Chiune Sugihara – A hero who saved Jews from Holocaust
2019-07-31 Wed
Chiune Sugihara- a Japanese government official who served as vice-consul for the Japanese Empire in Kaunas, Lithuania, died today on 31st July 1986. He was the man who risked his job in order to save thousands of Jews from the Holocaust. His courage and bravery is now praised by people around the world.His life story shows that even during the most tragic episodes of World War II, there were those who courageously defied political pressures and stuck to their morals. Sugihara helped some 6,000 Jews flee Europe by issuing transit visas to them so that they could travel through Japanese territory.
After the German Invasion of Poland in 1939 and the Soviet Union takeover of Lithuania in 1940, many Jewish refugees from Poland tried to acquire exit visas. Without the visas, it was dangerous to travel and impossible to find countries willing to issue them. Hundreds of refugees came to Japanese consulate, trying to get a visa to Japan.
On 29th July in 1939, Sugihara began issuing transit visas to thousands of Jewish refugees, defying direct orders from his supervisors to help the refugees escape via Japan. His act, against the orders of the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, is credited with saving approximately 6,000 Jews.
In 1985, the State of Israel honored Sugihara as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for his actions. He is the only Japanese national to have been so honored.
In 1998, Israel was the first country to honor Chiune Sugihara on their stamp. He has since been honored on stamps from Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Japan, Liberia, Lithuania, and Sierra Leone.
Visit philamart to view and purchase variety of stamps from all over the world.
Latest News
-
Demetrios I Bronze Coin, 8.32g, Sold For INR 26,000
2024-07-25 ThuDemetrius I Anicetus was a Greco-Bactrian and later Indo-Greek king who ruled regions from Bactria t...
-
Bharat Ratna - Gulzarilal Nanda
2024-07-24 WedOn 24th July 1997, the Twice Interim Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda received the highest civilian a...
-
Birth Anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak
2024-07-23 Tue“Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it”<br><br> Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born On This Day...
-
Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II, 'Archer type', Gold Heavy Dinar Sold For INR 1,10,000.
2024-07-19 FriChandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya, was one of the most powerful rulers of the Gupta Empire...
-
King George VI Silver Rupee Minted at Bombay Sold For INR 5,25,00
2024-07-18 ThuGeorge VI was Emperor of the British Empire from December 11, 1936, until he died in 1952. The Briti...