When we reflect on the heroes of the Holocaust, names like Oskar Schindler, the German businessman who rescued over 1,200 Jews, often come to mind. However, another remarkable figure emerged during this dark chapter in history: Abdol Hossein Sardari, an Iranian diplomat who risked everything to save Jews from Nazi persecution. His story is one of courage, deception, and unwavering moral conviction in the face of overwhelming odds.
Iranian diplomat Abdol Hossein Sardari saved thousands of French Jews during the Holocaust. In 1979, the mullahs destroyed all of his possessions. pic.twitter.com/Wnz5yxa99T
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) May 5, 2024
Sardari was not your typical hero. Born into a prominent Iranian family, he enjoyed the privileges of Persian royalty, including an education abroad and influential political connections. He began his diplomatic career in Paris in 1937, serving as a junior diplomat. As France fell to the Nazis in 1940, he was promoted to head of Consular Affairs, tasked with overseeing the well-being of Iranians in Paris.
Within this community were a couple of hundred Iranian Jews, many of whom had fled Iran during the Iranian Bolshevik Revolution or had moved to Paris seeking economic opportunities. They lived relatively well, owning homes and celebrating holidays with grand festivities, until the Nazis imposed their brutal regime.
The situation for Jews in France took a drastic turn on September 27, 1940, when the Nazis mandated that all Jews register with the police. Sardari observed the escalating harassment and discrimination against non-Aryans, realizing the gravity of the situation. Jews began losing their jobs, being barred from public life, and facing arrest. The French government required Jews to carry ID cards marked with the word "Juif" in bold red letters.
While the Nazis classified Iranians as related to the original Aryans, which offered some protection, Sardari felt a moral obligation to protect all Iranians, including Jewish ones. He could not stand idly by as his fellow citizens faced persecution.
Sardari's clever deception
To save the Iranian Jews, Sardari employed a bold and cunning strategy. He hosted lavish parties at the Iranian embassy, inviting German officials and winning their trust. This approach allowed him to build connections that would prove invaluable in his efforts to protect the Iranian Jews.
Using his legal education, Sardari crafted an elaborate deception. He wrote to the Vichy government, claiming that the Iranian Jews were not actually racially Jewish, but rather "Jugutis," a group of purebred Iranians who had adopted certain Jewish practices. He argued that they should be considered Aryan because of their blood and cultural heritage. This audacious claim was a fabrication, yet it was designed to exploit the Nazis' twisted racial logic.
Sardari's arguments gained traction within the Nazi bureaucracy, prompting further investigation into his claims. Meanwhile, he took advantage of his position to issue blank passports and visas from the embassy's vault, granting hundreds of Iranian Jews the means to escape persecution without revealing their Jewish identity.
As the war progressed and the situation worsened for Jews in France, Sardari's efforts intensified. In 1941, as British and Russian forces invaded Iran, the Iranian government recalled Sardari. Undeterred, he continued his mission, even after losing his salary and enduring hardships. He went without food and heat, yet his resolve remained unshaken. His appeals eventually reached Adolf Eichmann, the infamous SS officer responsible for organizing the Final Solution. Although Eichmann dismissed Sardari's claims as "Jewish tricks," Sardari's unwavering commitment led to a remarkable outcome.
Despite Eichmann's rejection, Sardari's efforts bore fruit. German officials began to accept his pleas, and soon, the Vichy authorities exempted the so-called Jugutis from anti-Jewish legislation. Sardari's work initially focused on Iranian Jews, but as word spread, he found himself helping French and non-Iranian Jews as well.
The aftermath and legacy
His actions saved countless lives, and he became a hero among the Iranian Jewish community in Paris. However, upon returning to Iran, he faced legal charges for his actions. He spent ten days in jail for issuing visas to non-Iranians before being released through intervention.
After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Sardari's life took a tragic turn. The new Islamist government seized his property, stripped him of his ambassador's pension, and executed his nephew, who was the previous prime minister. Fearing for his life, Sardari fled to England, where he lived in poverty until his death in 1981.
Years later, Yad Vashem reached out to him for details about his life-saving work. In his response, Sardari humbly stated, "As you may know, I had the pleasure of being the Iranian Consul in Paris during the German occupation of France, and as such, it was my duty to save all Iranians, including Iranian Jews."
Abdol Hossein Sardari's story is a testament to the power of individual conviction and moral courage. He faced immense pressure and danger yet chose to act righteously, saving lives at great personal risk. His legacy serves as a reminder of the impact one person can have in the fight against injustice, and it challenges us to consider what we would do in similar circumstances.
