Why the Americans who rescued victims of the Nazis were both saints and liars
In short: During the Second World War, a group of Americans traveled globally to aid those targeted by Nazi Germany. These individuals, including Quakers, Unitarians, and Jews, operated in a fog of uncertainty, often resorting to illicit activities and deception to save lives. Their stories reveal a complex, often overlooked history of humanitarian intervention.
The individuals who undertook these rescue missions, such as Martha and Waitstill Sharp, Varian Fry, and Laura Margolis, are largely forgotten today. Their work was defined by a blend of altruism and necessity; to bypass the lethal constraints imposed by the Nazi regime, they engaged in clandestine operations. This included illegal currency exchanges, smuggling undocumented refugees, and bending official regulations to secure essential supplies. Because their methods were inherently deceptive, they were, in the words of historian Debórah Dwork, simultaneously saints and liars.
For many women involved in these efforts, the work provided an unprecedented degree of independence. While philanthropy was traditionally viewed as women's work, these overseas assignments allowed them to break free from restrictive social norms. They found the experience transformative, shaping their own identities even as they acted as agents of survival for others. Their motivations were complex, fueled not only by moral principles but also by personal ambition, a desire for adventure, and a frustration with the limitations of their lives at home.
Dwork argues that historical analysis often overlooks the role of the irrational and the unpredictable. While Nazi ideology and policy created the necessity for these missions, the outcomes for individuals often hinged on chance, timing, and luck—such as a fortuitous rainstorm masking a fugitive's escape or the specific timing of a guard's patrol. Furthermore, the records reveal constant, often petty, infighting among the relief workers, reflecting the immense pressure and uncertainty they faced. By examining these human frictions and the role of chance, we gain a more nuanced understanding of how history unfolds in real time, far from the clean narratives often presented in textbooks.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Saints & Liars: The Stories of Americans Who Saved Endangered People from the Nazis - Debórah Dwork
- Also: Saints and Liars: The Untold Stories of Americans Who Saved Endangered People from the Nazis
- Also: podcast.gresham.ac.uk — Saints & Liars: The Stories of Americans Who Saved Endangered People from the Nazis - Debórah Dwork - Gresham College Lectures
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