Varian Fry

[herakles]

Varian was an American who belonged to the Emergency Rescue Committee who were devoted to helping significant people escape the Nazi/Vichy regimes. They attempted to enlist the aid of their Governemnt without any success so took matters into their own hands.

Fry volunteered to travel to France and duly landed there with $3000 strapped to his chest and a list of people's names.

By the time he eventually left he had helped about 2000 (or even up to 4000) people escape. And without any help from the Americans or the British (until it suited them).

His story has been largely ignored and he received no recognition except from Israel. One can't help but make a connection with Shindler.

You can read this remarkable story here:

http://www.historynet.com/varian-fry-the-american-schindler.htm

There are other sites that give a good explanation as well such as this one at Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varian_Fry

[vivian]

Very interesting reading, I had never heard about him. There have always been people like him ready to step in and "do something", but how they manage to keep a lid on the nerves and fight down a sense of panic day after day I just don't know.

Thanks and regards,
Vivian