Wallenberg is Here!

The forays to the Jozsefvárosi Station had become more exciting than Veres had bargained for. But Wallenberg would not be deterred. He was back again two days later. Approaching the cattle cars, he was stopped this time not by the SS but by Arrow Cross guards jabbing bayonets at him. The rules had changed. Wallenberg sensed the direct approach would not work today. He backed off and moved around the back of the train, climbed atop one of the cattle cars and shouted to the Jews through the slats, "Are there any Swedish protected Jews in there who have lost their passports?" There were affirmative cries, so he shoved passes through openings in the roof, jumping to the next car, leaping from roof to roof. Veres recorded his progress on film.

When an Arrow Cross guard fired a volley of shots over Wallenberg’s head, he leaped off the train and sprinted with Veres for the Studebaker. "What, exactly, did that accomplish?" asked Veres. "They’re still on the train."

Wallenberg smiled. "Just wait and you’ll see."

Suddenly, a truck pulled up alongside Wallenberg’s car. A squad of Hungarian soldiers leaped out. "Who are they?" Veres asked in astonishment.

"Friends. Jews and partisans dressed as Hungarian soldiers. There’s Pista." Wallenberg pointed to a Hungarian officer, "and Joni Moser, over there."

Veres shook his head. "I’d never recognized them."

Wallenberg smiled. "Well, I certainly hope not!"

Under the protection of the ersatz Hungarian Army, Wallenberg set up a folding table on the platform in front of the sullen Arrow Cross. He whispered something to Pista, disguised as the Hungarian Army officer.

On Pista’s signal, several soldiers, led by Joni Moser, slid open the doors to the cattle cars while the rest trained their automatic weapons on the Arrow Cross, whose bravery seemed to extend only to confronting unarmed Jews.

Jews streamed out of the cars waving their Schutzpasses. One of the leaders of the Arrow Cross protested to the Hungarian Army officer that the Jews hadn’t had those passes when they’d been loaded on the train.

"Well, they have them now," said the officer, "and we’ve been instructed by Baron Kemény to honor the Schutzpasses. So we will. Now, step out of the way."

Wallenberg looked over the line of Jews waiting to be herded on the train...he hadn’t had the opportunity to hand passes out to them. He opened his big black ledger and began shouting out the most common Jewish surnames. Veres circulated among the line of Jews whispering, "Raise your hand." Wallenberg "recognized" each one that stepped forward, vouching personally for him and issuing a pass.

An SS officer finally arrived on the platform and strode up to Wallenberg. "What’s going on here?"

Without looking up from his ledger, Wallenberg replied in a matter-of-fact voice, "Just retrieving Swedish citizens illegally detained."

"I will take over checking these supposed protective passes. Anyone without proper papers will be shot."

"Very well," shrugged Wallenberg.

A Jew stepped forward and said softly to Veres, "My papers are forged. I’m a doctor." When the doctor reached the table, Veres bent over and whispered into Wallenberg’s ear.

Wallenberg took the forged passport, then looked at the Jew. "Doctor, I remember you!" He turned to the SS officer. "I personally issued his Schutzpass. We need him at the Swedish Legation infirmary, so let’s move on."

The Nazi officer waved the doctor by, "You’re wasting our time. Next!" On that day at Jozsefvárosi station, a few hundred more Jews were saved.