Between 1941 and 1943, Konstanty Rokicki utilized his position as vice-consul for the Republic of Poland in Bern to generate several thousand illegal Paraguayan passports. These documents served as essential protection for individuals trapped within ghettos, allowing for the potential survival of Jewish bearers who faced deportation from territories under German control.
Diplomatic Career and Military Background
Born in Warsaw in 1899, Rokicki initially served as a cavalry lieutenant and received two awards for bravery. In 1934, he was qualified as a reserve officer for the 1st Regiment of Riflemen. He entered the consular service in 1931, holding posts in Minsk between 1932 and 1933, Riga from 1934 to 1936, and the Polish Legation in Cairo from 1936 to 1938. His tenure in Bern as vice-consul began in 1939 and concluded in 1945, a period during which he also performed tasks for Polish intelligence.
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Rokicki operated alongside Juliusz Kühl, another diplomat, to facilitate the passport scheme. The pair bribed the Paraguayan honorary consul, Rudolf Hügli, to secure blank documents. Rokicki personally filled these forms with the names of Polish Jews. Organizations such as Agudat Yisrael and RELICO assisted by smuggling photographs and beneficiary lists between Bern and the victims. The legitimacy of these passports was bolstered in 1944 when Paraguay temporarily acknowledged their validity following intervention by Poland and the Holy See.
Post-War Life and Recognition
Following the establishment of the Provisional Government of National Unity in 1945, Rokicki exited the diplomatic service and chose to reside permanently in Switzerland. He remained in the country until his death in Lucerne in July 1958. Public acknowledgment of his work remained limited for decades, only gaining significant attention after 2017. He received the Virtus et Fraternitas Medal and the title of Righteous Among the Nations in 2019, followed by the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024.
Disputes Regarding Commemoration
The 2019 decision by Yad Vashem to designate Rokicki as Righteous Among the Nations triggered controversy. The organization identified him as the head of the Ładoś Group while providing only appreciation to Aleksander Ładoś and Stefan Ryniewicz. This interpretation faced opposition from the families of the other diplomats, survivors, and the Polish Ambassador to Switzerland, Jakub Kumoch, who maintained that Rokicki operated under the authority of his superiors.
Fast facts
- Born: 1899, Warsaw
- Died: 1958, Lucerne
- Occupation: Diplomat
- Key Group: Ładoś Group
- Righteous Among the Nations: 2019
- Virtus et Fraternitas Medal: 2019
- Congressional Gold Medal: 2024
- Wife: Maria née Goldman (Goldmanis)
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Paraguayan passports produced in Bern?
The documents provided a form of protection for Jews in ghettos who were otherwise threatened with deportation.
Did Rokicki work alone during the rescue operation?
No, he collaborated with Juliusz Kühl, Aleksander Ładoś, Stefan Ryniewicz, and members of organizations like Agudat Yisrael and RELICO.
Achievements
- Virtus et Fraternitas Medal — 2019
- Righteous Among the Nations — 2019
- Congressional Gold Medal — 2024
- Worked as diplomat
