Ottó Komoly
Encyclopedia
Otto Komoly (1892–1945) was a Hungarian
Jewish engineer, officer, zionist, and humanitarian leader in Hungary. He is credited with saving thousands of children during the German occupation of Budapest
in World War II.
. He obtained the rank of Lieutenant, was injured in action and subsequently decorated. After the war, his military honors gave him credibility and a high status in the Hungarian society. Thus, he was excluded from most of the prosecution that other Jews suffered in the buildup to World War II
.
His family was considering emigration to Palestine in 1939, but he decided to stay in Hungary to help local Jews escape prosecution by using his status and influence.
Together with Rudolf Kasztner
he created the Aid and Rescue Committee
, which provided assistance to Jews fleeing prosecution in Poland and Hungary.
After Germany invaded Hungary in March 1944, Komoly became the head of the International Red Cross department in charge of helping Jewish children. With the help of the embassies of Switzerland and other neutral countries, the Red Cross created 35 refuges for orphaned children (mostly Jewish), where about 6000 children and 600 volunteers working there were ultimately saved from deportation and possible extermination.
On the political front, Komoly activated for the neutrality of Hungary in the war. He tried to influence the government using his military status and his connection with the son of Miklós Horthy
. Under his leadership, the Aid and Rescue Committee organized non-Jewish protests against Nazi policies in Hungary, especially among the clergy and politicians.
On January 1, 1945, just before the arrival of the Soviet army in Budapest, Arrow Cross
militia picked him up from his house. Nothing else is known about him, and it is assumed that he was murdered by the authorities.
In his honor, a moshav
in southern Israel - Yad Natan
, is named after him. A number of towns in Israel have streets named after him.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Jewish engineer, officer, zionist, and humanitarian leader in Hungary. He is credited with saving thousands of children during the German occupation of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in World War II.
Early career
Educated as an engineer, Komoly was drafted in the Hungarian Army in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He obtained the rank of Lieutenant, was injured in action and subsequently decorated. After the war, his military honors gave him credibility and a high status in the Hungarian society. Thus, he was excluded from most of the prosecution that other Jews suffered in the buildup to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
His family was considering emigration to Palestine in 1939, but he decided to stay in Hungary to help local Jews escape prosecution by using his status and influence.
Political and Rescue activities
Komoly became the Chairman of the Zionist Federation in Hungary , where his father was previously the chairman.Together with Rudolf Kasztner
Rudolf Kastner
Rudolf Israel Kastner was a Jewish-Hungarian journalist and lawyer who became known for facilitating the departure of Jews out of Nazi-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust...
he created the Aid and Rescue Committee
Aid and Rescue Committee
The Aid and Rescue Committee, or Va'adat Ha-Ezrah ve-ha-Hatzalah be-Budapesht was a small committee of Zionists based in Budapest in 1944-5, who were dedicated to helping Jews escape the Holocaust during the German occupation of Hungary.The main personalities of the Vaada were Dr...
, which provided assistance to Jews fleeing prosecution in Poland and Hungary.
After Germany invaded Hungary in March 1944, Komoly became the head of the International Red Cross department in charge of helping Jewish children. With the help of the embassies of Switzerland and other neutral countries, the Red Cross created 35 refuges for orphaned children (mostly Jewish), where about 6000 children and 600 volunteers working there were ultimately saved from deportation and possible extermination.
On the political front, Komoly activated for the neutrality of Hungary in the war. He tried to influence the government using his military status and his connection with the son of Miklós Horthy
Miklós Horthy
Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya was the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary during the interwar years and throughout most of World War II, serving from 1 March 1920 to 15 October 1944. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" .Admiral Horthy was an officer of the...
. Under his leadership, the Aid and Rescue Committee organized non-Jewish protests against Nazi policies in Hungary, especially among the clergy and politicians.
On January 1, 1945, just before the arrival of the Soviet army in Budapest, Arrow Cross
Arrow Cross Party
The Arrow Cross Party was a national socialist party led by Ferenc Szálasi, which led in Hungary a government known as the Government of National Unity from October 15, 1944 to 28 March 1945...
militia picked him up from his house. Nothing else is known about him, and it is assumed that he was murdered by the authorities.
Legacy
Komoly Otto received posthumously an award from the Hungarian government for his activities. The award was handed to his wife in Israel.In his honor, a moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
in southern Israel - Yad Natan
Yad Natan
Yad Natan is a moshav in southern Israel in Hevel Lakhish, near the town of Kiryat Gat. It is part of the Lakhish Regional Council. The moshav was founded in 1953 by Jewish immigrants from the Hungarian youth movement HaNoar haTzioni as part of the effort to settle the region...
, is named after him. A number of towns in Israel have streets named after him.