A Story of Courage and Ethical Decision-Making

Someone recently asked me to define ethical decision-making. I immediately went back to an old Special Forces definition of integrity that I was raised with--that it's all about doing the right thing, even when nobody's looking.? While values are about belief systems, ethics is about behavior. The more I thought about it, I added one more component—that ethics transcends time and place.

While there is no shortage of those who have proven themselves to be unethical (Bernie Madoff, Kenneth Lay, Elizabeth Holmes come immediately to mind), there are also just as many examples of ethical decision makers who deserve our attention and admiration.? For me, one of those leaders is Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish architect, businessman, diplomat, and humanitarian who saved thousands of Jews in German-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust from German Nazis and Hungarian fascists during the later stages of World War II.

In 1944, as the Holocaust raged across Europe, Hungary became one of the last refuges for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. However, that refuge turned into a nightmare when the Nazis occupied Hungary and began deporting Hungarian Jews to concentration camps. Amid this darkness, Raoul Wallenberg was sent to Budapest by the Swedish government, in cooperation with the U.S. War Refugee Board, with a mission to save as many Jewish lives as possible. He arrived in July 1944 and immediately began using his position and resources to protect Hungarian Jews from deportation and death.

One of Wallenberg's most effective strategies was the creation of the Schutz-Pass, a protective passport that granted the bearer immunity from deportation by declaring them under Swedish protection. These documents, although not officially recognized by the Nazis, were often respected due to Wallenberg's relentless negotiation and bluffing. Wallenberg and his colleagues issued tens of thousands of these Schutz-Passes, often working around the clock to produce and distribute them.

Establishing Safe Houses

Wallenberg also established a network of safe houses throughout Budapest. He designated these buildings as Swedish territory, thereby placing them under diplomatic protection. The Swedish flags painted on the doors and the presence of the Schutz-Pass provided some level of security against the Nazi and Arrow Cross forces. By the end of 1944, Wallenberg had established over 30 such safe houses, sheltering approximately 10,000 Jews.

Bribery and Bluffing

Wallenberg was not afraid to use bribes, bluffs, and threats to achieve his goals. He would often confront Nazi officials directly, demanding the release of Jews who had been rounded up. On several occasions, he intervened personally at train stations where Jews were being loaded onto trains bound for Auschwitz, distributing Schutz-Passes and pulling people off the trains under the guise of them being Swedish citizens.

Raoul Wallenberg even had several face-to-face confrontations with Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the Nazis' "Final Solution" for the Jews in Hungary. During one encounter, Wallenberg confronted Eichmann, saying, "Face it, you've lost the war. Why not give it up now?" Eichmann coldly replied that he was staying to complete his "unfinished business"—the extermination of the Hungarian Jews, and Wallenberg himself. He threatened, "Don't think you're immune just because you're a diplomat and a neutral!" A few days later, Wallenberg's car was attacked

Daily Risk and Secrecy

Wallenberg's work was incredibly dangerous. He operated under constant threat from both the Nazis and the Hungarian Arrow Cross, the fascist party collaborating with the Nazis. Despite the risk to his own life, Wallenberg tirelessly continued his mission. His actions were often carried out in secrecy to avoid detection, and his close encounters with death were numerous.

Disappearance and Legacy

In January 1945, as the Soviet Red Army approached Budapest, Wallenberg was arrested by Soviet forces under suspicion of espionage. He was never seen in public again. It’s believed that he died in Soviet custody on July 17, 1947, at the age of 34?in Moscow’s Lubyanka prison. The exact circumstances of his death remain a mystery.

Raoul Wallenberg's story is a profound example of ethical decision-making under extreme duress. His commitment to saving lives was absolute, despite the immense personal risk and lack of immediate recognition. Wallenberg’s legacy lives on as a testament to the power of individual courage and moral integrity in the face of overwhelming evil.? In thinking about Raoul Wallenberg, I’m reminded that true leadership is ultimately about making the right call for the right reasons, no matter the cost. That’s something all of us can remember when we’re facing big decisions in our own lives.