• Carl Lutz Memorial
During the war, Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz (1895-1975) helped save tens of thousands of Jews in Budapest from persecution and deportation. Located on the area of the former Budapest ghetto is a monument dedicated to his memory.
Image: Budapest, undated, Carl Lutz at his desk, Yad Vashem
Budapest, undated, Carl Lutz at his desk, Yad Vashem

Image: Budapest, 2010, Carl Lutz Memorial, Stiftung Denkmal
Budapest, 2010, Carl Lutz Memorial, Stiftung Denkmal
Neutral Switzerland represented the interests of citizens from several states which had since 1941 been at war with Hungary, including Great Britain and the United States. From the beginning of 1942 on, Carl Lutz led a special department for the protection of these citizens as vice-consul at the Swiss embassy in Budapest. Deliberately exceeding his authority, Lutz issued tens of thousands of Jews protective letters, which were to shield them from deportation and persecution.
Moreover, he was involved in helping Jews emigrate to Palestine, which was at the time under British mandate. Lutz closely worked together with the Zionist »Jewish Agency for Palestine«, led by Moshe (Miklós) Krausz. This organisation was responsible for distributing emigration papers for Palestine.
When the German Wehrmacht invaded Hungary on March 19, 1944, Lutz placed the »Jewish Agency« under the protection of the Swiss embassy. The Agency moved into the »Glass House« in Vadász Street 29. Lutz and his helpers did all they could in order to issue as many so-called protective letters and protective passports as they could. Carl Lutz took advantage of the fact that the Hungarian government had – due to pressure from abroad – agreed to allow 8,000 children and youths to emigrate to Palestine, and that these had been in possession of Swiss documents before the German invasion. Lutz and Krausz interpreted the decree to mean that not only individuals holding these documents but their entire families would be allowed to emigrate, thereby placing tens of thousands of people under their protection.
After the establishment of the Budapest ghetto in the winter of 1944, Lutz established numerous »safe houses« under Swiss protection and tried to arrange the best possible conditions for the Jews who sought refuge there.
Image: Budapest, undated, Carl Lutz at his desk, Yad Vashem
Budapest, undated, Carl Lutz at his desk, Yad Vashem

Image: Budapest, 2010, Carl Lutz Memorial, Stiftung Denkmal
Budapest, 2010, Carl Lutz Memorial, Stiftung Denkmal
About 119,000 Jews were liberated in Budapest when the Soviet army took the city. It is neither known nor possible to determine how many were saved due to the efforts made by Carl Lutz. Several sources speak of up to 62,000 lives saved.
Image: Budapest, 1944, Queue in front of the »Glass House«, Yad Vashem
Budapest, 1944, Queue in front of the »Glass House«, Yad Vashem

Image: Budapest, 2010, Memorial plaque next to the monument, Stiftung Denkmal
Budapest, 2010, Memorial plaque next to the monument, Stiftung Denkmal
For a long time after World War II, the deeds of Carl Lutz were forgotten. His reception in Switzerland was more than cool; he was accused of having exceeded his authority as a diplomat. In 1965, Yad Vashem awarded him the medal of the »Righteous Among the Nations«.
The monument by sculptor Tamás Szabó was set up in 1991 in direct vicinity of one of the former entrances to the Budapest ghetto.
The Foundation Carl Lutz with its aim to keep the memory of Carl Lutz and his rescue operations alive, opened a memorial room in the former »Glass House« in 2005.
Image: Budapest, 2010, Carl Lutz Memorial and surroundings, Stiftung Denkmal
Budapest, 2010, Carl Lutz Memorial and surroundings, Stiftung Denkmal

Image: Budapest, 2010, Detailed view of the monument, Stiftung Denkmal
Budapest, 2010, Detailed view of the monument, Stiftung Denkmal
Name
Carl Lutz Emlékmű
Address
Dob utca 10.
[Glass House: Vadász u. 29]
1072 Budapest
Phone
+36 (0)124 269 64
Web
http://www.uveghaz.org
E-Mail
lutzalapitvany@yahoo.com
Open
The memorial is accessible at all times.