The incredible story of Swiss diplomat, Carl Lutz, who saved tens of thousands of persecuted Hungarian Jews from death during the Holocaust, will be screened in Australia for the first time this month.
A shrewd and intrepid diplomat, Lutz negotiated with Adolf Eichmann, who had established his headquarters in Budapest, in the process rescuing Hungarian Jews from the hands of the Nazis. Amazingly, the German government also permitted Lutz, who had rendered good service to the Germans in Palestine where he had once served as a diplomat, to facilitate the emigration of 7,800 Hungarian Jews to Palestine.
Lutz, who married one of his Jewish protégés after the World War Two, and settled in Berne, Switzerland, was never recognized by the Swiss government for his humanitarian efforts but rather excoriated for exceeding his authority – and his expense account limits.
Lutz’s stepdaughter, Agnes Hirschi ([email protected]) is currently seeking people who were saved through the ‘protective letters’ Lutz was able to issue.
The movie, Carl Lutz: The Forgotten Hero, will be screened as part of the Jewish Holocaust Centre’s monthly Film Club.
Address: 13-15 Selwyn Street, Elsternwick
Date: Thursday 25 June at 7.00pm.
Enquiries: [email protected] or 03 9528 1985
Website: www.jhc.org.au