Hungarian Jews

Hungarian Jews arriving at Auschwitz

When the Nazis occupied Hungary in 1944, deportation of Jews to Nazi camps began immediately. At the urging of the War Refugee Board, President Roosevelt issued a statement, warning the Hungarian government that citizens who participated in Nazi atrocities would be held responsible after the war. In response, the Hungarian head of state offered to allow emigration of Jewish children under the age of ten who had exit visas and Jews of all ages who had certificates to Palestine. The British and American governments delayed their response for 30 days. When they finally agreed to accept responsibility for finding safe haven, it was too late. The Nazis had blocked all points of exit. Seventy thousand children who might have been saved were lost.