Raoul Gustaf Wallenberg (4 August 1912 – disappeared 17 January 1945)[1] [2][2] [3][3] [4][4] [5] was a Swedish architect, businessman, diplomat [6] and humanitarian [7]. He is widely celebrated for saving tens of thousands[5] [8] of Jews [9] in Nazi-occupied Hungary [10] during the Holocaust [11] from Hungarian Fascists and the Nazis during the later stages of World War II [12]. While serving as Sweden's special envoy [13] in Budapest [14] between July and December 1944, Wallenberg issued protective passports and sheltered Jews in buildings designated as Swedish territory [15].[5] [8]
On 17 January 1945, during the Siege of Budapest [16] by the Red Army [17], Wallenberg was detained by Soviet [18] authorities on suspicion of espionage and subsequently disappeared [19].[6] [20] He was later reported to have died on 17 July 1947 while imprisoned by communist authorities and KGB [21] secret police in the Lubyanka [22], the KGB headquarters and affiliated prison in Moscow [23]. The motives behind Wallenberg's arrest and imprisonment by the Soviet government, along with questions surrounding the circumstances of his death and his possible ties to US intelligence [24], remain mysterious and are the subject of continued speculation.[7] [25]
Due to his courageous actions on behalf of the Hungarian Jews [26], Raoul Wallenberg has been the subject of numerous humanitarian honors in the decades following his presumed death [27]. In 1981, U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos [28], himself one of those saved by Wallenberg, sponsored a bill making Wallenberg an Honorary Citizen of the United States [29]. He is also an honorary citizen of Canada [30], Hungary, Australia and Israel.[8] [31] Israel has also designated Wallenberg one of the Righteous among the Nations [32]. Monuments have been dedicated to him, and streets have been named after him throughout the world. A Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States [33] was created in 1981 to "perpetuate the humanitarian ideals and the nonviolent courage of Raoul Wallenberg".[9] [34] It gives the Raoul Wallenberg Award [35] annually to recognize persons who carry out those goals. A postage stamp was issued by the U.S. in his honour in 1997. On 26 July 2012, he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal [36] by the United States Congress [37] "in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during the Holocaust."[10] [38]