Poland in Malta

Between 1941 and 1943, members of the group illegally obtained and issued passports from Latin American countries, primarily Paraguay, but also Honduras, Haiti, and Peru. These documents were sent to Jews living in ghettos and Nazi-occupied territories.

Holding such a passport could mean the difference between life and death. Instead of being deported to extermination camps, passport holders were often sent to internment camps, where there was a chance they could be exchanged for German prisoners of war. It is estimated that up to 10,000 people may have benefited from this operation.

The Nazi system of persecution relied heavily on stripping Jews of citizenship and legal protection. Stateless individuals were especially vulnerable to deportation and execution.

In this context, obtaining any form of citizenship, even a fictitious one, could save lives. Diplomats, with access to official documents and international networks, were among the few who could provide such help on a larger scale.

The Polish legation in Bern was one of the few diplomatic missions that operated continuously throughout the war. Its location in neutral Switzerland made it uniquely positioned to conduct both official diplomatic work and covert humanitarian efforts.

From Bern, a network of cooperation was established with Jewish organizations and Latin American diplomats, enabling the success of the passport operation.

The core members of the group included:

• Aleksander Ładoś – leader and head of the Polish legation in Bern
• Konstanty Rokicki – vice-consul who personally filled out thousands of passports
• Stefan Ryniewicz – responsible for diplomatic protection of the operation
• Juliusz Kühl – liaison with Jewish organizations
• Abraham Silberschein – coordinator and organizer of support
• Chaim Eiss – key figure in building networks and co-financing the effort

Their cross-cultural cooperation was essential to the success of the mission.

For decades, the activities of the group remained largely unknown. Only in recent years have researchers, particularly from the Pilecki Institute, shed light on the scale and significance of their work.

In 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation honoring diplomats who saved Jews during the Holocaust. Members of the Ładoś Group were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal—one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.

The story of the Ładoś Group is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, individuals can act with courage and humanity. By risking their careers, safety, and lives, they stood against a system of hatred and helped save thousands.