The Holocaust: Could the Allies Have Done More to Save the Jews?

The period leading up to and during World War II saw one of the darkest chapters in human history: the Holocaust. During this time, the Allies, including Britain and its Empire, accepted a significant number of Jewish refugees. However, could they have done more to prevent the immense suffering and loss of life?

Victory uncertainties and expediency

Just prior to and during World War II, the Allies faced enormous uncertainty regarding victory. The prospects of victory were not as certain as they appear to us in hindsight. The Allied commanders often had to consider strategic moves that might involve the sacrifice of certain populations, including their own.

For example, during the early stages of World War II, there was a risk that Japan could overrun Australia. Some British leaders considered the possibility of concentrating forces elsewhere and later liberating Australia, even if this meant allowing the Japanese to conquer it. Australians, being white and of British descent, were seen as expendable—a factor that, when applied to Jews, was even more critical.

Another example is the contingency plans for the UK's evacuation to Canada if necessary, and the statements made by Prime Minister Churchill about the strategic importance of the Middle East. These factors highlight the potential expendability of certain populations and the limited consideration given to saving Jewish lives.

A widespread presence of anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism was deeply ingrained in European societies, even among anti-German factions. This underscores the complexity of the Allies' efforts to intervene in the Holocaust. The Allies were cautious about framing the conflict as solely a Jewish issue, which could have worsened the situation further.

Moreover, certain circles among Jews believed that it might have been possible to bribe the Germans to allow a significant number of Jews to escape. However, historical evidence suggests that this was a German bluff, and such a bribe would have had little impact.

Case studies: Actions and inactions

Turkey

During World War II, Turkey was officially neutral but leaned towards the Axis powers. Despite this, approximately 2,200 to 2,500 Turkish Jews were deported to extermination camps. Local anti-Jewish laws were enforced, and Jews were subjected to forced labor. This situation highlights the precarious position of the Jewish community in nations that were not direct combatants.

Contrary to the situation in Turkey, Spain, a neutral nation, provided some relief to Jewish refugees. Approximately 7,500 Jews found refuge in Spain, and another 4,000 were granted Spanish diplomatic protection. However, early plans to deport Jews were thwarted after British warnings.

The Allied efforts and their limitations

The Allies took some positive steps to aid Jewish refugees. For instance, Switzerland and Sweden played crucial roles in saving tens of thousands of Jews, often in coordination with US authorities. However, their efforts were constrained by the broader strategic concerns of the war.

Another example is the situation in Palestine. While Britain controlled Palestine between 1917 and the end of World War II, the situation was complex. In 1939, the British government introduced the White Paper, which strictly limited Jewish immigration. This policy was further enforced during the war, leading to significant restrictions. Had the British not imposed these restrictions, many Jews could have escaped to Palestine, as was the case in Bulgaria, where 48,000 Jews were protected by their fellow citizens despite being formally allied with Germany.

In Romania, although half of the Jewish population survived, the authorities did not consistently protect their lives. An unseaworthy boat, the Struma, carrying over 800 Rumanian Jews, was severely impacted by British refusal and ultimately sank, resulting in the loss of 791 lives.

Lessons and ongoing debates

The question remains: If the British and Americans had done everything possible to save Jews, how many more could have been saved? Some argue that the number would be high, while others believe it would be lower.

Proponents of the latter argument, like Bernard D. J. Duckworth Rubinstein in his book "The Myth of Rescue," suggest that the democracies could not have saved more Jews than they did. While most experts disagree with this claim, it highlights the nuanced nature of the rescue efforts and the challenges faced by the Allies.

It seems clear that if Palestine had been more open to Jewish immigration, many more lives could have been saved. However, the exact number remains uncertain. A conservative estimate suggests that fewer than 30,000 additional lives could have been saved, which, while not a small number, still falls short of the full scale of the loss.

Despite significant anti-Semitism in many parts of Europe, sympathy for the Jews was also widespread. Both phenomena require recognition and analysis.