American ‘Schindler’

Re “Israelis Pay Homage to American ‘Schindler,’ ” Feb. 6:

I am happy to finally see Varian Fry honored for his work on behalf of refugees persecuted by Hitler. Although Fry began his rescue mission with the intention of saving Europe’s persecuted intellectual elite (writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, clergy, labor leaders), regardless of religion, most but not all of those receiving his help were Jews, and many were not famous. Nearly all went to Spain.

In my book, “The Mezuzah in the Madonna’s Foot,” I chronicle the heroism of Lisa and Hans Fittko, who were recruited by Fry to guide many of the refugees over the Pyrenees into Spain, at grave risk to their own lives. One of the best-kept secrets of World War II is that Spain, despite the presence of fascist dictator Franco, provided shelter to at least 75,000 Jewish refugees caught in Southern France by the advancing Nazis, including my own family.

Like Raoul Wallenberg, Angel Sanz Briz, a young attache at the Spanish Embassy in Budapest, saved the lives of thousands of Jews about to be sent to concentration camps by providing them with safe passes, passports and shelter in Spanish safe houses. Like Varian Fry, Sanz Briz has never been honored for his efforts to save Jews. Only recently some U.S. Holocaust museums are finally beginning to take notice, gathering information to add Spain to its rightful place among rescuer nations.

TRUDI ALEXY