Raoul Wallenberg, Secretary of the Swedish Legation in Budapest, Hungary, 1944-45, and Representative of the U.S. War Refugee Board, 1944-1945

Raoul Wallenberg volunteered as an employee of the U.S. War Refugee Board (WRB) in 1944.  He was credentialed as a diplomat by Sweden and arrived in Budapest on January 9, 1944. 

Wallenberg's mission was to save as many Budapest Jews as possible.  Raoul Wallenberg redesigned the Swedish protective papers.  Wallenberg issued Swedish diplomatic papers to thousands of Hungarian Jews.  He prevented the Nazis from deporting Jews to the death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.  With his staff of nearly 400 Jewish volunteers, Wallenberg rescued thousands of Jews who were being forced on death marches.  He also established dozens of safe houses throughout Budapest.  He tirelessly protected the safe houses from Nazi and Arrow Cross raids.  Wallenberg was in constant danger.  In a letter home, he declared, "I'm on a mission to save the Jewish people."  In January 1945, Raoul Wallenberg was arrested by the Russians and disappeared.

Wallenberg was honored as Righteous Among the Nations by the State of Israel in 1963.  In 1981, Wallenberg was bestowed the title of honorary citizen of the United States, at that time, an honor reserved only for Winston Churchill.  In 1986, the State of Israel awarded Raoul Wallenberg honorary citizenship.  He was the first to receive this honor.  Wallenberg has been honored all over the world for his life-saving activities. 

After more than 60 years of investigation, his whereabouts or fate in the hands of the Soviet Union has never been proven.  His family still grieves.