Between 16 July and 3 August 1940, Jan Zwartendijk authored 2,345 passport inscriptions for Jews seeking to flee Lithuania. Acting as the honorary consul for the Dutch government-in-exile while managing local Philips factories, he utilized a modified declaration concerning Curaçao to provide desperate individuals with a legitimate exit route from the advancing Soviet and Nazi threats.
Diplomacy in Occupied Lithuania
Born in 1896 in Rotterdam, Zwartendijk arrived in Lithuania in 1939 to direct the local branch of Koninklijke Philips NV. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, he functioned as a part-time acting consul. Following an initiative established by Ambassador L.P.J. de Decker, Zwartendijk began inscribing passports with statements indicating that entry into the Curaçao and Dependencies in the West Indies did not require a standard visa. By omitting the requirement for the Governor's permission, these documents served as travel credentials for refugees. He performed this work at his office, earning him the nickname Mr. Philips Radio among those he helped.
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The logistical success of the operation relied on cooperation between multiple diplomatic entities. After receiving Zwartendijk's Curaçao inscriptions, refugees approached Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese consul in Kaunas. Sugihara provided transit visas through Japan, which allowed passage via the Trans-Siberian Railway. This combined effort allowed thousands to reach the Far East. On 3 August 1940, the Soviet occupation authorities closed the Philips office and the Dutch consular presence in Kaunas, bringing an abrupt end to the mission.
Return and Legacy
After departing Lithuania, Zwartendijk returned to the Netherlands to continue his career at Philips headquarters in Eindhoven. He remained private about his wartime activities for the duration of his life. Following his death in 1976, international recognition for his efforts grew significantly. Yad Vashem bestowed the title of Righteous Among the Nations upon him in 1997. His life and actions have been commemorated through the Jan Zwartendijk Award for Humanitarian Ethics and Values, the Life Saving Cross of the Republic of Lithuania, and the 2023 Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance in gold.
Fast facts
- Born: 1896, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Died: 1976, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Employer: Koninklijke Philips NV
- Visas issued: 2,345
- Righteous Among the Nations: 1997
- Life Saving Cross: 2012
- Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance: 2023
Questions readers ask
Did Zwartendijk discuss his wartime actions?
No, he returned to work at Philips headquarters in Eindhoven and did not talk about his efforts in Lithuania.
How did Zwartendijk help refugees leave Lithuania?
He issued passport inscriptions stating that entry to Curaçao did not require a visa, which allowed refugees to obtain transit visas from the Japanese consul.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1997
- Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance in gold — 2023
- Worked as diplomat, resistance fighter and businessperson
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