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Wallenberg: Missing Hero
A fearless young Swede whose efforts saved countless Hungarian Jews from certain death at the hands of Adolf Eichmann, Raoul Wallenberg was one of the true heroes to emerge during the Nazi occupation of Europe.
251 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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1383 people want to read
About the author
Kati Marton
17 books178 followersKati Marton is an award-winning former correspondent for NPR and ABC News. She is the author of eight books, the most recent of which is the New York Times-bestselling memoir Paris: A Love Story. Enemies of the People: My Family's Journey to America was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Her other works include The Great Escape: Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World, Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History, Wallenberg, A Death in Jerusalem, and a novel, An American Woman. Marton lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 29, 2020
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, may have saved up to more than 100.000 Hungarian Jews from the claws of the Nazi's. The story is placed against the background of the political events during the latter stages of the war. Hungary, untill then a (unwillingly) ally of Germany, was able to have a degree of political independence resulting in the safeguarding of its large Jewish population. However, after Hungary declared itself to the Allied side, it was quickly overrun by the German army. In came Eichmann, and with him the grim determination to exerminate every last Jew.
Raoul Wallenberg is in the midst of the chaos, distributing (fake) Swedish passports to every Jew he can get his hand on, promising them protection against the Germans and their local cronies, the Arrow Cross. Armed with his diplomatic status, flattery and bribes, he manages to save the Jews where the city of Budapest can fall every moment to the rapidly approaching Russians.
With a sigh of relieve, Wallenberg welcomes the Russians. All is over now, at least that is what he thinks. Only to be arrested by the Russians and to vanish forever in the Russian prisons. Up untill the end of the 70's there are sightings of him in the different prisons and Gulag camps.
This is a story of a remarkable man, who shoud have been honoured during his lifetime instead of languishing in the claws of the Russians.
Raoul Wallenberg is in the midst of the chaos, distributing (fake) Swedish passports to every Jew he can get his hand on, promising them protection against the Germans and their local cronies, the Arrow Cross. Armed with his diplomatic status, flattery and bribes, he manages to save the Jews where the city of Budapest can fall every moment to the rapidly approaching Russians.
With a sigh of relieve, Wallenberg welcomes the Russians. All is over now, at least that is what he thinks. Only to be arrested by the Russians and to vanish forever in the Russian prisons. Up untill the end of the 70's there are sightings of him in the different prisons and Gulag camps.
This is a story of a remarkable man, who shoud have been honoured during his lifetime instead of languishing in the claws of the Russians.
December 18, 2011
My wife and I were in Budapest some years ago and I read Kati Marton's book while living where Wallenberg had been. We stayed in an old building on the street where roundups had occurred, perhaps even from our apartment. We stood alone at the Wallenberg memorial on the outskirts of the city and felt his presence. How angry we were at the Russians who took this hero from a world which had great need of such men, then and now. Marton has written a magnificent account of what is known and what is left to speculation.
June 20, 2017
I had heard of Raoul Wallenberg referenced in other book about the last year before the fall of Germany in books about Hungary. I had placed this book on my 'to read' list. It was a very moving account about a young man who dared to confront the Nazi occupiers of Budapest and the thugs of the Hungarian Nazi Party, Arrow Cross. He was selected for a special mission, to go to Budapest under the color of the Swedish Legation to do what he could do to save the last remnants of European Jewry.
It was an near impossible task, but Wallenberg took it on with a self assurance and a belief in the cause so great that it is likely that he never comprehended the real danger he was in.
He arrived a little more than a year before Budapest fell to the Soviets, and in that time he managed to save thousand of Jews from the clutches of Eichmann, who even though by the winter of 44 knew that the Third Reich was doomed but felt compelled to tract down and kill every remaining Jew in Hungary. Wallenberg called on every talent and means of persuasion he had accumulated in his short life, and his success in shield large numbers of Jews from Eichmann's round ups encouraged the Red Cross and Switzerland's diplomatic corp from joining in issuing papers to also keep Jews from being rounded up.
It is an amazing story, of someone who dared defy all odds and became one of the true heroes of the Holocaust, one of the few who stood and did not bend. and a man who disappeared into the wasteland of the Soviet Gulags after the Russians 'liberated' Hungary.
One always wonders if they would have the moral courage to take a stand, most of us regardless of our belief in our better selves would fail. People who did not experience the terror of the Nazi occupation, like my in-laws who escaped as the Nazis were entering Paris, never forgave their Belgium relatives for collaboration: a sister who ran a grocery and sold goods to Nazis when they walked into her shop, brothers who allowed Nazis to take their possessions....they somehow imagine that they would have stood up and spat in their face, when in reality they would have probably done anything to keep their children alive, even if it meant saving the best cut of meat for a German Officer.
It takes unusual personality characteristics to take real risks for others..which is why authoritarian governments understand that terrorizing their population keeps almost everyone silent, and cooperative.
Painfully moving story of a society that has deteriorated into a level of madness and of a man who was committed to save as many Jews as possible from the streets of Budapest and was abandoned by all who should have cared..
It was an near impossible task, but Wallenberg took it on with a self assurance and a belief in the cause so great that it is likely that he never comprehended the real danger he was in.
He arrived a little more than a year before Budapest fell to the Soviets, and in that time he managed to save thousand of Jews from the clutches of Eichmann, who even though by the winter of 44 knew that the Third Reich was doomed but felt compelled to tract down and kill every remaining Jew in Hungary. Wallenberg called on every talent and means of persuasion he had accumulated in his short life, and his success in shield large numbers of Jews from Eichmann's round ups encouraged the Red Cross and Switzerland's diplomatic corp from joining in issuing papers to also keep Jews from being rounded up.
It is an amazing story, of someone who dared defy all odds and became one of the true heroes of the Holocaust, one of the few who stood and did not bend. and a man who disappeared into the wasteland of the Soviet Gulags after the Russians 'liberated' Hungary.
One always wonders if they would have the moral courage to take a stand, most of us regardless of our belief in our better selves would fail. People who did not experience the terror of the Nazi occupation, like my in-laws who escaped as the Nazis were entering Paris, never forgave their Belgium relatives for collaboration: a sister who ran a grocery and sold goods to Nazis when they walked into her shop, brothers who allowed Nazis to take their possessions....they somehow imagine that they would have stood up and spat in their face, when in reality they would have probably done anything to keep their children alive, even if it meant saving the best cut of meat for a German Officer.
It takes unusual personality characteristics to take real risks for others..which is why authoritarian governments understand that terrorizing their population keeps almost everyone silent, and cooperative.
Painfully moving story of a society that has deteriorated into a level of madness and of a man who was committed to save as many Jews as possible from the streets of Budapest and was abandoned by all who should have cared..
May 15, 2015
A Holocaust hero in Hungary: The courage of Raoul Wallenberg
The Talmud states: “Whoever destroys a soul, it is as if he destroyed the whole world. And whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved the whole world” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9, Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin 37a). There’s so much wisdom in this saying, which also resonates with history. The Nazis did everything in their power to destroy the whole Jewish race while Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, did everything he could to save them. He worked relentlessly to save 100,000 Hungarian Jews from the Holocaust.
Wallenberg’s own life story contains as much triumph as it does tragedy. By the time Wallenberg, only 31 years old, arrived in Budapest 437,000 Jews living outside the city had already been deported to Auschwitz. He could do nothing to save their lives. But there were aproximately 230,000 Jews left in Budapest, all of whom Adolf Eichamann, who was then stationed in the capital, planned to send as efficiently as possible to their deaths. The preparations of the death machine had already begun. Most of the Jews in Budapest had already been herded by the Nazis and their Fascist, Arrow Cross collaborators, into a Jewish Ghetto. They were deprived of any means of subsistence and living in terror. Every day they were subject to the Nazi actions to deport them to concentration camps as well as at the mercy of mob pogroms encouraged by the Arrow Cross.
In this humanitarian crisis, where time was of the essence, Wallenberg proved to be both flexible and resourceful. He didn’t limit himself to traditional, slow diplomatic measures to save Budapest’s Jewish community. Using his own funds, he cajoled and bribed members of the Hungarian Fascist party in power, the Arrow Cross, as well as German officials in Budapest in order to protect the lives 100,000 Hungarian Jews. Responding promptly to every call for help, he issued tens of thousands of official-looking Sweedish Embassy protection papers to the desperate Jews.
Kati Marton’s beautifully written biography, Wallenberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Who Saved the Jews of Budapest (New York: Arcade Publishing, Centenary Edition, 2011), narrates the life of this courageous and altruistic man. It also explores the still unsolved mystery of his death while imprisoned in the Soviet Union. Having managed to save tens of thousands of innocent lives and to survive WWII and the Nazi terror in occupied Hungary, in an ultimate irony of fate, Wallenberg perished at the hands of the Allies. He was caught in the lethal web of the Soviet secret police, the NKVD. Yet he managed to accomplish so much in such a short period of time.
By the time he reached Hungary in his early thirties, Raoul Wallenberg had already lived a lifetime. He had travelled the world and gained enormous life experience. Born in an affluent and established family of Swedish bankers and industrialists, Wallenberg preferred to travel and learn about different cultures rather than devote himself to making money. Although he probably could have selected any university in Europe, he chose to study at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, eager to learn more about the U.S. He also travelled to Haifa, Palestine. Through family connections he met Koloman Lauer, a Hungarian Jew who was the Director of a Swedish Import and Export Company, the Mid-European Trading Company. Within a few months, the young man impressed Lauer so much with his competence and efficiency, that he became a joint partner in this enterprise. Given the Lauer’s family and business ties to Hungary, Wallenberg traveled to Budapest, following closely the political situation there. He was especially touched—and alarmed--by the fate of the Jews.
Wallenberg also took trips to Vichy France and Nazi Germany and learned a lot about the Fascist regimes and how their bureaucracy and killing machine operated. His observations that the Nazi regime functioned through a mixture of need for respectability and natural authority served him well when he embarked on the dangerous mission of saving Budapest’s Jews. He bribed the corruptible officials with cigars, alcohol or food—a strategy that often worked in a time of severe food shortages—while at the same time issuing official-looking passports and protective orders, couched in formal language, under the auspices of the Swedish Embassy and government. At one point he even faced the “Engineer of death”—Adolf Eichmann himself—in a showdown of wills in which Eichmann backed down and Wallenberg managed to save hundreds of Jews from the clutches of the Nazis.
On January 17, 1945, following the Ally victory and Budapest’s encirclement by the Soviet army, Wallenberg and his chauffeur went, under Soviet military escort, to meet with a high-ranking Russian general. Wallenberg hasn’t been heard from ever since. Marton’s book describes that several eyewitnesses claim they have seen him in the Lyubianka and, later, in several Gulags well into the 1970’s. But, ultimately, this information is highly speculative. The evidence seems to point to the fact that Raoul Wallenberg perished in 1947 at the hands of the NKVD. The heroic man who saved countless lives from the Nazis could not be saved himself from the cold injustice of the totalitarian killing machine.
Claudia Moscovici,
Holocaust Memory
The Talmud states: “Whoever destroys a soul, it is as if he destroyed the whole world. And whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved the whole world” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9, Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin 37a). There’s so much wisdom in this saying, which also resonates with history. The Nazis did everything in their power to destroy the whole Jewish race while Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, did everything he could to save them. He worked relentlessly to save 100,000 Hungarian Jews from the Holocaust.
Wallenberg’s own life story contains as much triumph as it does tragedy. By the time Wallenberg, only 31 years old, arrived in Budapest 437,000 Jews living outside the city had already been deported to Auschwitz. He could do nothing to save their lives. But there were aproximately 230,000 Jews left in Budapest, all of whom Adolf Eichamann, who was then stationed in the capital, planned to send as efficiently as possible to their deaths. The preparations of the death machine had already begun. Most of the Jews in Budapest had already been herded by the Nazis and their Fascist, Arrow Cross collaborators, into a Jewish Ghetto. They were deprived of any means of subsistence and living in terror. Every day they were subject to the Nazi actions to deport them to concentration camps as well as at the mercy of mob pogroms encouraged by the Arrow Cross.
In this humanitarian crisis, where time was of the essence, Wallenberg proved to be both flexible and resourceful. He didn’t limit himself to traditional, slow diplomatic measures to save Budapest’s Jewish community. Using his own funds, he cajoled and bribed members of the Hungarian Fascist party in power, the Arrow Cross, as well as German officials in Budapest in order to protect the lives 100,000 Hungarian Jews. Responding promptly to every call for help, he issued tens of thousands of official-looking Sweedish Embassy protection papers to the desperate Jews.
Kati Marton’s beautifully written biography, Wallenberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Who Saved the Jews of Budapest (New York: Arcade Publishing, Centenary Edition, 2011), narrates the life of this courageous and altruistic man. It also explores the still unsolved mystery of his death while imprisoned in the Soviet Union. Having managed to save tens of thousands of innocent lives and to survive WWII and the Nazi terror in occupied Hungary, in an ultimate irony of fate, Wallenberg perished at the hands of the Allies. He was caught in the lethal web of the Soviet secret police, the NKVD. Yet he managed to accomplish so much in such a short period of time.
By the time he reached Hungary in his early thirties, Raoul Wallenberg had already lived a lifetime. He had travelled the world and gained enormous life experience. Born in an affluent and established family of Swedish bankers and industrialists, Wallenberg preferred to travel and learn about different cultures rather than devote himself to making money. Although he probably could have selected any university in Europe, he chose to study at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, eager to learn more about the U.S. He also travelled to Haifa, Palestine. Through family connections he met Koloman Lauer, a Hungarian Jew who was the Director of a Swedish Import and Export Company, the Mid-European Trading Company. Within a few months, the young man impressed Lauer so much with his competence and efficiency, that he became a joint partner in this enterprise. Given the Lauer’s family and business ties to Hungary, Wallenberg traveled to Budapest, following closely the political situation there. He was especially touched—and alarmed--by the fate of the Jews.
Wallenberg also took trips to Vichy France and Nazi Germany and learned a lot about the Fascist regimes and how their bureaucracy and killing machine operated. His observations that the Nazi regime functioned through a mixture of need for respectability and natural authority served him well when he embarked on the dangerous mission of saving Budapest’s Jews. He bribed the corruptible officials with cigars, alcohol or food—a strategy that often worked in a time of severe food shortages—while at the same time issuing official-looking passports and protective orders, couched in formal language, under the auspices of the Swedish Embassy and government. At one point he even faced the “Engineer of death”—Adolf Eichmann himself—in a showdown of wills in which Eichmann backed down and Wallenberg managed to save hundreds of Jews from the clutches of the Nazis.
On January 17, 1945, following the Ally victory and Budapest’s encirclement by the Soviet army, Wallenberg and his chauffeur went, under Soviet military escort, to meet with a high-ranking Russian general. Wallenberg hasn’t been heard from ever since. Marton’s book describes that several eyewitnesses claim they have seen him in the Lyubianka and, later, in several Gulags well into the 1970’s. But, ultimately, this information is highly speculative. The evidence seems to point to the fact that Raoul Wallenberg perished in 1947 at the hands of the NKVD. The heroic man who saved countless lives from the Nazis could not be saved himself from the cold injustice of the totalitarian killing machine.
Claudia Moscovici,
Holocaust Memory
March 27, 2013
If only Goodreads allowed 1/2 stars...this book justly deserves 4.5 stars.
Originally written in the 1980s when the author, and likely much of world opinion, still held out hope of wresting Raoul Wallenberg from the depths of the Soviet Gulag, this book tells the heartbreaking story of the Swedish diplomat who did more than anyone else to rescue Budapest's Jewish population in the waning days of WWII. Without doubt Wallenberg was a passionate, fearless and tireless advocate who saved thousands of men, women and children from the Nazi camps. What befell this righteous and heroic individual is beyond tragic; it's totally unjust and simply evil.
As the war drew to a close and the Soviets occupied Budapest, Wallenberg was taken into custody by the Russians, and shipped off to Moscow, ostensibly for a short time, but in fact never to appear again. Initial inertia by the Swedish government, the puzzling disinterest of his well placed, wealthy Swedish family, and the confusion of a war that left Europe in tatters allowed the Soviets to simply swallow him up and deny--for decades--that all along they had him in their custody. But periodic sightings by prisoners, and even brief but illicit communication with other prisoners within the Gulag, indicated that Wallenberg was still alive and still being subjected to solitary confinement well into the 1980s.
Sadly, Wallenberg's final fate remains a mystery, and his death more than likely by now. Marton does a terrific job of reporting the facts and making the entire history readable and compelling. Would that this strand of history had ended more happily...
Originally written in the 1980s when the author, and likely much of world opinion, still held out hope of wresting Raoul Wallenberg from the depths of the Soviet Gulag, this book tells the heartbreaking story of the Swedish diplomat who did more than anyone else to rescue Budapest's Jewish population in the waning days of WWII. Without doubt Wallenberg was a passionate, fearless and tireless advocate who saved thousands of men, women and children from the Nazi camps. What befell this righteous and heroic individual is beyond tragic; it's totally unjust and simply evil.
As the war drew to a close and the Soviets occupied Budapest, Wallenberg was taken into custody by the Russians, and shipped off to Moscow, ostensibly for a short time, but in fact never to appear again. Initial inertia by the Swedish government, the puzzling disinterest of his well placed, wealthy Swedish family, and the confusion of a war that left Europe in tatters allowed the Soviets to simply swallow him up and deny--for decades--that all along they had him in their custody. But periodic sightings by prisoners, and even brief but illicit communication with other prisoners within the Gulag, indicated that Wallenberg was still alive and still being subjected to solitary confinement well into the 1980s.
Sadly, Wallenberg's final fate remains a mystery, and his death more than likely by now. Marton does a terrific job of reporting the facts and making the entire history readable and compelling. Would that this strand of history had ended more happily...
April 17, 2011
In 1944, as the war was winding down in Europe, Raoul Wallenberg, a Swede, was sent to Budapest Hungary to do what he could to save the lives of the Jews living in that city. He is credited with saving 100,000 Jews from the Nazi gas chamber, forced marches, and brutal work camps. This is the story as told by Kati Marton who is a daughter of a married couple who were saved by Wallenberg. When Russia captured Budapest from the Nazis, Wallenberg was arrested as a spy and sent to various Gulags in Russia. Author Marton describes the attempts at trying to get information from Russia about Wallenberg. But he was never released, probably died in one of the camps. Wallenberg was/is a hero who did all he could to save people from the wickedness of Naziism. I liked this book. It is sober reminder of what brutes there are in the world and what good people there are.
September 11, 2018
I’ve decided to read biographies of extraordinary individuals this fall. I always get a little blue in the fall when the nights start getting longer and the days shorter, and I figured this might be a way o keep inspiration and optimism. This book provides plenty of inspiration, but sadly it offers little optimism for the overall upward trajectory of the human race
Few people illustrate as well as Raoel Wallenberg the power of one person to make a profound difference in the lives of others. Wallenberg’s gifted leadership and resourcefulness saved some 100,000 Hungarian Jews from death during the final months of WWII. For his troubles, Wallenberg found himself a “guest” of the Soviet “Liberators” and then an unacknowledged prisoner of the Gulag until his probable death in the 1990s.
Few people illustrate as well as Raoel Wallenberg the power of one person to make a profound difference in the lives of others. Wallenberg’s gifted leadership and resourcefulness saved some 100,000 Hungarian Jews from death during the final months of WWII. For his troubles, Wallenberg found himself a “guest” of the Soviet “Liberators” and then an unacknowledged prisoner of the Gulag until his probable death in the 1990s.
February 17, 2015
This is a book that succeeds in ambition, but fails in depth; while it is plainly and succinctly written, I feel it would have increased in rating if the style were more personal; here, there are a lot of anecdotes, of which a lot are smarmy, yet interesting; it's a bit "Schindler's List" which goes to serve memory and what the Holocaust was about, on a human level, but this is really not for historians, neither for people looking for an in-depth version of the Raoul Wallenberg story.
The story kicks off in a good way, where Raoul's relatives are concerned (bar his mother):
Raoul Wallenberg was on his own, clearly. A man from a very wealthy family in Sweden, he kissed his riches and former life goodbye in order to try and help people whose fate he learned more and more about. And, as such, he cajoled, lied, begged, forced his way, stole and borrowed as much as possible to get somewhere.
But his life is not without critique. For example, even though he saved many thousands of lives through his great, unselfish actions, he saved the young and at times discarded people due to feeling unable to help them. Hence, yes, he was a human being. Hagiographies suck.
The pace between how Wallenberged lived and worked and how Adolf Eichmann was, worked well:
He had humor:
Tales from the lives of people in Hungary are strewn throughout the book, to show how people's lives changed from bad to worse.
I shan't "spoil the ending", but as a Swede - which I am, born and braised - I know that both the Swedish government and the Wallenberg family hasn't exactly tried to pry information from Soviet fingers, to know what happened to Raoul; we know the Soviets claim he died in 1947, which buckets of people contradict. Mostly, these persons are former prisoners who have met and/or communicated with Raoul Wallenberg. There are indications that he lived well in the late 1960s, which means he lived for at least 20 years after the war ended.
All in all: interesting and well-written, but could have gone far deeper.
The story kicks off in a good way, where Raoul's relatives are concerned (bar his mother):
The Wallenberg who is best known and most admired in this family of remarkable characters is one who was never fully accepted into their ranks. Raoul Wallenberg did not have the total support of his powerful relatives in his early professional struggles. More tragically, the Wallenbergs failed to play a vital, positive role in the life of their cousin, the Soviet captive. They have done precious little to win his freedom.
[...]
When, in 1947, President Harry Truman offered Marcus Wallenberg his personal help in extricating Raoul from Soviet custody, the elder Wallenberg thanked the American but declined the offer. “Raoul,” he told Truman, “is probably dead by now.”
Raoul Wallenberg was on his own, clearly. A man from a very wealthy family in Sweden, he kissed his riches and former life goodbye in order to try and help people whose fate he learned more and more about. And, as such, he cajoled, lied, begged, forced his way, stole and borrowed as much as possible to get somewhere.
But his life is not without critique. For example, even though he saved many thousands of lives through his great, unselfish actions, he saved the young and at times discarded people due to feeling unable to help them. Hence, yes, he was a human being. Hagiographies suck.
The pace between how Wallenberged lived and worked and how Adolf Eichmann was, worked well:
Eichmann invited the Jewish Council of Budapest to his headquarters. He faced eight frightened old men—bankers, lawyers and industrialists who had been stripped overnight of whatever position they had still retained in Hungarian society. They were now beggars. Eichmann made an attempt at humor. “You know who I am, don’t you? I am the one known as the bloodhound!” He roared with laughter, but it was not picked up by anyone else in the ornate lobby of the Majestic. He tried another approach. With his narrow, angular face, which was itself a broken promise, he leaned toward his “guests” and in low, confidential tones reassured them that all new measures would be temporary: “When the war is over, you can go back to your normal lives. Help me, and you can avoid a lot of trouble.” He told the old men what they wanted to hear: “I am a reasonable man. Trust me, and keep your people calm.” It was all very genial, very lulling. They were to print their own newspaper, but it had to be drafted first in German, for the SS censors. Actually the paper, like the Jewish Council he had just summoned, was to be a vital link between the death squad and its quarry.
He had humor:
Humor, the mainstay of Budapest life, second only to paprika as the national staple, thrived. The riddle that was making the rounds was: “What is the difference between Hitler and Chamberlain? Answer: Chamberlain takes his weekend in the country. Hitler takes his country in the weekend.” And so he did. One early spring Sunday, when the chestnut and plane trees on Margit Island were starting to show off their first greenery, the Reich’s army marched in and the music died.
Tales from the lives of people in Hungary are strewn throughout the book, to show how people's lives changed from bad to worse.
How explicitly the Jews observed the new instructions presented them each day is described in the diary of a thirteen-year-old girl. Eva Heyman had an adolescent’s passion for recording her own reactions to the days’ events. She and her family of middle-class Jews lived in Nagyvarad, near the Hungarian-Rumanian border. March 31 Today an order was issued that from now on Jews had to wear a yellow star-shaped patch… . When Grandma heard this she started acting up again and we called the doctor. He gave her an injection and she is asleep now. Agi [Eva’s mother] again wanted to telephone the doctor but couldn’t. Then Grandpa told her that the telephones had been taken away from the Jews… . They also take the shops away from the Jews. I don’t know who will feed the children if the grownups aren’t allowed to work… . April 20 ... Today they took all our appliances away from us: the sewing machine, the radio, the telephone, the vacuum cleaner, the electric fryer and my camera… . Agi said we should be happy they’re taking things and not people. But very soon the gendarmes ran out of “things” to take away. Then they took people. The thirteen-year-old continued to fill in her diary from the ghetto. May 10 Every time I think: this is the end, things couldn’t possibly get worse, and then I find out that it’s always possible for everything to get worse and even much, much worse. Until now, we had food, and now there won’t be anything to eat. At least we were able to walk around inside the ghetto, and now we won’t even be able to leave our house. May 14 ... We can’t look out the window because even for that we can be killed. ... May 18 ... I couldn’t sleep so I overheard the adults talking … They said that the people aren’t only beaten but also get electric shocks … The gendarmes don’t believe that the Jews don’t have anything left of their valuables. For example, we deposited Grandma’s jewelry for safekeeping with Juszti, that’s true. Agi said people are brought to the hospital bleeding at the mouth and ears and some of them also with teeth missing and the soles of their feet swollen so they can’t stand. ... In the ghetto pharmacy there is enough poison and Grandpa gives poison to the older people who ask for it. Grandpa also said it would be better if he took cyanide and also gave some to Grandma. ... The gendarmes finally came for Eva Heyman and her family on June 2, 1944. At Auschwitz she was allowed to live for four months before she was sent to the gas chamber on October 17. Her diary was kept by the family’s Christian housekeeper.
I shan't "spoil the ending", but as a Swede - which I am, born and braised - I know that both the Swedish government and the Wallenberg family hasn't exactly tried to pry information from Soviet fingers, to know what happened to Raoul; we know the Soviets claim he died in 1947, which buckets of people contradict. Mostly, these persons are former prisoners who have met and/or communicated with Raoul Wallenberg. There are indications that he lived well in the late 1960s, which means he lived for at least 20 years after the war ended.
All in all: interesting and well-written, but could have gone far deeper.
November 23, 2013
The writing is not what makes this a great read. The facts of this man's life are what is amazing. The way he used his diplomatic position and ability to "read" people to his advantage in dealing with German Nazis and their Hungarian accomplices to save a majority of the Jews of Budapest from the death camps; all this makes him a remarkable man in service to all humanity.
Then in the 2nd part of the book, we go from Wallenberg's well documented story in Hungary to the murky unknown of his supposed life in the Gulags of the Soviet Union. Even his own country of Sweden didn't understand the dangers of his being imprisoned for no known crime in the USSR. From the well documented evil of the Nazis to the attitude of Stalin and his NKVD which he was totally unable to deal with. That attitude being, "we don't know, we don't care, so if we have any suspicion at all about you, we just ship you off like all the other millions of 'enemies of the state' into our Gulags and you will never be heard from again, unless it suits us to summon you for something". Stalin and his NKVD thought he MUST be some kind of US spy since he lived and went to college in the USA, and had documented connections with Roosevelt's administration during the War, so he was "captured", "interrogated", then filed away in the human archives of the Gulag without any more thought.
Then in the 2nd part of the book, we go from Wallenberg's well documented story in Hungary to the murky unknown of his supposed life in the Gulags of the Soviet Union. Even his own country of Sweden didn't understand the dangers of his being imprisoned for no known crime in the USSR. From the well documented evil of the Nazis to the attitude of Stalin and his NKVD which he was totally unable to deal with. That attitude being, "we don't know, we don't care, so if we have any suspicion at all about you, we just ship you off like all the other millions of 'enemies of the state' into our Gulags and you will never be heard from again, unless it suits us to summon you for something". Stalin and his NKVD thought he MUST be some kind of US spy since he lived and went to college in the USA, and had documented connections with Roosevelt's administration during the War, so he was "captured", "interrogated", then filed away in the human archives of the Gulag without any more thought.
September 28, 2016
The only reason that I did not rate this book "5" is because the digital version is riddled with annoying, inexplicable odd letter/number inclusions. So I recommend reading a physical copy of this. That being said, the story is riveting in its appeal, both inspiring as an example of the nobility of the human spirit and heart-breaking in its tale of how family, friends, and country ultimately failed to save the savior.
Raoul Wallenberg, a 33-year-old first-time Swedish diplomat stationed in the Kafkaesque nightmare of Budapest, Hungary in 1944, managed, in the 6 months before he himself was arrested, to save approximately 100,000 Jews whom the rest of the world had largely written off. How he did this right under the noses of Adolf Eichmann and his Nazi death squads constitutes about half this book. The other half details Wallenberg's capture, imprisonment, and disappearance into the Soviet Gulag Archipelago when he became a victim of Cold War paranoia after Russia took over Hungary. This is a tragic litany of slow reaction, inadequate effort, and poor choices by all those people/entities on whom he had every right to rely.
Raoul Wallenberg, a 33-year-old first-time Swedish diplomat stationed in the Kafkaesque nightmare of Budapest, Hungary in 1944, managed, in the 6 months before he himself was arrested, to save approximately 100,000 Jews whom the rest of the world had largely written off. How he did this right under the noses of Adolf Eichmann and his Nazi death squads constitutes about half this book. The other half details Wallenberg's capture, imprisonment, and disappearance into the Soviet Gulag Archipelago when he became a victim of Cold War paranoia after Russia took over Hungary. This is a tragic litany of slow reaction, inadequate effort, and poor choices by all those people/entities on whom he had every right to rely.
February 27, 2016
How could we the people let this happen to such a wonderful man? It was an incredible story but very depressing. This truly shows how evil can sometimes get the upper hand just because good men do nothing. It also shows how much good one person can do when he puts his mind and energy into it.
February 25, 2017
The title is indeed apt, Raoul Wallenberg's is the story that refutes all cynicism and reminds one that virtues such as selfless nobility of soul and character is not imaginary, it can and does exist in this very world that would often enough make one believe to the contrary - and for the latter tendency there is good reason! People, masses, or individuals without hope are easier to control, to use in service of any vicious act and plan at all. But then there are the rare souls such as Raoul Wallenberg who appear like comets on the scene and leave a trail of light, disproving the cynic and vicious thesis that would have the civilisation give up hope and humanity. And however much the adverse forces attempt to extinguish these noble agents of Divine, they leave an unmistakable, unshakeable trail of light that is forever. They are not to be forgotten, ever.
Simon Wiesenthal has said and truly enough, that there were no heroes in the WWII except Raoul Wallenberg. Perhaps there were numerous others that acted nobly enough in helping and saving lives of many others, whether singly or many, and those are not to be discounted or disparaged, either.
But Raoul Wallenberg's efforts and actions ended up saving lives of Jews of Budapest to the tune of a hundred thousand, directly and indirectly - he brought back hundreds from the deportation trains and walks, he gave out "shutzpasses" by thousands proclaiming a holder of such a pass protected by Sweden and in effect immediately a citizen of Sweden, gave hope to many more who took action for themselves and others as a result, and guidance by example that resulted in Swiss and other nations' diplomatic services in Hungary following examples and issuing similar passes; he went about bribing and intimidating those he could, writing letters to those that would be affected by officialdom, and generally thwarting the efforts of those that would wipe out all Jews from Budapest as they had managed (or so they thought) to do to Jews of most of Europe.
Eichmann is known more than Raoul Wallenberg, for the former was in charge of the implementation of the "final solution" as was decided at a meeting in Wannsee in 1942, and was thereby changed from a nazi who believed in Zionism to one who methodically went about the extermination that replaced the deportation to Palestine as a scheme, with complete determination to achieve a hundred percent "Judenfrei" Europe. He claimed at a conversation with Wallenberg that he did not care for his personal safety, but subsequently very much did, went into hiding in Europe and then in Argentina, and was hunted out only due to patient, painstaking efforts of those who would not allow such criminals to go scot free - and became famous over the world because of his being brought to justice.
But Raoul Wallenberg was the unexpected glitch in the nazi scheme of turning the humanity into a scenario of demons and victims, former without humanity and latter without hope, and the two acted opposed to each other for the short duration of few months that Wallenberg was in Budapest. That Raoul Wallenberg won in saving quite so many is what is marvellous not only for those he saved but for humanity as such, in not allowing the forces of dark in extinguishing Light from earth.
All the more tragic and horrible, therefore, what happened to him just as Europe was liberated - Soviet military took him in custody and transported him to Moscow to be thrown in prison, and shunted across the Gulag from one prison to another, forever denying his very existence with one lie or another. And this was partly because they did not believe anyone could be selfless or noble, so they took him for - of all the idiotic accusations - a nazi agent!
His clan in Sweden, Wallenberg, which is to Sweden what Rockefellers and Rothschilds are in US, UK et al, moreover, did not help either, any more that the Swedish government did, for the first decade or two - and by then it was too late, and Soviets were embroiled in their own lie that was preserved by successive regimes for sake of not admitting mistakes!
Fortunately, there were others, apart from his immediate family - his mother, stepfather, and half brother and half sister - who were not quite as willing to let him perish forgotten, and their efforts went into taking note of every person who came out of Russia having been in prison and being aware of or having met Raoul Wallenberg. This went on till '79, that is, he was seen or heard of last then, albeit the news came out later.
It is almost as if the hero with the shining noble soul who saved a hundred thousand from forces of evil was taken by the forces of darkness in revenge. One cannot help but admire him and weep at heart over this person, and yet be grateful that he existed, not only for the sake of those he saved - Budapest had about a hundred thousand surviving Jews despite Eichmann's personal and very determined efforts to wipe them all out - but for the sake of human civilisation, of very humanity.
The author has done a good job of recording his story, although by now more is known and can be found in other books. For example a detail about his incarceration from "The Nazi Hunter" that specifies that it was the then Major General Brezhnev who was responsible for the incarceration of Raoul Wallenberg - which is on par with the rest of the story and its ironies, tragedies.
For, unlike their perpetrators who were lumpen cadre whether of nazis or bolsheviks, both Simon Wiesenthal and Raoul Wallenberg in particular and a major part of the victims of holocaust in general were educated, refined people. This pattern alone goes to show the play that the whole era was, of the forces of darkness attempting to extinguish any Light from civilisation and humanity, if such evidence is required at all.
July 8, 2017
I've only ever known bits and pieces about Wallenberg, so I very much appreciate the fuller picture I now have of him thanks to this book. What he accomplished is simply amazing, and how the world failed him is heartbreaking. More people should know his story.
June 2, 2017
The book I've read is simply entitled Wallenberg and is the Centennial Edition of Kati Marton's book. There is no 'Missing Hero' in the title of my copy. I presume it has been reissued with a slightly different title?
Raoul Wallenberg is one of those people who will likely and should be remembered hundreds if not thousands of years from now - so great were his accomplishments in Hungary rescuing tens of thousands from certain death at the hands of Adolf Eichmann and the Nazi death industry. Yet despite his accomplishments he became a victim of the Soviet Gulag - an epic injustice. This book is very interesting for illuminating more fully who Wallenberg was, how he grew up and became the amazing individual he was- the most outstanding of the 'Righteous Gentiles', what conditions were like in Budapest during his time there and how he managed to accomplish so much. It is also an indictment of the Soviets for their inhumanity and Swedish government officials who did too little too late on his behalf.
Raoul Wallenberg is one of those people who will likely and should be remembered hundreds if not thousands of years from now - so great were his accomplishments in Hungary rescuing tens of thousands from certain death at the hands of Adolf Eichmann and the Nazi death industry. Yet despite his accomplishments he became a victim of the Soviet Gulag - an epic injustice. This book is very interesting for illuminating more fully who Wallenberg was, how he grew up and became the amazing individual he was- the most outstanding of the 'Righteous Gentiles', what conditions were like in Budapest during his time there and how he managed to accomplish so much. It is also an indictment of the Soviets for their inhumanity and Swedish government officials who did too little too late on his behalf.
December 8, 2012
This is an excellent book which both thrills you when the handsome polished Swedish nobleman brilliantly saves people from the Nazis and sends you into the depth of dispair over what happens to him when the Russians "liberate" Hungary. Kati Marton said that while doing research for this book her entire life was changed. I can see that. This dfefinitely a must read for all.
March 21, 2017
The title is indeed apt, Raoul Wallenberg's is the story that refutes all cynicism and reminds one that virtues such as selfless nobility of soul and character is not imaginary, it can and does exist in this very world that would often enough make one believe to the contrary - and for the latter tendency there is good reason! People, masses, or individuals without hope are easier to control, to use in service of any vicious act and plan at all. But then there are the rare souls such as Raoul Wallenberg who appear like comets on the scene and leave a trail of light, disproving the cynic and vicious thesis that would have the civilisation give up hope and humanity. And however much the adverse forces attempt to extinguish these noble agents of Divine, they leave an unmistakable, unshakeable trail of light that is forever. They are not to be forgotten, ever.
Simon Wiesenthal has said and truly enough, that there were no heroes in the WWII except Raoul Wallenberg. Perhaps there were numerous others that acted nobly enough in helping and saving lives of many others, whether singly or many, and those are not to be discounted or disparaged, either.
But Raoul Wallenberg's efforts and actions ended up saving lives of Jews of Budapest to the tune of a hundred thousand, directly and indirectly - he brought back hundreds from the deportation trains and walks, he gave out "shutzpasses" by thousands proclaiming a holder of such a pass protected by Sweden and in effect immediately a citizen of Sweden, gave hope to many more who took action for themselves and others as a result, and guidance by example that resulted in Swiss and other nations' diplomatic services in Hungary following examples and issuing similar passes; he went about bribing and intimidating those he could, writing letters to those that would be affected by officialdom, and generally thwarting the efforts of those that would wipe out all Jews from Budapest as they had managed (or so they thought) to do to Jews of most of Europe.
Eichmann is known more than Raoul Wallenberg, for the former was in charge of the implementation of the "final solution" as was decided at a meeting in Wannsee in 1942, and was thereby changed from a nazi who believed in Zionism to one who methodically went about the extermination that replaced the deportation to Palestine as a scheme, with complete determination to achieve a hundred percent "Judenfrei" Europe. He claimed at a conversation with Wallenberg that he did not care for his personal safety, but subsequently very much did, went into hiding in Europe and then in Argentina, and was hunted out only due to patient, painstaking efforts of those who would not allow such criminals to go scot free - and became famous over the world because of his being brought to justice.
But Raoul Wallenberg was the unexpected glitch in the nazi scheme of turning the humanity into a scenario of demons and victims, former without humanity and latter without hope, and the two acted opposed to each other for the short duration of few months that Wallenberg was in Budapest. That Raoul Wallenberg won in saving quite so many is what is marvellous not only for those he saved but for humanity as such, in not allowing the forces of dark in extinguishing Light from earth.
All the more tragic and horrible, therefore, what happened to him just as Europe was liberated - Soviet military took him in custody and transported him to Moscow to be thrown in prison, and shunted across the Gulag from one prison to another, forever denying his very existence with one lie or another. And this was partly because they did not believe anyone could be selfless or noble, so they took him for - of all the idiotic accusations - a nazi agent!
His clan in Sweden, Wallenberg, which is to Sweden what Rockefellers and Rothschilds are in US, UK et al, moreover, did not help either, any more that the Swedish government did, for the first decade or two - and by then it was too late, and Soviets were embroiled in their own lie that was preserved by successive regimes for sake of not admitting mistakes!
Fortunately, there were others, apart from his immediate family - his mother, stepfather, and half brother and half sister - who were not quite as willing to let him perish forgotten, and their efforts went into taking note of every person who came out of Russia having been in prison and being aware of or having met Raoul Wallenberg. This went on till '79, that is, he was seen or heard of last then, albeit the news came out later.
It is almost as if the hero with the shining noble soul who saved a hundred thousand from forces of evil was taken by the forces of darkness in revenge. One cannot help but admire him and weep at heart over this person, and yet be grateful that he existed, not only for the sake of those he saved - Budapest had about a hundred thousand surviving Jews despite Eichmann's personal and very determined efforts to wipe them all out - but for the sake of human civilisation, of very humanity.
The author has done a good job of recording his story, although by now more is known and can be found in other books. For example a detail about his incarceration from "The Nazi Hunter" that specifies that it was the then Major General Brezhnev who was responsible for the incarceration of Raoul Wallenberg - which is on par with the rest of the story and its ironies, tragedies.
For, unlike their perpetrators who were lumpen cadre whether of nazis or bolsheviks, both Simon Wiesenthal and Raoul Wallenberg in particular and a major part of the victims of holocaust in general were educated, refined people. This pattern alone goes to show the play that the whole era was, of the forces of darkness attempting to extinguish any Light from civilisation and humanity, if such evidence is required at all.
Simon Wiesenthal has said and truly enough, that there were no heroes in the WWII except Raoul Wallenberg. Perhaps there were numerous others that acted nobly enough in helping and saving lives of many others, whether singly or many, and those are not to be discounted or disparaged, either.
But Raoul Wallenberg's efforts and actions ended up saving lives of Jews of Budapest to the tune of a hundred thousand, directly and indirectly - he brought back hundreds from the deportation trains and walks, he gave out "shutzpasses" by thousands proclaiming a holder of such a pass protected by Sweden and in effect immediately a citizen of Sweden, gave hope to many more who took action for themselves and others as a result, and guidance by example that resulted in Swiss and other nations' diplomatic services in Hungary following examples and issuing similar passes; he went about bribing and intimidating those he could, writing letters to those that would be affected by officialdom, and generally thwarting the efforts of those that would wipe out all Jews from Budapest as they had managed (or so they thought) to do to Jews of most of Europe.
Eichmann is known more than Raoul Wallenberg, for the former was in charge of the implementation of the "final solution" as was decided at a meeting in Wannsee in 1942, and was thereby changed from a nazi who believed in Zionism to one who methodically went about the extermination that replaced the deportation to Palestine as a scheme, with complete determination to achieve a hundred percent "Judenfrei" Europe. He claimed at a conversation with Wallenberg that he did not care for his personal safety, but subsequently very much did, went into hiding in Europe and then in Argentina, and was hunted out only due to patient, painstaking efforts of those who would not allow such criminals to go scot free - and became famous over the world because of his being brought to justice.
But Raoul Wallenberg was the unexpected glitch in the nazi scheme of turning the humanity into a scenario of demons and victims, former without humanity and latter without hope, and the two acted opposed to each other for the short duration of few months that Wallenberg was in Budapest. That Raoul Wallenberg won in saving quite so many is what is marvellous not only for those he saved but for humanity as such, in not allowing the forces of dark in extinguishing Light from earth.
All the more tragic and horrible, therefore, what happened to him just as Europe was liberated - Soviet military took him in custody and transported him to Moscow to be thrown in prison, and shunted across the Gulag from one prison to another, forever denying his very existence with one lie or another. And this was partly because they did not believe anyone could be selfless or noble, so they took him for - of all the idiotic accusations - a nazi agent!
His clan in Sweden, Wallenberg, which is to Sweden what Rockefellers and Rothschilds are in US, UK et al, moreover, did not help either, any more that the Swedish government did, for the first decade or two - and by then it was too late, and Soviets were embroiled in their own lie that was preserved by successive regimes for sake of not admitting mistakes!
Fortunately, there were others, apart from his immediate family - his mother, stepfather, and half brother and half sister - who were not quite as willing to let him perish forgotten, and their efforts went into taking note of every person who came out of Russia having been in prison and being aware of or having met Raoul Wallenberg. This went on till '79, that is, he was seen or heard of last then, albeit the news came out later.
It is almost as if the hero with the shining noble soul who saved a hundred thousand from forces of evil was taken by the forces of darkness in revenge. One cannot help but admire him and weep at heart over this person, and yet be grateful that he existed, not only for the sake of those he saved - Budapest had about a hundred thousand surviving Jews despite Eichmann's personal and very determined efforts to wipe them all out - but for the sake of human civilisation, of very humanity.
The author has done a good job of recording his story, although by now more is known and can be found in other books. For example a detail about his incarceration from "The Nazi Hunter" that specifies that it was the then Major General Brezhnev who was responsible for the incarceration of Raoul Wallenberg - which is on par with the rest of the story and its ironies, tragedies.
For, unlike their perpetrators who were lumpen cadre whether of nazis or bolsheviks, both Simon Wiesenthal and Raoul Wallenberg in particular and a major part of the victims of holocaust in general were educated, refined people. This pattern alone goes to show the play that the whole era was, of the forces of darkness attempting to extinguish any Light from civilisation and humanity, if such evidence is required at all.
November 24, 2017
“Wallenberg” by Kati Marton – The Lone Saviour of Jewish Hungary
Kati Marton Unveils Another Relic
In her biography simply titled Wallenberg, Kati Marton takes it upon herself to tell us the rather incredible story of this Swedish aristocrat who went out of his way to save thousands upon thousands of Jews from the clutches of the Nazis, using his cunning and ingenuity to navigate a bureaucratic and political maze that swallowed many. And what kind of reward did he get for all of his trouble, sacrifices and hard work? Imprisonment in a Soviet labour camp which eventually led to his untimely death. They intended for him to disappear like so many others during his time, but history had other plans.
A Life Worth Knowing
There are plenty of nuances and aspects that are particular to each and every story from the Second Wolrd War, and in this one the first truly remarkable thing was that Raoul Wallenberg was living a life of wealth and luxury in Sweden. He had no real reason of venturing outside into the dangerous zones of Europe to try and help the people who were being persecuted. Nevertheless, he left it all behind and, let's face it, did what very few of us would even consider to begin with. His selflessness alone makes him one of the most remarkable people to have existed in that time period.
All of this is conveyed through technically superb and irreproachable writing worthy of a master wordsmith. Kati Marton shows her chops as an experienced writer and journalist, understanding the importance of focusing on the critical details and omitting the irrelevant ones. She tells us enough to get us acquainted with the characters, to establish the setting as well as the mood, and then gets on with the events using a language that flows well and is easy to understand.
The Tragedy that Came After
Ultimately, what happened to him after the war is also of great significance. While most people would be heralded as true heroes for doing what he did, Raoul ended up in a Soviet labour camp, illegally imprisoned and ultimately dying from the squalid conditions he was made to live in. The end of his story is truly the prime example of the injustice that can befall human beings, and the clearest demonstration of the saying that no good deed goes unpunished.
Some Final Words
To bring this review to a close, I will go out on a limb and say that Wallenberg by Kati Marton is the best book available for those who want to learn about the titular man who turned out to be an unexpected saviour to thousands of Jews. If you are interested in stories from the Second World War, especially ones more on the humanitarian side, then I strongly suggest you give this book a read.
This was an abridged version of our review. If you'd like to read the full one, you can do so here: https://bookwormex.com/wallenberg-kat...
Kati Marton Unveils Another Relic
In her biography simply titled Wallenberg, Kati Marton takes it upon herself to tell us the rather incredible story of this Swedish aristocrat who went out of his way to save thousands upon thousands of Jews from the clutches of the Nazis, using his cunning and ingenuity to navigate a bureaucratic and political maze that swallowed many. And what kind of reward did he get for all of his trouble, sacrifices and hard work? Imprisonment in a Soviet labour camp which eventually led to his untimely death. They intended for him to disappear like so many others during his time, but history had other plans.
A Life Worth Knowing
There are plenty of nuances and aspects that are particular to each and every story from the Second Wolrd War, and in this one the first truly remarkable thing was that Raoul Wallenberg was living a life of wealth and luxury in Sweden. He had no real reason of venturing outside into the dangerous zones of Europe to try and help the people who were being persecuted. Nevertheless, he left it all behind and, let's face it, did what very few of us would even consider to begin with. His selflessness alone makes him one of the most remarkable people to have existed in that time period.
All of this is conveyed through technically superb and irreproachable writing worthy of a master wordsmith. Kati Marton shows her chops as an experienced writer and journalist, understanding the importance of focusing on the critical details and omitting the irrelevant ones. She tells us enough to get us acquainted with the characters, to establish the setting as well as the mood, and then gets on with the events using a language that flows well and is easy to understand.
The Tragedy that Came After
Ultimately, what happened to him after the war is also of great significance. While most people would be heralded as true heroes for doing what he did, Raoul ended up in a Soviet labour camp, illegally imprisoned and ultimately dying from the squalid conditions he was made to live in. The end of his story is truly the prime example of the injustice that can befall human beings, and the clearest demonstration of the saying that no good deed goes unpunished.
Some Final Words
To bring this review to a close, I will go out on a limb and say that Wallenberg by Kati Marton is the best book available for those who want to learn about the titular man who turned out to be an unexpected saviour to thousands of Jews. If you are interested in stories from the Second World War, especially ones more on the humanitarian side, then I strongly suggest you give this book a read.
This was an abridged version of our review. If you'd like to read the full one, you can do so here: https://bookwormex.com/wallenberg-kat...
October 27, 2025
This powerful and deeply moving book captures the extraordinary courage and moral conviction of Raoul Wallenberg—a man who risked everything to save tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. His courage was unwavering, his determination unmatched, and his selflessness a testament to the very best of humanity. Wallenberg’s righteous defiance in the face of unimaginable evil makes him one of history’s true heroes.
Yet, the story also carries profound heartbreak. After his heroic acts, Wallenberg’s imprisonment by the Soviets and the mystery surrounding his fate are both frustrating and devastating. The book sheds light on the lies and cover-ups that obscured the truth, while also revealing the painful isolation he faced—abandoned by his country and most of his family, save for his devoted mother and stepfather. My heart ached for them as they fought for answers that never came.
Fascinating, tragic, and inspiring, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in history and the Holocaust. It not only honors Wallenberg’s incredible legacy but also exposes the dark injustice that followed his light.
Yet, the story also carries profound heartbreak. After his heroic acts, Wallenberg’s imprisonment by the Soviets and the mystery surrounding his fate are both frustrating and devastating. The book sheds light on the lies and cover-ups that obscured the truth, while also revealing the painful isolation he faced—abandoned by his country and most of his family, save for his devoted mother and stepfather. My heart ached for them as they fought for answers that never came.
Fascinating, tragic, and inspiring, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in history and the Holocaust. It not only honors Wallenberg’s incredible legacy but also exposes the dark injustice that followed his light.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2018
A very important story about a very important international hero, Raoul Wallenberg, who courageously went to Budapest in 1944 and worked tirelessly to save the Jews from Eichmann's deadly mission. Wallenberg succeeded in saving nearly 100,000 of them. Then he was captured by the "liberating" Russians, who didn't want a national hero around when they took over, and who suspected him of being a spy, even a double agent. What other motive could he have possibly had for doing what he did? Surely if he was clever enough to trick the Nazis, he must be one himself! The Russian secret police took him to Moscow and tortured him, but he would not betray his country. Such a sad fate for such a good man. Truly a story of rare goodness and courage in the midst of heartless depravity and evil. Marton, a Hungarian, tells the story with credibility. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2021
Interesting and informative. The book does a great job explaining who Wallenberg was and what drove him to the things he did. The detective work on what happened to him was fascinating.
Note for Kindle readers: The biggest problem in the book were the ridiculous amount typos that appear in the Kindle version that I read. There was at least one typo every third page. What should have read Raoul's, always appears as RaouF. Every chapter of the book has one of the first three sentences broken up by "P 1|" for no apparent reason. There are also many inappropriately place hyphens throughout. I usually don't care about a few typos but this book had way too many. I considered taking off a star for it but I thought the book was good enough that it deserved more than two stars.
Note for Kindle readers: The biggest problem in the book were the ridiculous amount typos that appear in the Kindle version that I read. There was at least one typo every third page. What should have read Raoul's, always appears as RaouF. Every chapter of the book has one of the first three sentences broken up by "P 1|" for no apparent reason. There are also many inappropriately place hyphens throughout. I usually don't care about a few typos but this book had way too many. I considered taking off a star for it but I thought the book was good enough that it deserved more than two stars.
August 21, 2018
This went way back into the history of Hungary - some of it was needed to explain how it became a sort of Nazi ally and Soviet enemy. But it took a long time to get into Wallenberg's efforts. Good reporting, and very frustrating to know how the Soviets were NOT challenged by apathetical Swedish relatives, the Swedish and US governments (US asked Wallenberg to go to Hungary to save the Jews), or the "saved" Jews after the war. And sad that no one will really know when he died or how - none of the reports are reliable.
April 15, 2022
This is one very interesting account of a Swedish man from a very wealthy family. He goes to Budapest, Hungary during WWII and single handedly saves over 1000 lives of Jews from the Nazis. Unfortunately he is taken by the Russians when they invade Hungary. He ends up spending the rest of his life in the Gulag.
This sounds like an awful subject matter to read but it is well presented and well worth reading
This sounds like an awful subject matter to read but it is well presented and well worth reading
October 23, 2016
This was a great book. There was so much information about " the Jewish question" during WWII. Wallenberg was a fascinating man. The history of Hungary and how easily it allowed itself to be overrun a few times speaks to our current situation. The insights into the gulag system are not surprising.
September 17, 2017
An example of one person making a difference
I picked this up because in this era of small minded and ego-centric behavior by those representing our country I needed a reminder that there are (were) people motivated by high ideals and acted on those ideals at personal sacrifice. I hope some of our current decision makers take time to read this.
I picked this up because in this era of small minded and ego-centric behavior by those representing our country I needed a reminder that there are (were) people motivated by high ideals and acted on those ideals at personal sacrifice. I hope some of our current decision makers take time to read this.
February 18, 2018
The story was a bit disjointed at the beginning, and I really wished to follow his story more specifically. The author gave important background but at times it seemed disconnected from his story. The book really "came together" in Chapter 12, "The Crucible", and closely followed his life from there.
Currently reading
September 10, 2021Heart-wrenching story about a hero whose fate was never fully known and is an enduring stain on the Soviet Union and Russian Republic to this day. This book was first published in 1982 and updated to the early 2000's. It would benefit from an update now, given the extremism, anti-Semitism and current state of politics in Russia and, indeed, the world.
June 2, 2017
For me, a scathing inditement of the Soviets and all Western politicians. It appears that it would have been so easy to get Wallenberg freed from the gulag, had the West just wanted to. An unbelievable tragedy.
November 9, 2019
Although this book is 3 decades old it still tells the true story of heroism by Wallenberg and then how he was abandoned by his country. Few people know about him. This book is as relevant today as it was when it was first published. I encourage everyone to read this book.
February 13, 2018
Excellent!
May 7, 2018
A fascinating look at Hungary in WWII and a man who was a true hero in standing up for the Jews against the Nazi regime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews