The perverted history of White buses and Mr. Bernadotte. |
| Bus DSB 215. The bus has been owned by the Danska Statsbaner (DSB) - Danish State Railways. In December 1944-45 four buses of this type were included in the transport of 200 (199) inmates from the concentration camp Buchenwald. This pure Danish action brought at the beginning of 1945 another 141 Danish inmates. Together 341. The logistics of this Danish rescue mission were thereafter used by the White Bus mission that started on March 8, 1945. Thereafter, after April 7th, 1945 several buses of that type were included in the Red Cross's white-painted fleet of vehicles, the so-called White Buses, which rescued inmates from concentration camps. This type of bus was called Triangle after the Danish car and train factory, the United Motor Factories Triangle, Odense. |
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| April 28, 1945, the last day of arrival of White Buses to Malmö, Sweden. The photo is the lower part of the Inresekortet - Entry card to Sweden. |
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| Last day of arrival of White Buses (left) and White Boats (right) - April 28, 1945, and July 26, 1945. |
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| What is known for sure are, the duration of the mission and the fact that the last White bus and also the people transported from Germany landed on a ferry in Malmö, Sweden on April 28, 1945. Here Polish, Jewish, and one Norwegian, all former inmates in the German concentration camps on the ferry S/S Malmö. One of the girls in the photo wrote: Freedom! Free people. |
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| Identification of the true White bus that was driving in Germany. |
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| The true White bus was photographed in 1994 in Stockholm. Observe the markings on the bus (the Swedish flag and the Red Cross organization). Prior to entering Germany the information about the markings was sent to the Allies forces in order to prevent harm to vehicles. |
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| The true White bus was photographed in 1994 in Stockholm. Observe the markings on the bus (the Swedish flag and the Red Cross organization). Prior to entering Germany the information about the markings was sent to the Allies forces in order to prevent harm to vehicles. This one is not fully reconstructed. See the picture below. |
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| The true White bus transporting Danish Jews. Observe the markings on the bus (the Swedish flag and the Red Cross organization). Information about the markings was sent to the Allies forces in order to prevent harm to vehicles. |
Yad Vashem and the White bus mission.
I want just to discuss here the White bus mission. Not the UNRRA-mission White Boats or other types of transports of the people from Germany to Sweden at the end of WWII. Just transports with White buses. The reason is the way that Museum Yad Vashem is displaying and describing the White bus mission and its history.
In the year 2023, there is still no deep research or reliable statistics regarding the number of Jews, the Holocaust survivors that entered Sweden in the Spring of 1945. What is known for sure are, the duration of the mission and the fact that the last White bus and also the people transported from Germany landed on a ferry in Malmö, Sweden on April 28, 1945.
Although all individuals that entered Sweden in 1945 left when entering Sweden the Inresekort, entry cards, there are no reliable statistics on the total number of Jews who reached Sweden by White buses in 1945.
Danish Red buses started transports from the concentration Camps in December 1944.
Bus DSB 215. The bus has been owned by the Danska Statsbaner - Danish State Railways. In December 1944-45 four buses of this type were included in the transport of 200 (199) inmates from the concentration camp Buchenwald. This pure Danish action brought at the beginning of 1945 another 141 Danish inmates. Together 341. The logistics of this Danish rescue mission were thereafter used by the White Bus mission that started on March 8, 1945. Thereafter, after April 7th, 1945 several buses of that type were included in the Red Cross's white-painted fleet of vehicles, the so-called White Buses, which rescued inmates from concentration camps. This type of bus was called Triangle after the Danish car and train factory, the United Motor Factories Triangle, Odense. Tuesday 5 December 1944 at 6.30 in the morning, an armada consisting of four red DSB buses from the Copenhagen-Køge route and three large ambulances from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, and a car that should lead the convoy, rolled off from the depot in Valby, heading towards Roskildevej. Tuesday evening we were in Padborg, where we had a festive dinner, all together in a special dining room at Padborghus Hotel. 18 (?) Driver and mechanic, Holger Funder, from the Red Cross, there was to lead the transport, as he had been to Buchenwald a couple of times with the Red Cross Packages for the interned, Dr. Juel Henningsen, Head of the Tour and Dr. Toftemark from the Norwegian Civil Air Force, Department Nurse Ms. Jensen and I. Here we got one night's real sleep in beds, the last of the trip. At 6 in the morning, we gathered to start south, and reached Krusaa, where it took a long time to cross the border, our passports consisted of a long list of names and number plates on the cars. While we were there, a fishing truck came back from Germany without a driver's seat. The driver sat on a box and steered the wheel, all the wood in the cab had been burned away during an air raid. We looked at each other but said nothing. We wondered how our cars look out the next time we pass the border.
Fish lorries at the border.
Almost three months earlier, on 19 September 1944, approximately 2 000 Danish police officers from Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense were arrested by German police and military. The majority were sailed from Copenhagen's Free Harbor to Lübeck and thereafter transported in cattle wagons, 50 each, to the Neuengamme concentration camp a little south of Hamburg. On September 29, the journey continued, again in cattle wagons to Buchenwald concentration camp. Buchenwald with its 63 000 prisoners was severely overcrowded. The 1 960 Danes were accommodated in their own barracks, given as much as 28 centimeters of space per person. man to sleep on and had its own appeal site and concentration camp privileges, which meant, among other things, that one escaped witnessing public punishment and hangings. As a neighbor, however, you had the Jewish camp, a tent camp in the middle of the winter cold. What was witnessed here of human degradation, hunger, disease and indescribable brutality was far beyond ordinary comprehension and contributed to a mental collapse among the officers.
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| Tuesday 5 December 1944 at 6.30 in the morning, an armada consisting of four red DSB buses from the Copenhagen-Køge route and three large ambulances from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, and a car that should lead the convoy, rolled off from the depot in Valby, heading towards Roskildevej. Bus DSB 215. The bus has been owned by the Danska Statsbaner - Danish State Railways. In December 1944-45 four buses of this type were included in the transport of 200 (199) inmates from the concentration camp Buchenwald. This pure Danish action brought at the beginning of 1945 another 141 Danish inmates. Together 341. The logistics of this Danish rescue mission were thereafter used by the White Bus mission that started on March 8, 1945. Thereafter, after April 7th, 1945 several buses of that type were included in the Red Cross's white-painted fleet of vehicles, the so-called White Buses, which rescued inmates from concentration camps. This type of bus was called Triangle after the Danish car and train factory, the United Motor Factories Triangle, Odense. |
Theresienstadt - transport of 423 Danish Jews
Back to the transport of Jews by White buses. On the 18th of April 1945, 423 prisoners released from Theresienstadt reached Malmö. These were virtually all Jews from Denmark. International Red Cross visited Theresienstadt on April 21 and took over its administration on May 2, 1945. Thereafter SS-commandant Rahm and the rest of the SS fled the Theresienstadt. I feel it is important to consider the dates above and use the term transportation rather than rescue. It is likely that staying put, staying in the camp, and awaiting liberation was a more safe alternative for these Danish Jews. The state of the German front was from mid-April critical. Allied forces broke
through in the west (passing the river Rhine) and the Soviet Union was pressing in on the east. Allied forces reach Bergen-Belsen on April 12th and entered it on April 15th. The surrounding Berlin operation started on April 16. Both Allied forces and the Red army wanted to reach Berlin first and as well to take over as much of the former Nazi-German territory as possible before their troops coming from the west and east will meet. Therefore, the White bus mission, driving in the small corridor between the troops "in hurry" was an additional danger for these transports.One has also to remember the fact that the release of 423 Danish Jews from Theresienstadt can be also considered as an exchange as White buses with Gestapo escort brought another 450 prisoners to Theresienstadt so the total of released inmates was actually, minus 27.
The conditions in other camps like in Ravensbrück were not as good as in Theresienstadt which was used by Germans as a kind of "typical concentration camp" kept at a reasonable level for the International Red Cross's forthcoming inspections.
Jews brought from Ravensbrück
There were also several pickups by White buses from that camp. The very first one was on April 8th when around 100 Scandinavian women were collected from Ravensbrück to be
sent on to Sweden via Neuegamme. No Jews.
Further transportation from Ravensbrück (Shortened, last official version from Swedish Red Cross).
On the 22nd of April, a column left with 15 Danish ambulances under the supervision of dr. Arnoldsson. Their main aim was to collect women that were very sick. Information varies, but between 100 and 200 women were brought out. A second column led by Captain Harald Folke and lieutenant Åke Svensson left the next day. The 25 vehicles collected 786 women from Ravensbrück. 650 of them were French, and the rest were Belgian, Dutch, and Polish. On the evening of the 24th of April, a column led by lieutenant Hallqvist arrived in Ravensbrück. The column collected 706 women of different nationalities and headed for Denmark. Information on how many were killed and injured varies. The driver Ringman was killed instantly and lieutenant Hallqvist was badly injured. Amongst the passengers, several women were killed and fifteen or so were injured. The other column, which took the Wismar road, was also attacked and several prisoners were killed or injured. Another ten or so were killed and twenty injured when the remains of the Hallqvist column, now led by lieutenant Löthman, were fired on again, this time at Plön. The same day a Danish ambulance column, led by engineer Sörensen, collected 114 women from Ravensbrück. The next day Åke Svensson returned to Ravensbrück for the last time. Conditions were severe and on the way to the camp, the column was fired on again. The twenty white buses left the camp with 934 prisoners from many nationalities, mostly Polish Jewish women and fifty children.
So the number of transported by White buses from Ravensbrück is 100+786+706+114+934. Total: 2640.
Now, the difficult question: How many of them were Jewish? My guess is 800-1 200.
The total number of Jews transported, together with the Theresienstadt group of 423 persons might be around 1 623. Inga Gottfarb's numbers from the note from August 1945 are much higher, 3 112. Gottfarb born 1913 was a social worker who helped the suffering refugee women who arrived in Sweden on White Buses. In her book Den livsfarliga glömskan (The Perilous Oblivion), she wrote also about her personal experiences interviewing survivors who had been liberated from concentration camps.
How is it possible that the total number of transported to Sweden by Red cross and White buses was described as 50 000 to start with? How many of them were Jewish? The debate about it is still going on in the same way as the discussion about the real aim of the White bus mission.
Svante Hansson in his book Flykt och överlevnad (“Flight and Survival”) from 2004, estimates that the number of Jews arriving with the White buses was approximately 4500 individuals. The book Flykt och överlevnad was paid/requested by the Jewish community in Stockholm. Jewish congregation was (is) strongly criticized for their behavior during the Holocaust. Therefore, they decided that White book should be written, written by one single person, historian Svante Hansson.
So the number of transported by White buses from Ravensbrück is 100+786+706+114+934. Total: 2640.
Now, the difficult question: How many of them were Jewish? My guess is 800-1 200.
The total number of Jews transported, together with the Theresienstadt group of 423 persons might be around 1 623. Inga Gottfarb's numbers from the note from August 1945 are much higher, 3 112. Gottfarb born 1913 was a social worker who helped the suffering refugee women who arrived in Sweden on White Buses. In her book Den livsfarliga glömskan (The Perilous Oblivion), she wrote also about her personal experiences interviewing survivors who had been liberated from concentration camps.
How is it possible that the total number of transported to Sweden by Red cross and White buses was described as 50 000 to start with? How many of them were Jewish? The debate about it is still going on in the same way as the discussion about the real aim of the White bus mission.
Svante Hansson in his book Flykt och överlevnad (“Flight and Survival”) from 2004, estimates that the number of Jews arriving with the White buses was approximately 4500 individuals. The book Flykt och överlevnad was paid/requested by the Jewish community in Stockholm. Jewish congregation was (is) strongly criticized for their behavior during the Holocaust. Therefore, they decided that White book should be written, written by one single person, historian Svante Hansson.
Ingrid Lomfors, the historian wrote on the official page of the Swedish government institute - Levande Historia - Living History: In the Spring of 1945, around 15,000 people, mostly Norwegian and Danish resistance fighters, were rescued from German prison camps. Among them were also a thousand Jewish prisoners. Many were in such a state that they did not manage to live beyond the summer.
Beginning of the mission - Transporting Germans with some Swedish roots to Sweden, 1 500 or more.
Early in February, a small Swedish Red Cross detachment under Captain Hultgren arrived in Berlin; six men, two buses, and a private car. Their mission was to transport a.o. women with German citizenship that had Swedish roots and were married to Germans. White buses were the only way to escape Germany. Many had children. Also, men were allowed to join. Most of them had a pro-Nazi orientation. According to the Swedish Red cross, at least 1 500 women and children and "others" with Swedish connections arrived in Sweden via Lübeck and Denmark. My personal feeling is that 1 500 is the lowest possible number of German Swedes. This "humanitarian operation" had also the objective of rescuing German Swedes and helping them at the very last minute to escape. In many cases escape justice for war crimes. All German women were also afraid of being raped by Red army soldiers. It is likely that German Swedes use the White Bus escape route to leave Germany and also to enter Denmark. Several convoys included buses with German Swedes and buses with former inmates of the concentration camps. Besides transport within the buses also private cars (with Red cross flags on them) were included in convoys and passed freely through the German-Danish border. The rescuing German Swedes was going on until the last days of the White bus expedition. Notes about it were made by Danish nurses from the Padborg Red cross camp that was organized to meet former inmates of the concentration camps.
Early in February, a small Swedish Red Cross detachment under Captain Hultgren arrived in Berlin; six men, two buses, and a private car. Their mission was to transport a.o. women with German citizenship that had Swedish roots and were married to Germans. White buses were the only way to escape Germany. Many had children. Also, men were allowed to join. Most of them had a pro-Nazi orientation. According to the Swedish Red cross, at least 1 500 women and children and "others" with Swedish connections arrived in Sweden via Lübeck and Denmark. My personal feeling is that 1 500 is the lowest possible number of German Swedes. This "humanitarian operation" had also the objective of rescuing German Swedes and helping them at the very last minute to escape. In many cases escape justice for war crimes. All German women were also afraid of being raped by Red army soldiers. It is likely that German Swedes use the White Bus escape route to leave Germany and also to enter Denmark. Several convoys included buses with German Swedes and buses with former inmates of the concentration camps. Besides transport within the buses also private cars (with Red cross flags on them) were included in convoys and passed freely through the German-Danish border. The rescuing German Swedes was going on until the last days of the White bus expedition. Notes about it were made by Danish nurses from the Padborg Red cross camp that was organized to meet former inmates of the concentration camps.
On April 5,1945 half of the Swedish buses and the crew returned to Sweden and were replaced by Danes. The Danes mustered 33 buses, 14 ambulances, seven lorries, and four private cars. The Danish contingent was coordinated with the Swedish and from 8 April the "White buses" was a mixed Swedish-Danish expedition, with the Swedes in command. The Danish vehicles were also painted white, but displayed the Danish flag, (the Dannebrog), instead of the Red Cross.
On 9 April a mixed Swedish-Danish column
On the return trip to Neuengamme on 11 April, the column witnessed for the first time a German car painted white with Red Cross markings, in a similar manner to the "white buses". On April 15 a column collected 524 prisoners from jails in Mecklenburg.
April 22, 1945. At approx. 7.30 pm 83 German-Swedes arrived from Lübeck, both sexes and all ages, as well as dogs and parrots. They were housed in Barak 2, fed and watched over at night. April 22, 1945. Kl. ca. 19.30 ankom 83 Tysklands-Svenskere fra Lübeck, begge Køn og alle Aldre, samt Hunde og Papegøjer. De indlogeredes i Barak 2, blev bespist og overvaaget om natten.
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| Beginning of the White bus mission - Transporting escaping Germans (numerous with Swedish roots) to Sweden, 1 500 or more. It is likely that the White buses were the only way to escape Germany. Many had children with them. Most of the people in the transport had a pro-Nazi orientation. The photo above: from the convertible to a White bus. The Nazi Veit Harlan and Kristina Söderbaum in Lübeck in April 1945. Veit Harlan produced and Kristina Söderbaum appeared in a number of Harlan's anti-Semitic films, not just the most known "Jud Süss". They stayed in Nazi Germany until the last minute and fled to Sweden on White buses in April-May 1945. Their´s infamous movie Jud Süss/Jew Süss (1940) was banned by Swedish censors. |
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| Beginning of the White bus mission - Transporting escaping Germans (numerous with Swedish roots) to Sweden, 1 500 or more. It is likely that the White buses were the only way to escape Germany. Many had children with them. Most of the people in the transport had a pro-Nazi orientation. The photo above is showing different categories of people involve in the White Bus transports. Gestapo - nr. 5, German women with "Swedish roots" - 1, Swedish soldier carrying the suitcase - 2, Roof rack - 4. |
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| February 5, 1945. The situation in Germany for Germans with "Swedish connections! The decisive battle for the Oder Line and Berlin may already occur this week. |
April 22, 1945. At approx. 7.30 pm 83 German-Swedes arrived from Lübeck, both sexes and all ages, as well as dogs and parrots. They were housed in Barak 2, fed and watched over at night. April 22, 1945. Kl. ca. 19.30 ankom 83 Tysklands-Svenskere fra Lübeck, begge Køn og alle Aldre, samt Hunde og Papegøjer. De indlogeredes i Barak 2, blev bespist og overvaaget om natten.
April 22, 1945. At approx. 7.30 pm 83 German-Swedes arrived from Lübeck, both sexes and all ages, as well as dogs and parrots. They were housed in Barak 2, fed, and watched over at night.
February 5, 1945. The situation in Germany for Germans with "Swedish connections! The decisive battle for the Oder Line and Berlin may already occur this week.
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| Beginning of the White bus mission - Transporting escaping Germans (numerous with Swedish roots) to Sweden, 1 500 or more. It is likely that the White buses were the only way to escape Germany. In the photo Folke Bernadotte and especially uniformed Gestapo men. |
Kristina and Erika want to go to Sweden. BERLIN, Monday. February 5, 1945 (Expressen - Swedish newspaper) Among those waiting for the opportunity to come to Sweden as soon as possible are Kristina Söderbaum and Erika Patzek-Bernadotte (Prince Sigvard of Sweden's former wife). The legation has good hope of getting home the Swedes who are now sitting and waiting for the opportunity to travel - the last train from Berlin. No papers came out on Sunday, and the front reports are extremely scarce. They really only mean that the German Oder line is being stabilized. It is known here that the Russian advance is in full swing on the other side of the Oder. The next phase of the great dilemma is approaching. The decisive battle for the Oder Line and Berlin may already occur this week.
White buses assisting the SS
Group two to be transported out of Germany were Scandinavian prisoners. They were transported from different camps to the Neuengamme concentration camp. As Neuengamme concentration camp was overcrowded the SS insisted that prisoners of other nationalities be moved to other camps, also sick ones. The SS decided to use White buses to transport away around 2 000 French, Belgian, Dutch, Russian and Polish prisoners to other camps. During the evacuations, some 50 to 100 prisoners died and were just kicked off the White buses. Many more died in the worse conditions in the new camps in which they arrived. Thereafter the newly arrived Scandinavians could have the Schonungsblock, a barrack building previously for sick prisoners, just for themselves.
Group two to be transported out of Germany were Scandinavian prisoners. They were transported from different camps to the Neuengamme concentration camp. As Neuengamme concentration camp was overcrowded the SS insisted that prisoners of other nationalities be moved to other camps, also sick ones. The SS decided to use White buses to transport away around 2 000 French, Belgian, Dutch, Russian and Polish prisoners to other camps. During the evacuations, some 50 to 100 prisoners died and were just kicked off the White buses. Many more died in the worse conditions in the new camps in which they arrived. Thereafter the newly arrived Scandinavians could have the Schonungsblock, a barrack building previously for sick prisoners, just for themselves.
It's apples and oranges.
36 ambulance buses
19 trucks
7 passenger cars
7 motorcycles
rescue and workshop trucks and a field kitchen
all necessary equipment, including food, fuel, and spare parts, as nothing could be had once in Germany
The vessel S/S Lillie Matthiessen sailed to Lübeck with 350 tons of fuel and 6,000 food parcels for the prisoners and later the S/S Magdalena, both from the Salèn shipping line
The force was divided into three bus platoons (each with 12 buses), one truck platoon (with 12 vehicles), and one supply platoon. The total transport capacity for the force was 1,000 persons for longer distances; 1,200 persons for shorter distances where the trucks could also be used. The buses used Motyl (a mixture of 50% gasoline and 50% alcohol) and had eight stretchers or seats for 30 passengers. They used 50 liters of fuel per 100 kilometer so with full tanks, they could cover 100 kilometers. Each bus carried two drivers.
Fake White buses as a part of the Swedish propaganda effort. Gothenburg - Utgård. Ten local buses from Gothenburg were selected to become "Local White buses". It was April 29, 1945. The true White buses landed in Sweden on April 28, 1945 and were routed back to its military base in Hässelholm. There they were repainted back to the original military camouflage colors.
As long as one is adding to the White Buses mission "persons that were not transported by buses", the action that ended on April 28, 1945, but two train transports and transports by cargo ships S/S Lillie-Matthiessen and S/S Magdalena, I have to summarize the situation - It's apples and oranges. I forgot to mention the very first transports that White buses were performing. Transporting Germans with some Swedish roots to Sweden, 1 500 or more.
After that, on 21 April, when Red Army already encircled Berlin and the day before they started shelling Berlin's city center and actually advanced at Berlin's southern suburbs, Himmler gave his consent to the Swedish Red Cross to transport women of all nationalities out of Ravensbrück camp. The war was over, and both Himmler and the Red Cross representative knew it well. Therefore, the Red Cross mandate was later, extended to non-Scandinavians and thereafter as well to "the transfer to Sweden of a number of Jews".
I interpret the words of Himmler when he and Mr. Bernadotte were sitting in a cellar during the bombing of Lübeck as sarcasm and irony. Mr. Bernadotte describes it as a great and successful deal or negotiation. Himmler, however, saw clearly a rope around his neck as he as the Reichsführer SS, who ran the camps was directly responsible for the death of millions of people. His situation was worsened when reports from British troops after overtaking the Bergen-Belsen camp became world news.
Bernadotte and Himmler meet for the last time in Lübeck during the night of 23 and 24 April, and Bernadotte describes it as "a success in his original objective", he is now granted authorization from Heinrich Himmler "to transport whoever he wants and wherever he wants without any restrictions".
Himmler's sarcasm in offering all the concentration camp inmates to Bernadotte shows just his irritation. At that point, he knows that the truth about death camps and also the present situation in the concentration camps, a.o. in Bergen-Belsen are well known and that the inmates of the concentration camps do not have any value in the negotiations to save his own neck. He knows that they will be liberated when Germany unconditionally surrenders which was the goal for both the Allies army and the Red army. The last and only card Himmler had left to play was a separate agreement with the Allies that will be pointing against Sovjet. Bernadotte forwarded Himmler's idea through the Swedish government to both Churchill and Eisenhower who found it not realistic as was almost over. On April 25, 1945, Soviet and American troops met at the Elbe River, near the city of Torgau in Germany, marking an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe. This contact between the Soviets, advancing from the east, and the Americans, advancing from the west, meant that the two powers had effectively cut, and divided Germany in two. Germany surrenders on 7 May and the war in Europe is over.
The idea of a prisoner transport or "rescue to Sweden" was almost mission impossible. The dangers of entering the war zone were self-evident. Stay put was by Allies the agreed recommendation. Sweden however, had its own interest in the rescues. They were afraid of the political situation after WWII. Swedes were also afraid to be classified as a pro-Nazi country due to their behavior during WWII. After the Kursk battle in the east and after the D-day landing and with quickly approaching Russian and Allied victory in view, Sweden had an uncomfortable position in Europe and also within Scandinavia. White bus rescue operation offered the unique possibility to wash the war dirt and instead of being sentenced, to play instead a heroic role, almost the liberator in the final days. The Swedes were also in a unique position as they had very good contact with most of the prominent Nazis, among them Himmler.
In the Yad Vashem exhibition, there are two outdoor artifacts. The infamous cattle car was used to forcibly deport Jews to the death- and concentration camps and the Swedish White bus. What is common for them is just the size.
This wooden freight car meant to transport cattle was used as a part of German logistics for the extermination of the Jews. Up to 150 individuals were crammed into locked, windowless box cars. It is clear that without this mass transportation carried out on the railways in these cattle cars, the scale of the Final Solution would not have been possible. Several millions of Holocaust victims were transported in cattle wagons similar to that at the exhibition at Yad Vashem museum.
While the “White Buses” mission remains an understudied area
although several books were printed and scientific papers, another mission, UNRRA “White Boats” has been an almost completely forgotten piece of Swedish history. By this action according to dr. Hans Arnoldson 9 273 persons were transported from Lübeck do Sweden by five UNRRA boats. The majority of them were women from the Bergen-Belsen camp. This number is rather sure as approx. 10 000 DP-2 cards were issued by TC Centre in Lüback.
Take the Jews Last, the mission was criticized for prioritizing Scandinavians
before Jewish internees, especially considering the fact that Scandinavian prisoners
had a relatively high standing in the camps’ victim hierarchy already.
Bernadotte and Himmler meet for the last time in Lübeck during the night of 23 and 24 April, and Bernadotte describes it as "a success in his original objective", he is now granted authorization from Heinrich Himmler "to transport whoever he wants and wherever he wants without any restrictions".
Himmler's sarcasm in offering all the concentration camp inmates to Bernadotte shows just his irritation. At that point, he knows that the truth about death camps and also the present situation in the concentration camps, a.o. in Bergen-Belsen are well known and that the inmates of the concentration camps do not have any value in the negotiations to save his own neck. He knows that they will be liberated when Germany unconditionally surrenders which was the goal for both the Allies army and the Red army. The last and only card Himmler had left to play was a separate agreement with the Allies that will be pointing against Sovjet. Bernadotte forwarded Himmler's idea through the Swedish government to both Churchill and Eisenhower who found it not realistic as was almost over. On April 25, 1945, Soviet and American troops met at the Elbe River, near the city of Torgau in Germany, marking an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe. This contact between the Soviets, advancing from the east, and the Americans, advancing from the west, meant that the two powers had effectively cut, and divided Germany in two. Germany surrenders on 7 May and the war in Europe is over.
The idea of a prisoner transport or "rescue to Sweden" was almost mission impossible. The dangers of entering the war zone were self-evident. Stay put was by Allies the agreed recommendation. Sweden however, had its own interest in the rescues. They were afraid of the political situation after WWII. Swedes were also afraid to be classified as a pro-Nazi country due to their behavior during WWII. After the Kursk battle in the east and after the D-day landing and with quickly approaching Russian and Allied victory in view, Sweden had an uncomfortable position in Europe and also within Scandinavia. White bus rescue operation offered the unique possibility to wash the war dirt and instead of being sentenced, to play instead a heroic role, almost the liberator in the final days. The Swedes were also in a unique position as they had very good contact with most of the prominent Nazis, among them Himmler.
The description of the White bus mission by Mr. Folke Bernadotte is very special. He is as one can read in the part of the Swedish title: The End: My humanitarian negotiations in Germany in the Spring of 1945 and their political consequences (Slutet: mina humanitära förhandlingar i Tyskland våren 1945 och deras politiska följder.) is concentrating on himself. Like in many similar cases, the focus is placed on a single individual in order to make the story appear better than it really is and by this create a hero that should be just followed. His title, a royal name is used as a cover to hide the real truth behind the Swedish White bus expedition. For almost 50 years people never talk about the first part of the mission, about transporting the German-Swedes to safety in Sweden or the transports of sick non-Scandinavian prisoners to concentration camps that White buses were forced to carry out to save Scandinavians. Nor does anyone talk about the great feat the Red Cross volunteers did to make the expedition a reality. Nor does anyone talk about the risk of transports in the very last minutes of the war and the death causalities. White bus historiography hides the truth in order to only remember the good and honorable.
Although it has been 78 years since the rescue expedition left Sweden, the story of the White buses has still not changed although it is one of the most talked about events in Swedish history. Few historians dare today to deeper investigate this mission. There is still no agreement about the purpose and the outcome of the entire rescue expedition. Historians choose to highlight the memorable memories after the expedition rather than the real truth. Among the Jews that were transported in UNRRA mission White Boats, there were circulation stories that the Queen or the King will welcome them when arriving at the harbor in Sweden. Many of the Holocaust survivors that came with spoke trains to Padborg or by UNRRAs White boat mission were claiming that they came with Count Bernadotte White buses. Efforts to glorify Mr. Bernadotte resulted in steadily increasing the number of persons he rescued (The statistics included "German Swedes"). The glorification by Jews resulted in a perverted history of White buses and Mr. Bernadotte. It is actually now told as a mission to save the Jews.
The question of who is responsible for the death and suffering of people during the aid operation still remains unanswered.
What is known is that Sweden felt guilty during the second part of WWII when frontiers started to move in the opposite direction. The matter of German troop transfers through Sweden during World War II is one of the more controversial aspects of modern Nordic history. Also, Swedish iron export to Germany was remembered by the Allies and there was a risk that Sweden, like Finland, could be regarded as a pro-Nazi country and had to pay war reparations or be isolated politically and economically. Therefore, I feel, the White bus mission was forced so hard. Also thereafter Sweden "welcomed" former inmates of Bergen-Belsen and other camps to enter Sweden and receive medical wards. This second mission was called thereafter UNRRA White boat mission.
This wooden freight car meant to transport cattle was used as a part of German logistics for the extermination of the Jews. Up to 150 individuals were crammed into locked, windowless box cars. It is clear that without this mass transportation carried out on the railways in these cattle cars, the scale of the Final Solution would not have been possible. Several millions of Holocaust victims were transported in cattle wagons similar to that at the exhibition at Yad Vashem museum.
The second artifact is the white-painted bus. It got by being at Yad Vashem almost the same status as the cattle wagon. In the information about it we can read: ...transported 27 000 prisoners, among them several thousand Jews, from Germany to Sweden. None of the numbers given by Yad Vashem are right!
However, what is most striking is the "dignity" of these two artifacts. Not comparable and therefore the White bus showroom should be diminished to zero!
Following Hitler’s death, the Nazi high command was transferred to Admiral Doenitz in Flensburg. As Doenitz and his government were the ones to sign capitulation, the Allies continued bombing this area. Allied attacks were also a result of Flensburg´s strategic location. Allied bombing affected of course the Padborg crossing as it was just a few kilometers from Flensburg airport. Besides German Swedes, there were also German Danes that suddenly remembered their root and were trying to escape ruined Germany.
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| These local buses were used in the transport from the ferry in Korsør to Copenhagen wherefrom there was a next ferry to Malmö, Sweden. The distance, from Korsør to Copenhagen is 110 km. The photo at the top of unpainted buses was taken at a bus garage in Gothenburg on April 29, 1945. |
War reparations of Finland to the Soviet Union were originally worth US$300,000,000 at 1938 prices (equivalent to US$5.78 billion in 2021). Finland agreed to pay the reparations in the Moscow Armistice signed on 19 September 1944. The protocol to determine more precisely the war reparations to the Soviet Union was signed in December 1944, by prime minister Juho Kusti Paasikivi and the chairman of the Allied Control Commission for controlling the Moscow Armistice in Helsinki, Andrei Zhdanov.
Finland was originally obliged to pay $300,000,000 in gold to be paid in the form of ships and machinery, over six years.[1][2] The Soviet Union agreed to prolong the payment period from six to eight years in late 1945. In the summer of 1948 the sum was cut to $226,500,000 (equivalent to US$4.36 billion in 2021). The last dispatched train of the deliveries paying the war reparations crossed the border between Finland and the Soviet Union on 18 September 1952, in Vainikkala railway border station. Approximately 340,000 railroad carloads were needed to deliver all reparations.[3]
The Swedish Red Cross contacted the Swedish Army who supplied the needed transport. In reality, this was the Swedish state's expedition – the personnel was almost entirely volunteers from the armed forces (also paid by Swedish Army), the equipment was supplied from armed forces stockpiles and the expenses were covered by the state's coffers.
Composition of the expedition force; 308 personnel, among them about 20 doctors and nurses, the rest were volunteers (that got double wage) from the supply regiments T1, T3 and T4; they were commanded by Colonel Gottfrid Björck as he was the inspector general for the Swedish supply forces.
Finland was originally obliged to pay $300,000,000 in gold to be paid in the form of ships and machinery, over six years.[1][2] The Soviet Union agreed to prolong the payment period from six to eight years in late 1945. In the summer of 1948 the sum was cut to $226,500,000 (equivalent to US$4.36 billion in 2021). The last dispatched train of the deliveries paying the war reparations crossed the border between Finland and the Soviet Union on 18 September 1952, in Vainikkala railway border station. Approximately 340,000 railroad carloads were needed to deliver all reparations.[3]
Gottfarb Inga, (1986) Den livsfarliga glömskan.
Lomfors, Ingrid. (2005). Blind fläck: Minne och glömska kring Svenska Röda Korsets hjälpinsats i Nazityskland 1945. Stockholm: Atlantis.
Lomfors Ingrid (seen January 2023). EN OMSVÄNGNING SOM KOM – MEN FÖR SENT, https://www.levandehistoria.se/fakta-fordjupning/forintelsen/snubbelstenar/en-omsvangning-som-kom-men-sent
Persson Sune, Vi åker till Sverige, p. 437.
Hansson Svante, 2004. Flykt och överlevnad, p 279.
Should be investigated further:
The vehicle is one of the dozens of military buses made by Volvo that were converted into ambulances in a Red Cross operation.
The ambulance buses were built as ambulance buses. There was no conversion prior to the mission.
The Swedish Red Cross contacted the Swedish Army who supplied the needed transport. In reality, this was the Swedish state's expedition – the personnel was almost entirely volunteers from the armed forces (also paid by Swedish Army), the equipment was supplied from armed forces stockpiles and the expenses were covered by the state's coffers.
Composition of the expedition force; 308 personnel, among them about 20 doctors and nurses, the rest were volunteers (that got double wage) from the supply regiments T1, T3 and T4; they were commanded by Colonel Gottfrid Björck as he was the inspector general for the Swedish supply forces.
36 ambulance buses
19 trucks
7 passenger cars
7 motorcycles
rescue and workshop trucks and a field kitchen
all necessary equipment, including food, fuel, and spare parts, as nothing could be had once in Germany
The vessel S/S Lillie Matthiessen sailed to Lübeck with 350 tons of fuel and 6,000 food parcels for the prisoners and later the S/S Magdalena, both from the Salèn shipping line
The force was divided into three bus platoons (each with 12 buses), one truck platoon (with 12 vehicles), and one supply platoon. The total transport capacity for the force was 1,000 persons for longer distances; 1,200 persons for shorter distances where the trucks could also be used. The buses used Motyl (a mixture of 50% gasoline and 50% alcohol) and had eight stretchers or seats for 30 passengers. They used 50 liters of fuel per 100 kilometer so with full tanks, they could cover 100 kilometers. Each bus carried two drivers.
Årets största bokframgäng uppnäddes av Folke Bernadotte med »Slutel», där han berättade om sina humanitara förhandlingar i Tyskland våren 1945 och deras politiska följder. Utgivningsrätten hade innan ârets slut sälts till 17 olika länder, och enbart i Sverige hade boken tryckts hundratusen exemplar. Den av greve Bernadotte ledda svenska rödakorsexpeditionen till de tyska koncentrationslägren, som resulterade i tusentals olyckliga människors räddning, skildrades eller belystes pà det ena eller andra sättet i en rad böcker:
Àke Svenson:
sven
Ervkman:
till Tvskland.
De vita bussarna.
Rod korsexpeditionen
Hans Arnoldsson: Natt och
erha p
Rundberg: Rapport fran Neu-
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| Inaccurate description |
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| Inacurate description by Yad Vashem: "This is one of the 36 busses of the Swedish Red Cross which managed to enter Germany in March and April 1945 and transported 27,000 prisoners, among them several thousand Jews, mainly women, from Germany into Sweden". The inacurate is the total number of prisoners transported by "36 busses". The inacurate is the total number of Jews transported. Most of the Jews were transported by Danish White buses. This should be mentioned as well as number of Germans transported from Germany to Sweden (most of them supporters of Nazi-regim) was higher than transported Jews and that White buses was not just used for escaping Germans with Swedish roots bu also were used by SS to transport of prisoners between the camps, thus to give space for the scandinavian inmates. |
