Righteous among the Nations
WHY DID CHIUNE SUGIHARA RISK HIS LIFE TO HELP JEWISH PEOPLE DURING THE HOLOCAUST?
What was his MOTIVE
Sugihara believed humanity was more important than anything else in the world. He didn’t fear for anything, such as his job, and believed that he had a moral obligation to save the Jews and so started writing visas. He had a belief in God, and through his religion, he chose to obey his God and disobey his government. Sources also come to the conclusion of the empathy he showed towards them.
ARGUMENT for why he risked his life:
Chiune Sugihara risked his life and job to help Jewish people escape from Europe during the Holocaust because of his character/personality to save everyone because he believed life matters over anything else.
Source Analysis:
SOURCE 1
Source: Yad Vashem (Righteous Among the Nations: Chiune Sugihara)
The source is a website by Yad Vashem, which is a museum in Jerusalem. It is about the victims of the holocaust and those who fought for peace, such as Chiune Sugihara.
Sugihara’s motive was to save those innocent defenceless people as seen in his quote: “I really had a hard time, being unable to sleep for two nights. I thought as follows. I can issue transit visas…by virtue of my authority as consul. I cannot allow these people to die, people who have come to me for help…Whatever punishment may be imposed upon me (disobeying government), I know I should follow my conscience.”
The source gives an insight into Sugihara’s thought process. His motivation, from the quote, can be said that he had a moral obligation to humanity to not let innocent people die, he didn’t care for his punishment as a consequence, just that the people were safe. He used this justification: “I may have disobeyed my government, but if I hadn’t, I would have been disobeying God". Putting his beliefs over anything else, which in-turn saved the lives of thousands of Jews.
This supports the argument by proving, through the source and his quotes, that he placed humanity, and obligation to people on-top of anything else.
SOURCE 2
Source: Facing History and Ourselves (The Rescuers: Chiune Sugihara in Kaunas, Lithuania)
This source includes two Jewish people, who were from Poland, that experienced Sugihara’s choices and actions first hand. It includes a tour of the Consulate where he wrote the ‘Visas for life’ which saved Sylvia Smoller Austerer and Berl Schor.
Sylvia Austerer, describes the type of man Sugihara was. “What he let loose was goodness”, she also stated that Sugihara developed his decency towards humanity through small choices he made throughout his lifetime. Showing that when he was faced against the choice of saving his job or the lives of all those Jews, it was in his character to do the right thing. Sylvia also explained how his actions created a ‘Butterfly-effect” in that he saved approximately 6,000 people back then, but has now become potentially 10,000 people today.
Berl Schor, states that Sugihara “really paid for it he paid with his health”. Referring to how Sugihara’s life was changed as a consequence of his choice, as Sugihara worked on the docks, after returning, and carried heavy weights.
This shows the humility and personality that Chiune Sugihara had, he didn’t care about how his life was affected, he only cared about the people he could save. He saved all those people simply because of his good-natured personality, and humbleness.
SOURCE 3
Source: thejapanesetimes (Chiune Sugihara: man of conscience)
Several quotes of Sugihara can be seen from his memoir (1983), of which there are extracts throughout the article. The following quotes are extracts that refer to the argument, showing Sugihara’s intentions.
“I could have refused to issue them (visas)…I came to the conclusion, that the spirit of humane and charitable action takes precedence above all else”. Sugihara pondered on whether he should follow his governments instructions, or as seen in the quote, choose the humane and charitable action. He chose the latter option and placed that belief above all else.
“I am convinced to this day that I took that path of action faithfully, putting my job on the line, without fear or trepidation in my heart.” Even after all those years of struggling with manual labour, Sugihara didn’t regret his choices, emphasising his willingness to place the lives of anyone else above his own.
His humbleness is further revealed through his quote, “I took it upon myself to save (the refugees). If I was to be punished for this, there was nothing I could do about it. It was my personal conviction to do it as a human being.”
In stating that, he had no grudges against his own actions, as he could do nothing about the consequences of it, and it was his own choice to undertake those actions.
His quote, “as a human being”, reveals that Sugihara viewed the Jews as humans, not judging them on any physical or mental trait they may have, that others, especially Nazi’s would look down on them for.