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How the Chinese consul in Vienna saved Jews from Nazi terror
Learn how Chinese diplomat Feng Shan Ho saved the lives of hundreds of Jews through visas in Vienna during the Nazi era.
How the Chinese consul in Vienna saved Jews from Nazi terror
Vienna remembers an extraordinary diplomat: Feng Shan Ho, the Chinese consul general during the Nazi era, is honored for his courageous actions. Between 1938 and 1939 he issued visas to hundreds to thousands of Jewish people to save them from the brutal persecution of the Nazis. At a time when the Jewish population in Austria was under massive pressure, Ho was an exception who saved many lives with his actions. That reports meinkreis.at.
Born in Yiyang, Hunan in 1901, Ho grew up in humble circumstances. His father died early and the family received support from Norwegian Lutheran missionaries who enabled him to receive an education. Ho studied at the University of Munich, among other places, and began his diplomatic career in Turkey in 1935 before being transferred to Vienna in 1937.
An act of humanity
The situation for the Jewish population worsened dramatically after Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. At that time, around 185,000 Jewish people were under massive threat. Most states had restrictive immigration regulations, which were reaffirmed at the Évian Conference in July 1938. Visas and ship tickets were difficult to obtain. But Ho ignored the instructions of his superior in Berlin and issued visas on his own initiative, even for those who did not want to travel to Shanghai but only needed an exit document to escape the German Reich. According to estimates, there could have been several thousand visas that he issued Yad Vashem reported.
A striking example of his humanity is the story of Eric Goldstaub, who after much effort received visas for his family. Lilith-Sylvia Doron, who met Ho during the Nazi attacks on Jewish citizens, can also tell of his heroic efforts. He helped her brother escape from Dachau. During this time, Ho issued his 200th visa in June 1938, reaching 1,906 on October 27, 1938.
Appreciation and legacy
After Kristallnacht in November 1938, the demand for exit documents rose sharply. Ho rented new premises for the consulate after the original building was confiscated and worked until his recall in May 1940. The reasons for his recall are unclear, but may have been related to his high-handed approach to the visa issue.
In the years after the war, Ho continued his diplomatic career. He worked, among other things, as an ambassador in several countries before retiring in 1973. After his death in San Francisco in 1997, his life-saving actions only became known through his daughter. Yad Vashem honored him posthumously in 2000 with the title of Righteous Among the Nations for his extraordinary humanitarian actions during the darkest chapters of history.
Today Vienna remembers Ho and his actions, which are a shining example of humanity and moral courage. There are several memorial plaques in the city that commemorate his tireless efforts. By the beginning of 2024, a total of 115 people from Austria had been awarded the title of “Righteous Among the Nations”, including Ho, who was the only Chinese to be recognized for his actions Wikipedia noted.