich finde es unverständlich, dass seine Anerkennung im eigenen Land so lange gedauert hat, wobei mein Eindruck ist, dass mein Heimatland (eines von zwei, das andere ist Grossbritannien) eher Heim und Schutz und Unterstützung den Flüchtlingen bietet.
Vielleicht hätte der Artikel uns Lesern etwas über die Gründe dieser langen Verzögerung der Anerkennung in der Schweiz sagen können.
Jedenfalls, grossen Dank und Gratulation für diesen Artikel. Ruhig mehr davon, denn es gibt leider fast überall in Europa, auch hier in Spanien, einen Aufschwung in der Popularität der Rechtsextremisten, so wie man in den Nachrichten erfährt. Das Volk "vergisst" das unvergessliche Böse all zu schnell, dank der Politiker, die es auf Anderes ablenken (Wobei jeder Art von Extremismus zu vermeiden ist, ob links oder rechts).
Und erinnern wir uns, dass die Juden sicherlich in jenen Jahren am meisten gelitten haben, aber auch viele Zigeuner, Geistig leidende, Kriegsgefangene, und natürlich das unter den Bomben und Angriffen zitternde und leidende Zivilvolk - Kinder, Frauen und Alte - dann gelitten haben. Wir vergessen manchmal, dass Krieg alle trifft. Es gibt Scheussliches, so was den Juden und anderen geschehen ist, aber Krieg trifft alle, ausnahmslos. Lasst uns in der Schweiz, uns immer für Frieden und den Leidenden, so wie es unserem lieben Land gehört, eintreten.
Ihr Artikel hat mir Freude und Stolz gegeben, dass es solche Schweizerheld:innen gibt und geben wird.
Je me suis demandé longtemps pourquoi cela a pris à la Suisse un demi-siècle pour faire justice avec Carl Lutz et Paul Grüninger (1995), et pourquoi 2 mesures, Carl Lutz n’avait pas été puni, Paul Grüninger fut dérobé de sa pension. Dérobé.
Le jeton est tombé il y a quelques jours, je l’ai ramassé : Carl Lutz n’a pas causé des frais à la confédération, un peu de papier. Les juifs sauvés en Hongrie allaient vers la Palestine. Paul Grüninger a causé des frais à la confédération. ‘’Ses’’ réfugiés sont restés en Suisse, il fallait les soutenir. Et il fallait trouver de l’argent pour ça. Ecco!
Il y a encore un homme à mentionner, le chef de la police de Bâle, Fritz Brechbühl, qu’on appelait Brechfritz. Il a été lié à Lutz, il lui procurait les papiers.
Quand un passeport est devenu vieillot et plus honorifique pour la confédération on le rendait à la police et on recevait un nouveau. Quand la police avait récolté un bon nombre de vieux passeports, on les détruisait en bloc.
Brechbühl a fait en 1940 ce qu’on dit aujourd'hui « sustainibilité »’, leur trouvé un nouvel emploi. Il les envoya à Lutz. On enleva les photos et on y colla des nouvelles. Il y avait ainsi 2 passeports par exemple de Salomon Cohen. Un vrai, chez un vrai M. Salomon Cohen en Suisse et un fake à Budapest avec un faux M. S. Cohen, qui était valable pour l’Asie et l’Amérique mais pas pour la Suisse. Si jamais il voulait rentrer en Suisse il risquerait de finir dans un roman de Martin Sutter. Avec ces passeports le fake Salomon Cohen de Budapest put aller au sud et à l’ouest et éviter d’aller vers le nord (Auschwitz).
Je vous suggère de trouver encore un vieillard ayant une meilleure mémoire.
Quant à 2023, il parait qu’il n’y ait plus des Brechbühl, Grüninger et Lutz.
Ah, fast hatte ich vergessen, dass Brechbühl nach Bern ging um beim Bundesrat über deren restriktive Flüchtlingspolitik zu reklamieren.
Was there ever a reason found why the goverment did not agree with Mr Carl Lutz for saving so many lives? if there was a reason it should be known. The truth never hurts!
Herzlichen Dank für diesen informativen Artikel.
Seit 2017 widmet die Gedenkstätte Riehen (Basel) Carl Lutz auch eine Gedenktafel. Die aus Eigeninitiative gegründete Gedenkstätte ist ein lehrreicher Ort für junge Menschen, insbesondere auch Auslandschweizer:innen, um sich der Geschichte und der Haltung der Schweiz im zweiten Weltkrieg bewusst zu werden.
Die Gedenkstätte Riehen ist täglich geöffnet und bietet nach Absprache Führungen an.
Tous ceux qui ont œuvré pour sauver des vies sont louables, quel que soit son origine ou sa nationalité. A l'heure actuelle, il nous faut encore des personnalités comme Carl Lutz notamment en Israel pour stopper les exactions commises contre les Palestiniens et contre les juifs qui les défendent.
Der Kampf ums Überleben in einer schwierigen Zeit mit Hilfe des Glück. Gute Handlung und gute Erzählung.
Dommage de n'avoir pas le livre en français... «The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors»
Super!!!!
Vergessen.
Ein Wort, das fehlt in diesem Bericht. Lutz fragte kurz vor seinem Tod nicht nach seinem Ruhm. Er wollte, dass die Nachwelt das kognitiv falsche Bewusstsein der Nationalsozialisten nicht vergisst. Das deutsche Volk war in Einverständnis mit diesen Machenschaften, weshalb wir niemals Sprüche wie "das liegt alles weit zurück" oder "man muss vergessen und weitermachen" nicht gelten lassen dürfen. Zweimal falsch macht nicht richtig. Ideologisch bedingter Massenmord einerseits und der schleichende Versuch eben diesen zu vergessen andererseits.
Leider viel zu spät kommt diese hochverdiente Ehrung. Menschen wie Lutz sind die echten Helden in der Geschichte unserer Nation. Und es gab auch noch andere, die wie im Artikel erwähnt, nach dem Krieg in der Schweiz nicht gebührend geehrt wurden, eher das Gegenteil. Ein dunkles Kapitel unserer Geschichte.