Holocaust Hero: A Tree for Sugihara 1998
Distributed by Chip Taylor Communications, 2 East View Drive, Derry, NH 03038-4812; 800-876-CHIP (2447)
Produced by Quin Mathews
Director n/a
VHS, color, 25 min.
High School - Adult
History
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Michael J. Coffta, Business Librarian, Bloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaThe tree from this short documentary's title refers to a tree in Israel's holocaust memorial Yad Vashem. There, the Israelis have planted trees in honor of Gentiles, like Wahlenberg and Schindler, who saved the lives of Jews during World War II.
In 1939, thousands of Jews fled Poland to Lithuania. On August 2, 1940, thousands of Jews gathered outside the Japanese consulate in Lithuania for permission to seek asylum in Japan. Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat in Lithuania, disobeyed his government and issued visas to over 6,000 Jews. He also organized an underground railroad to transport the otherwise doomed Jews to Japan. When Sugihara returned to Japan, he was promptly fired.
I cannot give enough praise for this film. It is short, earnest, and offers an easily retainable version of an often-overlooked episode in history. Highly recommended.