Just this week, my cousin Judy in California discovered this newspaper article about Harry Roth when she was searching through memorabilia of her mother Alice.
Here is a translation of the article:
Star of the week: HARRY ROTH, who was born in Nagymihály[1] and now lives in East Norwalk
Harry Roth came up with an extraordinary idea, and thanks to his defiant courage he managed to save 3000 Jewish brothers and sisters in Czechoslovakia, then he participated in Israel’s battle
Even after twenty years the Hungarian Jewish fraternity still has unknown heroes, who stood their grounds and proved their courage during the most tiring times, that is the dreaded days of the Nazi cannibalism.
Among them Harry Roth has a special place. He currently lives in the USA, in Norwalk, Connecticut and he is an influential businessmen. He used to live in Slovakia. After reading his letter published in Az Ember, people from all over the world bore witness to his actions stemming from courageous and brotherly solidarity. He attached this letter to his contribution to the Barna Kiss Found[2], and we published it in full at that time.
The writers of these letters told us details about Harry Roth’s heroic deeds in Slovakia, and urged us to have a conversation with him, so that he can tell more about his life saving actions and exceptional valor.
USA
That is how we came to meet with the very sympathetic looking Harry Roth, who is the owner of Norwalk’s most reputable deli. The whole town respects, loves and appreciates him.
“How long have you been living in the USA?” we asked firstly from the modestly apologizing Harry Roth.
“I came here from Israel in 1956 with my wife and son who is a very successful dentist. Me, like most of the immigrants started here with no money. At first I was an agent of Fuller Brush, the company that made vacuum cleaners. Then I worked on distributing the Encyclopedia Britannica and I learnt speaking English pretty well in the meantime. Then I rented out a small place in Norwalk and opened a deli. I worked nonstop from 6 AM until 11 PM and laid the foundation of our welfare. In the third year I managed to buy the building and now – thanks to God and to the USA – we have a nice and calm life here, and we also take our share from the efforts helping our brothers and sisters in need in Israel and elsewhere.”
Királyhelmec
“That is how we met,” we add, “since your contribution to the Barna Kiss Found helped us get to know your lifesaving work through our readers, and that is why we would like to know more about what happened in Czechoslovakia where you miraculously saved thousands of Jews.”
“I was born in Nagymihály, Zemplén county. We lived in Királyhelmec, Slovakia. The Munich Agreement[3] gave back that part of the Highlands[4] to Hungary, and that is when our bank deposits were seized and it became impossible to make a living. We lost everything and I moved to Czechoslovakia with my younger brother. We chose Prague because that city was then free from the German Nazis. In November 1938 I already realized that we were trapped because it was only a question of time when the Nazis would attack the free part of Czechoslovakia, and I started organizing the under-the-radar immigration to the Holy Land.”
Prague
“But on the 15th of March 1939 the German Nazi hordes attacked Prague and I had to stop doing this. I resorted to a trick and started a resettlement movement to Slovakia. With the help of my brother I asked our brothers and sisters to make an appearance before the Gestapo and tell them that they want to move back to their former domicile, to Slovakia. First there were only a few people but later more and more came to the consulate. There was big chaos and bustling, so I grabbed a paper pad and started giving out numbers like I was a consular employee although I had no authority to do that. And when once a consular officer passed by me, he believed that I was there on behalf of the Gestapo and that’s why I’m handing out numbers. On the other hand the Gestapo thought I was a consular employee. That’s how I ended up at the German consulate as a reliable person. And suddenly I saw that the Gestapo’s stamped permits were on a writing desk with the following text: The holder of this permit is authorized to cross the German border.”
Paris
Harry Roth paused shortly then continued speaking with a smile.
“Our main problem was that we did not know how to get out of Hitler’s Czechoslovakia, and here the opportunity presented itself! Without any hesitation I grabbed a bunch permits, and I knew I found the way to our freedom! I gave the first permit to the Herskovits family and after two dreadfully anxious weeks I got a note from them: they managed to get to Paris without any problem! This was such joyful news that it gave my quest an incredible push, and in a short time I issued permits to about three thousand Hungarian Jews and persecuted anti-Nazi and Jew-friendly Christians, and I also ended up using one to go to Palestine.”
“That must have been very exciting and extremely hard!” we added.
“You are absolutely right!” he agreed. “It was awfully dangerous and maddeningly thrilling to give false travelling documents to about 3000 people and to help them cross the border. After they managed to leave behind the danger zone Yugoslavs and Greeks helped them.”
Israel
“After arriving to Palestine, did you meet someone you helped escape?” we asked.
“Yes, and the rescued families planted more than 15 memorial trees and named them after my family to express their gratitude.”
“How was living in Israel?” was our last question.
“I was a soldier and I did my share in fighting back for Zion up until my injury. Then the English army captured me. The best part of my life was when I lived in Israel and fought to make Herzl’s[5] dreams come true.”
He stared into the distance then continued.
“What I did in 1939 in Czechoslovakia to save my brothers and sisters, and what I did in Israel until 1956 for the sake of the new state of Israel, makes me happy, because it feels comforting to know that my life wasn’t for nothing. Being here now on the land that is most suited to make a prosperous living, it fills my heart with love and gratitude to live in the USA, which is the most special in the word’s first big states.”
“I wholeheartedly agree with you!” I said, then I shook hands with him, trying to convey my genuine respect.
USA
One of the missions of Az Ember is to introduce to our readers those who stood their grounds during the brutal times, and those stood their grounds in every part of the word, not having a homeland.
According to the direct witnesses who informed us, Harry Roth fulfilled the most beautiful and most noble fraternal duties both in Europe and in Israel.
According to our Norwalk readers and one of the most influential bank managers, Harry Roth became one of Norwalk’s most respectable citizen. As a reward for his unmatched diligence and honorable business operations, he has a bank loan of one hundred thousand USD.
We are obliged to present him as a role model of fulfilling duties and staying true. This Hungarian Jew was forced to start a new life, but he still managed to remain a decent, hard-working family man.
Written by Mikós Kenedi
[1] At the time of his birth Nagymihály belonged to Hungary, but after WWI that part of Hungary was annexed by Czechoslovakia, and now it belongs to Slovakia.
[2] They raised money to help the recovery of Barna Kiss, who was in hospital.
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement
[4] This is a historical geographical name and it doesn’t have an exact translation. It refers to the north part of the Kingdom of Hungary as it was in 1918.
[5] It’s very likely he talks about Theodor Herzl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Herzl