Issuing 1,200 passports to Polish Jews between 1941 and 1943 allowed Chilean diplomat Samuel del Campo to shield those individuals from deportation during the Holocaust. Serving as the chargé d'affaires in Bucharest, Romania, he navigated the hostile environment of the Ion Antonescu dictatorship to protect vulnerable populations despite his own government’s explicit non-interference policy during the war.
Early Career and Diplomatic Service
Born in Linares, Chile, on May 23, 1882, del Campo initially moved to Paris in 1907 to pursue academic studies. His professional life began in chemical engineering, representing the Chilean government in the promotion of sodium nitrate. After establishing a residence in the outskirts of Paris in Malakoff, he transitioned into a diplomatic role, eventually securing his post in Romania by 1941.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Intervention in Romania
During his tenure in Bucharest, del Campo assumed responsibility for the representation of Polish citizens, as Poland lacked official diplomatic representation in the region. Operating within an Axis-allied state, he systematically provided Chilean documentation to Jewish residents. His actions became frequent enough that official Romanian government records identified him as a persistent obstruction to their state policies at the highest levels of the ministry.
Post-War Life and Recognition
Following the rupture of diplomatic ties between Romania and Chile in 1943, he faced a career change. Although an appointment as consul-general in Zürich was proposed, it never materialized. He subsequently left government service and never returned to his home country. He spent his remaining years in Vernou-la-Celle-sur-Seine, passing away on January 1, 1972. Yad Vashem posthumously granted him the title of Righteous Among the Nations on November 23, 2016, and the Chilean embassy in Bucharest commemorated his contributions with a plaque at the Great Synagogue in 2021.
Fast facts
- Born: 23 May 1882, Linares, Chile
- Died: 1 January 1972, Vernou-la-Celle-sur-Seine, France
- Occupation: Diplomat
- Number of lives saved: Approximately 1,200
- Key diplomatic post: Chargé d'affaires in Bucharest
- Recognition: Righteous Among the Nations (2016)
- Languages spoken: French, Spanish
Questions readers ask
How many other Chileans share this recognition?
Samuel del Campo and María Edwards are the only two Chileans to be honored as Righteous Among the Nations.
Why did he issue passports to Polish Jews?
He was tasked with handling the affairs of Polish citizens in Romania during the war and used his position to protect them from persecution.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 2016
- Worked as diplomat
.jpg)