The Holocaust,
Heroism subverting hate
Sharon E. Freedman, P.S.W
Ms. Freedman is a
professional social worker in
At a time of rising anti-Semitic incidents in
This is an important time to examine some history few know
about, but once examined reminds us that individual heroism and resistance to
hate is possible under what are seemingly the most untenable conditions. That
story is the role of the Italians during the Shoah and how they saved some 85%
of
Some theorists have suggested Italians saved the Jews because their overall numbers were small or that many Jews were assimilated. How then does one rationalize that thesis with the fact that the German Jews were the most highly assimilated group in a country with the most educated backgrounds yet had the highest rate of anti-Semitism? Most Germans lent support to the anti-Semitic legislation, initiatives and policies of their country.
Yes, 6000 Jews were murdered in
Who were these special people who took enormous risks and because of their daring, deeds, and moral dedication, saved countless Jewish lives? Why is it that few people know about these individuals? Despite many Holocaust centers and Museums, literature and countless speakers, little is known or displayed about these unsung heroes.
Their examples of standing against prejudice and intolerance
are invaluable; particularly to our youth as evidence of what Camus meant when
he wrote that in today’s world, “Merely being human is being heroic.” These
Italian heroes were very human indeed and force the question of why so much of
the rest of the world stood by during this genocide. The same questions
continue to haunt us today as we contemplate
Despite the deafening silence of the Pope, many Jews were
saved through individual acts of bravery by Catholic clerics. Many were hidden
in convents and monasteries. In
In 1944 with the tide of the war turning, President
Roosevelt made a symbolic gesture and sent Ruth Gruber to
This past August
Perlasca used a cover as the Spanish Charge D’Affaires. Like so many ordinary Italians, he overtly opposed the policies of ethnic cleansing and extermination and disobeyed the racial laws against Jews. Perlasca risked his life so others could live, this at a time when evil was rewarded and helping Jews meant punishment and often death.
In the guise of acting attaché at the Spanish Embassy, he distributed forged Spanish Passports and protected Jews in “Safe Houses” putting his own life in daily peril. Through a combination of diplomatic coercion, bribery, sheer daring and courage, Perlasca succeeded in saving thousands. His bold resolve allowed him to rescue 2 Jewish boys from capture right under the nose of Adolf Eichmann.
Perlasca lived by the motto “I am my Brother’s Keeper” He sanctified that phrase by demonstrating that one person can make a difference. Perlasca saved lives because that’s what he thought was the right thing to do, never thinking of himself as a hero. He lived in relative obscurity until many years later when some people he rescued sought him out. He was then recognized by the State of Israel as one of “The Righteous among the Nations” at a ceremony at Yad Vashem.
What drives individuals to make moral decisions that risk their lives for strangers? What, if any were the common factors held by these people who saved Jews? Did they all come from a particular social class, gender, political affiliation or religion or was it an eclectic group who shared similar humanistic values?
From the best evidence we have the rescuers put their lives on the line because inaction went against fundamental values that they were taught or adopted because they had witnessed them in others. They believed that all people are equal and developed a tolerance towards people who were different. It was also their personal perceptions of themselves in relation to their visceral disgust with the mistreatment of others, that left them no choice but to act. The tales of the Italian Rescuers are heart-rending indeed.
On October 16th 1943 General Kappler, Gestapo Chief in
The Bishop of Assisi hid 300 Jews for over 2 years and even set up a synagogue in the St. Francis’ monastery for them to worship. Padre Benedetti, who turned his monastery into a rescue agency issuing Baptismal and false passports, became known as “father of the Jews”. Here were human beings actively involved in mankind’s transcendent yearning for redemptive change.
Another fact that most Italians and Jews are unaware of is that despite the German-Italian alliance that lasted until Mussolini’s overthrow in 1943, the Nazis often found that local Italian Officials and the army were unreliable in turning over Jews. The police and town authorities who were supposed to round up Jews for deportations, often just didn’t do it despite orders.
Giovanni Palatucci was an Italian police commander in Fiume
in northern
When the Nazis learned of his activities Palatucci was
offered safe passage to
Even in territories occupied by Italians there were stories
of rescue. In
In 1943, 3577 Jews were taken to the prison camp of Rab
{Arbe}. Mussolini repeatedly insisted that the Generals deport the Jews. But
General Roatta and other like minded military commanders refused and rescued
tens of thousands of Jews in
The outstanding film called ‘The Righteous Enemy” directed and produced by Joseph Rochlitz recaptures his father’s experience and survival at “Camp Rab” If the subject of the Holocaust was not so outrageously painful one can see the humour in the military’s tactics to save all the 3577 Jews. It clearly demonstrated that the Germans could not control their allies and enforce their vile policies without compliance. And when compliance was not forthcoming, they could not succeed.
In Italian occupied
Marek [Marco] Herman formally from
In 1943, the Italians were recalled from
Once in the
Marek repaid the villagers for their generosity, and for his
life, through his active participation in their struggle for liberation as a
fighting partisan with the group called “Corpo Volontari della Liberta” in
After the war Marek left
Even after the war as many borders including
Yad Vashem has honored 371 Italians as “Righteous Among the Nations”. There are surely many more whose stories are not known. And they probably do not see themselves as Heroes but just ordinary human beings doing the right thing. Just being human. But as we wrote at the beginning of this article, let us never forget Camus’ piercing words that, “Just being human is already being heroic.”