World

Sweden honors WWII hero with commemoration day

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden will honor its World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg with an annual commemoration day in recognition of his achievements in saving thousands of Jews from the Nazis in Hungary.

Wallenberg, who would have turned 100 this year, was on a diplomatic mission in Hungary when detained by Soviet authorities in 1945. He is believed to have died in captivity, though the time and circumstances of his death remain a mystery.

Wallenberg is credited for saving at least 20,000 Jews by giving them Swedish travel documents, or moving them to safe houses. He was also instrumental in dissuading German officers from massacring the 70,000 inhabitants of Budapest's ghetto.

Swedish Culture Minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth said Friday that the country will earmark Aug. 27 as an official Wallenberg day.

Related Headlines

  • Highway pileup in Sweden leaves 3 dead

    Police say a highway pileup involving dozens of cars and trucks has killed at least three people and injured about 20 in southern Sweden. Police spokeswoman Eva-Lotta ... 

  • How the conclaves fared in the past century

    Over the past century, no conclave has lasted more than five days and the fastest vote was for Pope Pius XII. Twice prelates from North America missed the vote because they ... 

  • Guido Westerwelle

    German minister warns about al-Qaida Syrian links

    Germany's foreign minister says weapons meant for opponents of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad must not fall into the hands of rebels aligned with al-Qaida. 

  • Peter Erdo

    Hungarian cardinal's parents defied communism

    He's the son of a deeply religious couple who defied communist repression to practice their faith. And if elected pope, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo would be the second ...