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Per Anger

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Per Johan Valentin Anger (7 December 1913 – 25 August 2002) was a Swedish diplomat who played a significant role in humanitarian efforts during World War II and had a long career in international diplomacy. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, he studied law at Uppsala University before beginning his diplomatic career at the Swedish legation in Berlin in 1940. While stationed in Budapest during the German occupation of Hungary, Anger helped organize the issuance of Swedish provisional passports and protective documents to Hungarian Jews, measures that contributed to the rescue efforts later expanded by Raoul Wallenberg.

Per Anger
Born(1913-12-07)7 December 1913
Gothenburg, Sweden
Died25 August 2002(2002-08-25) (aged 88)
Stockholm, Sweden
Burial place
Norra begravningsplatsen
Alma materUppsala University
OccupationDiplomat
Years active1940–1979
Known forAssisting Raoul Wallenberg in the rescue of Hungarian Jews from Nazis in World War II
Spouse
Elena Wikström
​
(m. 1943)​
Children3

Following the war, Anger held various diplomatic positions, including postings in Cairo, Addis Ababa, Vienna, Paris, San Francisco, Canberra, and Ottawa, as well as leadership roles within the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Throughout his career, he was involved in international aid and humanitarian initiatives and dedicated substantial effort to uncovering the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, meeting with Soviet officials in pursuit of information.

Anger received multiple honors for his work, both in Sweden and internationally. He was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, received the Wallenberg Medal from the University of Michigan, was granted honorary Israeli citizenship, and was awarded Sweden's Illis quorum. His career reflects both his diplomatic service and his commitment to humanitarian principles during and after the war.

Early life

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Anger was born on 7 December 1913 in Gothenburg, Sweden, the son of the Director of Public Works David Anger [sv] (1886–1963) and his wife Elsa Berglund (1885–1974), and nephew of the actuary Filip Anger [sv].[1][2] Anger completed his reserve officer examination in 1936[3] and received a Candidate of Law degree from Uppsala University in 1939.[2]

Career

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After graduating from university in November 1939, Anger was drafted into the Army. Soon afterwards, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs offered him a trainee position at the Swedish legation in Berlin, which he began in January 1940. Anger was assigned to the trade department, but after the legation received information about an impending Nazi attack on Norway and Denmark, he became involved in relaying intelligence to Stockholm. In June 1941, he returned to Stockholm, where he worked on trade relations between Sweden and Hungary. In November 1942, he was sent to Budapest as second secretary at the Swedish legation.[4]

After Germany invaded Hungary on 19 March 1944, Anger became involved in efforts to aid Hungarian Jews. Anger originated the idea of issuing Swedish provisional passports and special certificates to protect Jews from internment and deportation. Seven hundred of these documents were issued initially. Although the legality of the documents was doubtful, the Hungarian government agreed to recognize their bearers as Swedish citizens. On 9 July, Raoul Wallenberg arrived in Budapest.[5] He immediately extended Anger's initiative, introducing colorful protective passes (Schutzpasse) and creating "safe houses" throughout the city. Anger and Wallenberg worked together, often literally snatching people from transports and death marches. After the Soviets invaded in January 1945, both Anger and Wallenberg were taken into custody. Anger was released three months later, but Wallenberg never emerged again, becoming one of the 20th century's most famous missing persons.[6]

After the war, Anger served as acting second secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1945, second legation secretary in Cairo in 1946, and chargé d'affaires ad interim in Addis Ababa in 1946. He returned as second legation secretary in Cairo in 1948 and also served as second secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs the same year, before becoming first secretary there in 1949. He was first legation secretary in Paris in 1953, in Vienna in 1955, and legation counsellor there in 1957. He then served as Head of Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1957 and was appointed consul general in San Francisco in 1961.[2]

In 1966, he was appointed Foreign Affairs Councillor and Head of the Department for International Aid Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, a post he held until 1969. He served as ambassador to Canberra from 1970 to 1975, worked at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs from 1975 to 1976, and was ambassador to Ottawa from 1976 to 1979,[3] with concurrent accreditation to Nassau, Bahamas, from 1978.[7] He chaired the board of the Swedish Raoul Wallenberg Association from 1979 and served as its president from 1988 to 1995.[3]

Throughout his post-war career, Anger led efforts to learn what happened to Wallenberg, even meeting personally with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. In 2000, the Russian government finally acknowledged that Wallenberg and his driver died in Soviet custody in 1947, although the exact circumstances of their deaths remain unclear.

Personal life

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In 1943, Anger married the artist Elena Wikström [sv] (1920–2010), the daughter of ryttmästare Nils Wikström and Corinna (née Autenrieth). They had three children: Birgitta (born 1944), Jan (born 1946), and Peter (born 1955).[2]

Death

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Anger died on 25 August 2002 in Katarina Parish in Stockholm[8] after suffering a stroke.[9] The funeral service took place on 27 September 2002 in Saint James's Church in Stockholm.[10] He was interred on 7 October 2002 at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.[11]

Awards and honours

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Plaque on the site of the former Swedish embassy in Budapest, in honour of Carl-Ivan Danielsson, Raoul Wallenberg and Per Anger.

Awards

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Swedish

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Foreign

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Honors

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He was a member of the Order of Coldin [sv].[2]

In 1982, Anger was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.[19]

In 1995, Anger was awarded the Wallenberg Medal by the University of Michigan in recognition of his extraordinary courage and humanitarian commitment.[20]

In 2000, he was awarded honorary Israeli citizenship.[20]

In June 2001, the American Swedish Historical Museum presented him with the Spirit of Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award.[21]

In April 2002, Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson awarded Anger the Illis quorum Meruere Labores (For Those Whose Labors Have Deserved It) for his actions during and after the war. This is the highest award that can be conferred upon an individual Swedish citizen by the Government of Sweden.[22]

Per Anger Prize

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The Per Anger Prize was instituted by the Swedish Government to honor the memory of ambassador Per Anger and is awarded for humanitarian work and initiatives in the name of democracy. The prize is awarded to individuals or groups who have distinguished themselves either in the past or in more recent times.[23] The prize is administered and awarded by the Living History Forum.

Prize winners

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NameYear AwardedReason
Gennaro Verolino2004Saved over 30,000 Jews from the Holocaust[24]
Arsen Sakalov2005The teacher who became a human rights activist in the Russian autonomous republic Ingushia
Ales Bialiatski2006The human rights fighter acting against the Belarusian regime
Yolanda Becerra2007Chairperson for the women's rights organisation Organización Femenina Popular
Sebastian Bakare2008Fighting the rights of the vulnerable in Zimbabwe
Brahim Dahane2009Founder of the human rights organisation ASVDH working in Western Sahara
Elena Urlaeva2010Fighting for the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly in Uzbekistan
Narges Mohammadi2011Working for human rights in Iran
Sapiyat Magomedova2012Defending human rights in Dagestan
Justine Ijeomah2013Fighting against violation of human rights in Nigeria
Rita Mahato2014Fighting against sexual violence aimed towards women and girls in Nepal
Islena Rey Rodríguez2015Fighting against violence and human rights violations in Colombia
Abdullah al-Khateeb2016Fighting for human rights in Syria
Gégé Katana Bukuru2017Fighting for women's rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo[25]
Teodora del Carmen Vásquez2018Fighting for women's rights in El Salvador[26]
Najwa Alimi2019Fighting for freedom of speech and women's rights in Afghanistan
Intisar Al-Amyal2020Fighting for women's rights in Iraq
S'bu Zikode2021Working for the rights of poor people in South Africa
Anabela Lemos2022Fighting for climate justice in Mozambique
Malú García Andrade2023Demanding justice for disappeared and murdered girls and women in Mexico
Chhim Sithar2024Tireless and dedicated work to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia
Ana Ruth García2025Advocate for women and girls in Honduras[27]
Brito Fernando2026Seeking truth and justice for people who have disappeared involuntarily in Sri Lanka[28]

Bibliography

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  • Anger, Per; Lantos, Tom (2005). S Raulem Vallenbergom v Budapešte: vospominanija o voennych godach v Vengrii [With Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest: memories of the war years in Hungary] (in Russian). Translated by Bekker, M. I. Saint Petersburg: Akademičeskij proekt. ISBN 5733103167. SELIBR 10211018.
  • Anger, Per (1995) [1981]. With Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest: memories of the war years in Hungary (Repr. ed.). Washington, D.C.: Holocaust Library. ISBN 0896041565. SELIBR 6288570.
  • Anger, Per (1985). Med Raoul Wallenberg i Budapest: minnen från krigsåren i Ungern [With Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest: memories of the war years in Hungary]. Norstedts faktapocket, 99-0515866-9 (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Norstedt. ISBN 9118533310. SELIBR 7154225.
  • Anger, Per (1981). With Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest: memories of the war years in Hungary. New York: Holocaust. ISBN 089604047X. SELIBR 6288544.
  • Anger, Per (1979). Med Raoul Wallenberg i Budapest: minnen från krigsåren i Ungern [With Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest: memories of the war years in Hungary] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. ISBN 9117934621. SELIBR 7153024.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Sveriges dödbok 1901-2009 [Swedish death index 1901-2009] (in Swedish) (Version 5.0 ed.). Solna: Sveriges släktforskarförbund. 2010. ISBN 9789187676598. SELIBR 11931231.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1962). Vem är vem? [Who's Who?] (in Swedish). Vol. 1, Stor–Stockholm (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem är vem bokförlag. p. 53. SELIBR 53509.
  3. 1 2 3 Jönsson, Lena, ed. (2000). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 2001 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 2001] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 66. ISBN 9172850426. SELIBR 8261515.
  4. ↑ "Per Anger. Swedish diplomat who, along with Raoul Wallenberg, saved thousands of Jews from Nazi death camps". The Guardian. 29 August 2002.
  5. ↑ "Per Anger Secretary of the Swedish Legation in Budapest, Hungary, 1944-45". International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Per Anger, Co-saviour with Raoul Wallenberg of Hungarian Jews". The Independent. 30 August 2002.
  7. ↑ Sköldenberg, Bengt, ed. (1979). Sveriges statskalender 1979 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Liber. pp. 333, 335. ISBN 91-38-04622-9. SELIBR 3682760.
  8. ↑ Sveriges dödbok 9: 1815-2022 (in Swedish) (Version 9.0 ed.). Sveriges släktforskarförbund. 2023. SELIBR p7r39b8bm406gwwp.
  9. ↑ "Per Anger, 88, a Diplomat Who Helped Jews, Is Dead". The New York Times. 29 August 2002.
  10. ↑ "Döda" [Deaths]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 3 September 2002. p. 26. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Anger, Per Johan Valentin". svenskagravar.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Regeringens belöningsmedaljer och regeringens utmärkelse Professors namn. SB PM, 99-0433409-9; 2006:1 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statsrådsberedningen, Regeringskansliet. 2006. p. 19. SELIBR 10400721.
  13. ↑ "Matriklar (D 1)" [Directory (D 1)]. Kungl. Maj:ts Ordens arkiv (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. 1970–1979. p. 194. Retrieved 25 January 2026 – via National Archives of Sweden.
  14. ↑ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1968 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1968. p. 161.
  15. ↑ Sveriges statskalender 1965 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1965. p. 162.
  16. ↑ Sveriges statskalender 1965 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1965. p. 268.
  17. ↑ Szabolcs, Szita (2008). "Langfelder Vilmos, Raoul Wallenberg budapesti segítôje - Politika- és családtörténet a 20. századból" [Vilmos Langfelder, Raoul Wallenberg's assistant in Budapest - Political and family history from the 20th century] (PDF). Múltunk (in Hungarian) (1). Napvilág Kiadó: 153. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  18. ↑ "Anfragebeantwortung" [Response to inquiries] (PDF) (in German). Austrian Parliament. 23 April 2012. p. 52. 10542/AB XXIV. GP. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  19. ↑ "The Courage to Defy: Per Anger". Yad Vashem. 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
  20. 1 2 "1995, Per Anger". Wallenberg Legacy, University of Michigan. 10 April 1995. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  21. ↑ "Obituary: In Memoriam: Ambassador Per Anger". Holocaust and Genocide Studies. 17 (1). Oxford University Press: 246. 2003. doi:10.1093/hgs/17.1.246. Retrieved 26 March 2026 – via Project Muse.
  22. ↑ "Medaljerad för räddningsinsats" [Medal for rescue operation]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 20 April 2002. p. 13. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  23. ↑ "About". Living History Forum.[dead link]
  24. ↑ Pintauro, Antonio. "Diocesi di Acerra - Una scuola a Budapest per Verolino" [Diocese of Acerra - A school in Budapest for Verolino]. diocesiacerra.it (in Italian). Diocese of Acerra. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  25. ↑ "2017: Gégé Katana Bukuru". Living History Forum. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  26. ↑ "Teodora del Carmen Vásquez får Per Anger-priset 2018" (in Swedish). Living History Forum. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  27. ↑ Jokinen, Emmy Blad (8 April 2025). "Per Anger Prize 2025 to advocate for women and girls in Honduras". Civil Rights Defenders. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  28. ↑ Söderberg, Catrin (24 March 2026). "Human rights defender Brito Fernando awarded the Per Anger Prize 2026". Civil Rights Defenders. Retrieved 25 March 2026.

Further reading

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  • Skoglund, Elizabeth (1997). A quiet courage: Per Anger, Wallenberg's co-liberator of Hungarian Jews. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books. ISBN 0801011256. SELIBR 5667817.
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