Warrenton

Library event will honor Holocaust hero with ties to Warrenton

By Jason Koch, Editor
Posted 11/28/23

Carl Lutz, who helped save many Jewish families from the Nazis during the Holocaust and World War II will be discussed at the Warrenton Scenic Regional Library.

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Warrenton

Library event will honor Holocaust hero with ties to Warrenton

Posted

The Warrenton Scenic Regional Library will honor Carl Lutz during a lecture at 6 p.m. Nov. 28.

The presentation will be made by Amy Lutz of the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.

Carl Lutz led the largest civilian rescue operation during the Holocaust. Lutz studied at Central Wesleyan College in Warrenton from 1918 to 1920.

During World War II, Lutz, who was serving as the Swiss vice-consul in Budapest, Hungary, began issuing Swiss safe-conduct documents that enabled 10,000 Hungarian Jewish children to emigrate and saved more than 62,000 Jews.

When the Nazi’s took control of Budapest in 1944, Lutz negotiated a special deal and gained permission to issue protective letters to 8,000 Hungarian Jews so they could emigrate to Palestine. He applied this to families, ultimately issuing tens of thousands of additional protective letters.

After the war, his achievements were honored, including being named “Righteous Among the Nations” by Israel and receiving the Cross of Honor, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

He was also among several individuals nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal in January 2023.

This and more will be discussed during the event at the library, 912 State Highway 47 in Warrenton. For more information, call Kerry Christian at 636-456-3321.

About the author: Jason Koch is the editor of The Warren County Record, and covers local news and government for the newspaper. He has won multiple awards from both the Indiana and Illinois APME and from the Illinois Press Association. He can be reached at 636-456-6397 or at jason@warrencountyrecord.com

warrenton, library, carl lutz, holocaust, world war ii

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