Per Anger

Per Anger. He was a prominent Swedish diplomat whose courageous actions during World War II saved numerous lives from Nazi persecution. Serving as a junior secretary at the Swedish legation in Budapest, he worked closely with Raoul Wallenberg in issuing protective passports and providing sanctuary to Hungarian Jews. His lifelong commitment to humanitarianism and diplomacy left a lasting legacy in Sweden and international human rights.

Early life and education

Per Anger was born in Gothenburg into a family with a strong academic tradition. He pursued higher education at Stockholm University and later at Uppsala University, where he studied law and political science. His academic focus on international relations and jurisprudence provided a strong foundation for his future career in the Swedish Foreign Service. After completing his studies, he entered the diplomatic corps, a path that would soon lead him to the heart of a major humanitarian crisis in Central Europe.

Diplomatic career

Anger began his diplomatic career in the late 1930s, with early postings in Berlin and Oslo. In 1942, he was assigned to the Swedish legation in Budapest, a critical diplomatic mission in Hungary, which was allied with the Axis powers. His role initially involved standard consular work, but it rapidly evolved as the German occupation of Hungary in 1944 escalated the persecution of Jews. Under the leadership of Minister Carl Ivan Danielsson, Anger became instrumental in developing the legation's humanitarian response, a effort that would later be massively expanded with the arrival of Raoul Wallenberg.

Actions during World War II

Following the Nazi invasion of Hungary in March 1944, Anger helped initiate the Swedish government's efforts to provide diplomatic protection to Hungarian Jews facing deportation to Auschwitz. He was central to the creation of the "protective passport," a document identifying bearers as under the protection of Sweden. When Raoul Wallenberg arrived in July 1944 as a special envoy, Anger became his key collaborator, helping to organize the distribution of thousands of these passports and establishing safe houses under the Swedish flag throughout Budapest. He personally intervened on several occasions, famously confronting Arrow Cross Party militiamen to secure the release of individuals being marched to the Danube for execution. His actions, alongside those of Wallenberg and other diplomats like Giorgio Perlasca, are credited with saving tens of thousands of lives during the Siege of Budapest.

Post-war life and legacy

After the war, Anger continued a distinguished diplomatic career, serving as Swedish Ambassador to numerous countries including Australia, Canada, and the Bahamas. He also held positions at the United Nations and within the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Throughout his life, he was a vocal advocate for remembering the victims of The Holocaust and honoring the legacy of Raoul Wallenberg, whose fate in the Soviet Union he tirelessly worked to clarify. He authored several books, including *With Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest*, which provided a crucial firsthand account of their rescue mission. His legacy is preserved through the Per Anger Prize, an international award for human rights work established by the Swedish government.

Awards and honors

For his extraordinary bravery, Per Anger was recognized as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1982. He was awarded the prestigious Order of the Sword by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. In 1995, he received the Hungarian Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. The Swedish Institute annually bestows the Per Anger Prize in his name to individuals and organizations demonstrating outstanding humanitarian efforts, ensuring his commitment to justice endures.

Category:Swedish diplomats Category:Righteous Among the Nations Category:1913 births Category:2002 deaths