The Ładoś List

During World War II, a courageous and unofficial coalition of Polish diplomats, headed by Aleksander Ładoś from the Polish Legation in Bern, collaborated with Jewish organizations to assist European Jews. From at least 1941 to the end of 1943, this group covertly obtained and distributed passports and citizenship documents from four Latin American countries: Paraguay, Honduras, Haiti, and Peru. These documents were instrumental in shielding Jewish people from deportation to the concentration camps of the Third Reich, as they were recognized as foreign nationals.

The Ładoś Group, through their efforts, managed to issue between 4,000 and 5,000 such documents as part of a broader effort that might have affected up to 10,000 individuals. For the first time, a comprehensive list has been compiled, detailing the individuals who received these life-saving documents. The current list includes 3,282 names, encompassing those who survived, those who sadly perished, and many whose final destinies remain unknown. Alongside the list, the publication provides a detailed account of the group's activities, the techniques they employed, and an initial statistical analysis of the gathered data. This research was a collaborative effort by the Polish Embassy in Bern, the Pilecki Institute, and other supporting organizations such as the Jewish Historical Institute, the Institute of National Remembrance, and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.

The release of the initial edition of "The Ładoś List" was met with significant acclaim, drawing attention from diverse audiences, particularly Jewish communities in Europe and the United States. These communities contributed newfound stories of survival and additional source materials, enriching the historical context. The diplomatic and activist endeavors of the Ładoś Group, long overlooked, have finally sparked global discourse. Survivors of the Holocaust and their descendants, as well as scholars and journalists worldwide, have entered this dialogue. This widespread engagement, supported by ongoing research and inquiries by the Pilecki Institute, facilitated the continuation of work on the Ładoś List and the inclusion of further names, culminating in a second, expanded edition.

This edition holds a unique place in Holocaust history, showcasing a list of 3,282 individuals—a small yet significant segment of those targeted for rescue with forged Latin American passports by Polish diplomats based in Switzerland. It's one of the most significant rescue operations during the genocide orchestrated by Nazi Germany. This compelling volume not only presents this crucial list but also delves into its origins, importance, and the methodological approach behind its compilation.