Sister Margit Slachta of Hungary and the deportation of Slovak Jews

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ABSTRACTNumerous Hungarian and Western scholars claim that Sister Margit Slachta of Hungary played a role in halting the resumption of the deportation of Slovak Jews to Poland in March 1943. Slachta was known for her strong opposition to anti-Jewish measures in Hungary and was also asked by Slovak Jews to help them in Slovakia. This research note looks at this claim by examining the Vatican diplomatic archives to see whether a meeting Slachta had with Pope Pius XII played any role in Vatican diplomacy toward Slovakia, especially on the question of the resumption of the deportation of Slovak Jews. The author looks at the deportation process, which took place between March and October 1942 and which was to resume in March–April 1943. He examines Slachta’s trip to Rome in March 1943 to try and prevent the resumption of the deportations. She had an audience with Pope Pius XII, where she spoke to him about the plight of Slovak Jews. The Vatican’s diplomatic archives show that Slachta had no role in Vatican diplomacy toward Slovakia and that she also did not influence the decision taken by the Slovak authorities in April 1943 not to resume the deportations.