ACTIVITIES OF THE USA GOVERNMENTAL WAR REFUGEE BOARD: JEWISH ASPECT (1944 – 1945)

Abstract

The purpose of the study – to describe the War Refugee Board`s activities concerning the providing of salvation to the Jewish population in European countries during 1944 – 1945. The methodology of the study is based on the principles of historicism, consistency, science, as well as on the use of general scientific methods (analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction) and special-historical (historiographical and source-analysis analysis, historical-systemic, historical-genetic methods). The novelty is that, firstly, in the national historiography on the basis of exclusively foreign archival materials, the role of the WRB in the process of assistance and rescue of European Jews is clarified; main directions of this institution`s activity in the last stage of the World War II are described. Conclusions. The WRB was the first government agency for helping and rescuing the Jews during the Holocaust. The organization was established by Executive Order by President F. D. Roosevelt in 1944, as response on mass requests of American Jewish societies to provide aid and rescue their European brethren. The WRB managed to establish effective interaction with various institutions (the JDC, ICRC, WJC, JA, «Vaad Haatzala») around the world. The main activities of the WRB were: 1) the issuance of special licenses for the humanitarian activities of other institutions; 2) transfer the funds to intermediaries for assistance and rescue; 3) provision of food, clothing, medicines to victims; 4) issuing visas for further travel abroad; 5) organization of emigration. Through these kinds of activities, the Board managed to save tens of thousands of civilian persons (mostly Jews) in European countries. But, considering the fact, that the WRB began its work only in 1944, when the main part of Jewish population in Europe was exterminated, we can assume that the rescue activities of the agency could be more productive, if it functioned from the beginning of the World War II. With the end of war in Europe in 1945, the activity of the WRB was no longer needed, and the organization was dissolved in September 1945.