A Swedish Rescuer in Budapest  Raoul Wallenberg   Raoul
Wallenberg in Swedish uniform Raoul Wallenberg in Swedish
uniform Additional pictures  After the occupation of Hungary on
March 19, 1944, the Swedish degation launched a rescue operation
to save Jews from being deported to the death camps. The newly
created American War Refugee Board decided to work with the
Swedish government in order to help Hungary’s Jews. Soon the
Swedish legation in Budapest reported that they were under
enormous pressure of Jews seeking protection in the form of
passports or visas. They asked to send a special envoy whose
principal task would be to deal with passports. It was decided
to appoint Raoul Wallenberg as secretary in the Swedish Embassy
in Budapest with full diplomatic privileges. Before leaving,
Wallenberg asked to be given a free hand and authorization to
meet with Hungary’s leaders.  Wallenberg was born in 1912 to a
prominent aristocratic banking family. He studied architecture
in the United States before joining his f