zahavasdad: the functions of the “judenraat” in the ghettos are still a major matter of contention. Many good jews served on those doomed organizations and many will tell you that they tried desperately to save Jews. Rumkowski was vilified mainly because he enriched himself in the ghetto and acted like an autocrat. Nothing indicates that Kastner did anything like this. What is imputed to Kastner-that he knew about the final solution in Hungary and said nothing to save a few of his family is patently false. He saved many Jews who were not his family and that he did not even know. Secondly, if you know what really happened in Hungary,you will know that until the Germans took over the Hungarian government in March of 1944, there were no deportations. Only after this event, did the deportations start-and with great speed. Only two months elapsed from the seizure of the government of Hungary by the Nazis and the first deportations. It is very doubtful that anything Kastner knew would have made an iota of difference- seeing that the Hungarian Jews did not heed previous warnings by Polish refugees.
Menu