A very good book about an unsung and little known hero who did everything in his power to save the Jews from the death camps during the Holocaust. He saved thousands, but after the war was vilified as a Nazi collaborator. A truly fascinating story that should be read by anyone interested in the Holocaust. ( )

Reading this book was painful; my soul was torn into bits. I could read only small portions at a time to allow myself to process the nightmare that was Hungary in WWII.

While providing a detailed description of the plight of Hungary's Jews against the backdrop of history, Porter highlights rescue efforts throughout the world, specifically those of Rezso Kasztner, Joel and Hansi Brand, Otto Komoly and others. Rezso, a Jewish lawyer from Transylvania, was confident and bright. Living in Budapest, he worked with local and International rescue groups hoping to save many thousands of Jews but as the situation worsened every day, he was forced to modify his goals which would only occur if aggressive measures were taken. It was suggested he attempt negotiating directly with the Nazis through bribery, and that is what he did. He became very good at acting fearless when meeting with Eichmann, and Kurt Becher, pretending he had authority and backing from World Jewry. While he managed to get 2 trains with Jews out of harm's way, and into Switzerland, and to slow the deportations of thousands of other Jews by paying bribes, promising to obtain hard-to-get items, and maintaining a tough exterior, he couldn't save everyone.

We know now, of course, that it was the Nazis, and local anti-semitic greed, violence, lack of humanity and propaganda that were responsible for the murder of millions of Jews. Bureaucrats like Moshe Krausz caught up in their own delusional I-am-a-very-important-cog-in-this-process lost precious time and may have cost lives while differences in philosophy or politics gave some groups and individuals a rationale for not doing more. Many Jews in their naivete or terror could not accept or handle the truth of the deportations and large-scale exterminations even after learning of the Auschwitz Protocols. It is easy to say if they knew they could have done more. What could a peaceful people without weapons, training, or military experience have done?

Years later in Israel Kasztner was accused of being a Nazi collaborator by various groups of people: relatives of victims who felt he could have saved more people, but chose not to; some of the bureacrats in the rescue organizations who were jealous of him, and felt Kasztner was too arrogant, and a number of Israeli Sabras, politically motivated, who were outraged that anyone could consider negotiating with Nazis at all. These Sabras who did not live in Hungary when insanity ruled, judged their fellow Jews who suffered inhuman treatment and death, because, they, the Israeli-born were ASHAMED of the Jews who had lived in Europe and allowed themselves to be victimized, deported and killed! I had never known this before reading this book, and was stunned at their arrogance and insensitvity. It is one of the saddest take-aways from my reading. Kasztner, shockingly and inappropriately, becomes their scape-goat.

The trial does not go well. Witnesses for Kasztner weren't permitted to testify, others whose lives he saved, were too embarrassed to admit they needed saving, they refused to testify. Kasztner doesn't communicate clearly during the trial, and most of the press write critical, sensationaliistic articles about Kasztner, the trial and what he had actually done in Hungary. He loses the case, and soon he and his family are verbally attacked. He decides to appeal but it is too late.

Through extensive research, and many, many interviews, Anna Porter clearly shows us why Kasztner is a hero. He was guilty of being arrogant but that was exactly what was needed at that time to save lives.

I recommend this book but prepare yourself emotionally. ( )