I just finished reading Alex Kershaw's To Save a People. It tells the story of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swede posted to his country's embassy in Budapest during WWII. He was posted for the express purpose of saving as many Jewish people in Budapest as he could. His funding for this project came in part from President Roosevelt's administration. Kershaw's writing, as usual, is clear and concise. I discovered another "Righteous among the Nations" who took incredible risks -- dare I say heroic risks -- to save his fellow humans during extraordinary times. Wallenberg's reward for this was not glory.
Wallenberg as quoted by those who interacted with him:
"Sure, it gets a little scary, sometimes [...] but for me there's no choice. I've taken on the assignment and I'd never be able to go back to Stockholm without knowing inside myself that I'd done all a man could do to save as many Jews as possible."
On going to Buda as the Russians were nearing the city to see what he could do to help the desperate Jewish people there despite the Arrow Cross (Hungarian Nazis) distributing photos of him to their military units in Buda: "My life is one life, but this is a matter of saving thousands of lives."
For those of you who read my trip reports, "the young adult" found the story depressing. I found a story that reflects the reality of a world where noble, righteous behavior often is not rewarded. I hope to go to Budapest in the fall... I will visit the Holocaust memorials to pay honor to those who suffered/perished and will look for the Wallenberg statue to pay my respects to him.