Selahattin Ülkümen, Turkish Consul General in Rhodes, 1943-44

Selahattin Ülkümen (1914-2003) was the Turkish Consul General in Rhodes, 1943-1944. 

In July 1944, the Germans began rounding up the Jews of Rhodes.  The Turkish Consul General, Selahattin Ülkümen, interceded on behalf of those Jews who were Turkish nationals. 

Ülkümen recalled:  "The German commander said that, according to Nazi laws, all Jews in their eyes were Jewish and had to go to concentration camps because Germany needed more manpower.  I knew what their real purpose was - to kill them in the gas chambers.  I objected.  I said that, according to Turkish law, we didn't differentiate between whether a citizen was Jewish, Christian or Muslim.  According to Turkish law, all citizens are equal.  I convinced him.  I said that I would advise my Government and that it would cause an international incident.  Then he agreed."

By his efforts, 42 Jewish families were set free from the deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

In reprisal, the Nazi authorities bombed Ülkümen's house, fatally injuring his pregnant wife, Mihrinissa Hanim, and two employees of the consulate.

Consul General Ülkümen received the Righteous Among the Nations award in 1989.  He was awarded a special medal from Turkey in 2001.  Ülkümen died in 2003 at the age of 89.