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The Battle for Budapest

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Facing the Holocaust in Budapest

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Abstract

Certain novel aspects of the vast range of activity undertaken by Born in Budapest were the subject of controversy and discussion in Geneva. For example, the large-scale protection of hospital buildings had not been one of Born’s prescribed objectives nor did it figure in the Committee’s thinking in the way in which Born practised it. After Born’s first notes stating that a number of hospitals had been placed under the delegation’s protection at the request of the Hungarian government reached Geneva, the ICRC Legal Commission was instructed to examine the conditions under which delegates could place buildings under ICRC protection with the assurance that this protection would be credible and effective.

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Endnotes

  1. Minutes of Bureau meeting, 13 Dec. 1944, procès-verbaux — ICRC Archives.

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  2. Note 357 Pictet to Born, 1 Dec. 1944, G. 72 (G. 3/48 e) — ICRC Archives.

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  3. Note 364 Pictet to Born, 13 Dec. 1944, G. 72 (G. 3/48 e) — ICRC Archives.

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  4. Minutes of Bureau meeting, 20 Dec. 1944, procès-verbaux — ICRC Archives.

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  5. Ibid.

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  6. Note 369 ICRC to Born, 21 Dec. 1944. Signature illegible, G. 72 (G. 3/48 e) — ICRC Archives.

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  7. Note A 63 Born to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 1944, received ICRC 27 Nov., G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  8. Note 361 Lombard to Born, 7 Dec. 1944, G. 3/48 e (G. 85) — ICRC Archives.

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  9. Note Pilloud to Born, via FPD, 29 Nov. 1944, G. 85 (G. 3/48 e) — ICRC Archives.

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  10. Minutes of a conversation between Mayer and Weyermann, 4 Dec. 1944. Letter 6 Dec. 1944 from Mayer to Weyermann via Leclerc, G. 59/2/65 (G. 59/8/65 — G. 69/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  11. Weyermann’s report of Aug. 1945 on his activity 6 Dec. 1944 —1 July 1945, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  12. Communiqué published in Magyar Ertisito, 10 Dec. 1944, reproduced in Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  13. Note Born to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec., copy sent to ICRC on 11 Dec. with Note 774, received ICRC 22 Jan. 1945, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  14. Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, French version, p. 37, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  15. Weyermann’s report Aug. 1945 on his activity 6 Dec. 1944 — 1 July 1945, G 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  16. Report on a visit to the ghetto and a discussion with the Jewish Council on 18 Dec., morning, annex to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 Born to ICRC, received ICRC 28 Jan. 1945, G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  17. Minutes of meeting at 5 p.m. 18 Dec. on the children under delegation’s protection in the ghetto. Annex to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 Born to ICRC, received ICRC 28 Jan. 1945, procès-verbaux — ICRC Archives.

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  18. Swiss Legation, Budapest to FPD, Berne, 4/12/44, E 2300 Budapest 4–6, FAB.

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  19. Swiss Legation, Budapest to FPD, Berne, 8/12/44, E 2300 Budapest 4–6 — FAB.

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  20. Kilchmann’s forecast was not accurate. The Germans did not withdraw their forces from Budapest. The report was written one day before Kilchmann left Budapest, and his opinion may have been influenced by the incessant Russian shelling and bombing.

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  21. Swiss Legation, Budapest to FPD, Berne, 21/12/44, E 2300 Budapest 4–6 — FAB.

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  22. Ibid.

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  23. Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, French version, p. 8, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives. Warning by the party, published in Osszetatas, the official party newspaper.

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  24. Swiss Legation, Budapest to FPD, Berne, 21/12/44, E 2300 Budapest 4–6 — FAB.

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  25. Ibid.

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  26. Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, French version, p.7, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  27. Swiss Legation, Budapest, 21/12/44, p. 2, E 2300 Budapest 4–6 — FAB.

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  28. Minutes of meeting 5 p.m. 18 Dec. on children under delegation’s protection in the ghetto. Annex to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944, Born to ICRC, received ICRC 28 Jan. 1945, G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  29. Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, French version, p. 9, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  30. Minutes of meeting 5 p.m 18 Dec. on the children under the delegation’s protection in the ghetto. Annex to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944, Born to ICRC, received ICRC

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  31. Jan. 1945, G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  32. Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, French version, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  33. Report by Section A on the incident in home 27/29 on 6 Dec., annexed to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 Born to ICRC — G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  34. Report by Section A, 12 Dec., annexed to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 from Born, G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  35. Komoly was murdered by Arrow Cross members on 1 Jan. 1945.

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  36. Report by Section A, 12 Dec. 1944, annexed to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 from Born, G. 59/3/65 (G. 3/48 e — G. 59. 12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  37. Report by Section A on an investigation by the State Police at the ‘Weiss Alice’ hospital, 12 Dec., annexed to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 Born to ICRC, G 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  38. Report on transfer to ghetto of children under ICRC protection, 14 Dec., afternoon, annexed to Note 891 19 Dec. 1944 Born to ICRC — G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  39. Report on transfer to ghetto of children under ICRC protection, 15 Dec., morning, annexed to Note 891, Ibid.

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  40. Report on transfer to ghetto of children under ICRC protection, 16 Dec., annexed to Note 891, Ibid.

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  41. Note on the activity of the ICRC in favour of the Jews in Hungary, Dec. 1944, annexed to the ‘Journal des Délégués’, No file number — ICRC Archives.

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  42. Ibid.

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  43. Minutes of the meeting 18 Dec. at 17.00 h. concerning children in ghetto under ICRC protection, annexed to Born’s Note 891, 19 Dec. 1944, G. 59/3/65 (G. 69/65 — G. 3/48 e) — ICRC Archives.

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  44. Ibid. Note 891, Born to ICRC, 19 Dec. 1944, mentioned above, G. 59/3/65 (G. 59/2/65 — G. 3/48 e — G. 59/12/65) — ICRC Archives

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  45. Minutes of the meeting at the premisses of the delegation to Hungary 18 Dec. 1944 17.00 h. concerning the children under the protection of the delegation in the ghetto, doc. cit. — ICRC Archives

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  47. Report on transfer to ghetto of children under ICRC protection, 13 Dec. 1944, annexed to Note 891 Born to ICRC, G. 59/3/65 — ICRC Archives.

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  49. Account of visit to ghetto and discussion with Jewish Council, 18 Dec. Annexed to Born’s Note 891— G. 59/3/65 (G. 69/65 — G. 3/48 e) — ICRC Archives.

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  50. Swiss Legation, Budapest to FPD, Berne, 21/12/44, E 2300 Budapest 4–6 — FAB.

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  52. Note on activity of ICRC in favour of Jews in Hungary, Dec. 1944, annexed to the ‘Journal des Délégués’, no file number — ICRC Archives.

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  53. McClelland to Riegner, 1 Dec. 1944 — WJC Archives.

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  54. Riegner to McClelland, 5 Dec. 1944 — WJC Archives.

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  55. Cable 208 Tartakower to Riegner, 19 Dec. 1944 — WJC Archives.

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  56. Radiotelegram WJC to Huber, 19 Dec. 1944, G. 59/4/65 (G. 59/7/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  57. Aide-Mémoire, handed to Burckhardt by Riegner, 20 Dec. 1944, G. 59/2/65 — ICRC Archives. The reader is also referred to the minutes of a discussion with Gulden, 12 Jan. 1945, G. 59/2/65, — ICRC Archives.

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  58. Letter Riegner to McClelland, 21 Dec. 1944 — WJC Archives.

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  59. Note Leclerc to Odier and Ferrière, 20 Dec. 1944, on creating children’s homes in Budapest, G. 69/65 — ICRC Archives.

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  60. Identical letters sent by Schwarzenberg to IUCW and McClelland on 21 Dec. 1944, G. 59/5/65 (G. 85 — G. 59/2/85) — ICRC Archives.

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  61. Note 1425 Schwarzenberg to ICRC delegation in Washington, 16 Dec. 1944, G. 59/2/85 — ICRC Archives.

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  62. In-house note signed Riegner, 19 Dec. 1942 — WJC Archives.

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  63. Minutes of an interview between Riegner and Dworzecki, 16 July 1972 — WJC Archives.

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  64. See also ‘Selected Kubowitzki Documents’ — ‘A conversation between Dr Kubowitzki and Dr Zelmanowits with Mr Cellérier.’ ICRC, London, 12 Jan. 1945. WJC publication.

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  65. I have been unable to confirm this information in the files made available to me at ICRC headquarters, and I have no knowledge of the follow-up to the requests made.

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  66. Telegram 2248 to Wise and Goldman, WJC, New York, 22 Jan. 1945, G. 59/7/WJC (G. 59/4/65) — ICRC Archives.

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  67. Cablegram 21758 Wise and Goldman to ICRC, received ICRC 5 Feb. 1945, G. 59/4/65 (G. 59/7/WJC) — ICRC Archives.

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  69. Letter II/a 43 968, Riegner to Burckhardt, 14 Feb. 1945, received ICRC 28 Feb. 1945, G. 59/7/WJC — ICRC Archives.

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  70. The original telegram 582 Kolb to ICRC is dated 9 Feb. 1945, and the typed copy carries a note written by ICRC ‘Received 1 February’, G. 59/2/65 (G. 59/7/65 — G. 85) — ICRC Archives. The text of this telegram was transmitted by Riegner to Goldman via McClelland on 13 Feb. 1945 — WJC Archives.

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  71. Radiogram 175/173 13 1353 Ueberall to Congress Weekly 14 Feb. 1945 — WJC Archives.

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  72. Report 115 Thudicum to ICRC, 12 Feb. 1945, received ICRC 28 March 1945 — ICRC Archives.

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  73. Ibid.

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  74. Ibid.

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  75. Born’s end-of-mission report, June 1945, French version, pp. 22–4, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  76. Weyermann’s report, Aug. 1945, on his activity 6 Dec. 1944 — July 1945, G. 3/48 e — ICRC Archives.

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  77. Note on conversation between Kubowitzki, Riegner and Burckhardt, Geneva, 20 Feb. 1945, WJC Archives. Riegner comments that on their initiative, a meeting took place on 26 Feb. 1945, in Kopecky’s office, of the delegates of the Red Cross Societies of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Greece, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Holland, Italy, Norway, Belgium, the representative of the WRB (USA), and the WJC (Kubowitzki and himself) at which it was decided that all national Red Cross delegates would simultaneously but individually address a note to the President of the ICRC asking him to make a supreme effort for the liberation of the civilian detainees in Germany and in all occupied territories, to transmit copies to McClelland in order that the USA should support this demarche, to transmit copies to the British Minister in Bern with the same aim and to ask all diplomatic representatives of all countries represented to make similar representations to the Swiss Political Department in Bern. The note was remitted to ICRC simultaneously on 28 Feb., between 9 and 10 a.m. (Private letter from Riegner to the author.)

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  78. Telegram 566, Swiss Legation, Budapest, 9 Dec. 1944, E 2001 (D) 1968/74/6 — FAB.

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  79. Note of conversation with McClelland, 20 Feb. 1945, signed Riegner — WJC Archives.

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  80. Note of conversation with Burckhardt, 3 March 1945, confidential, signed Kubowitzki — WJC Archives.

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  81. Ibid.

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  82. Accounts of Burckhardt’s negotiations with the German authorities can be found in the following works: Durand, From Sarajevo to Hiroshima; Arsenijevic, Voluntary Hostages of the SS.

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  83. Der Bund No. 574, 6 Dec. 1944, Press cuttings — FAB.

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  1. Tel Aviv, Israel

    Arieh Ben-Tov

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  1. Arieh Ben-Tov
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© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Ben-Tov, A. (1988). The Battle for Budapest. In: Facing the Holocaust in Budapest. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-6935-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-6935-8_12

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