Paul Komor
Encyclopedia
Paul Komor was a Hungarian businessman and diplomat.
He had lived in Shanghai
since 1898, and had been involved in relief work as trustee of the Komor Charity Fund and chairman and treasurer of the Hungarian Relief Fund since 1924. Komor held the title of Honorary Consul General for Hungary in Shanghai in 1938-1941. He co-founded the International Committee for the Organization of European Refugees in China (I.C.), which was established in August 1938 and financed primarily by Victor Sassoon
.
The IC provided housing, jobs and financial assistance for the 18,000 German, Austrian and other refugees who came into Shanghai. The IC also issued international passport
s to the Jews of Shanghai whose Nazi passports were confiscated or no longer valid. Stateless refugees received identification cards signed by Paul Komor. These documents were accepted by the Shanghai Municipal Council as well as the Japanese authorities, and even by some foreign countries, such as Australia. These passports gave the refugees "legal" status so they could emigrate to the United States, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
He had lived in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
since 1898, and had been involved in relief work as trustee of the Komor Charity Fund and chairman and treasurer of the Hungarian Relief Fund since 1924. Komor held the title of Honorary Consul General for Hungary in Shanghai in 1938-1941. He co-founded the International Committee for the Organization of European Refugees in China (I.C.), which was established in August 1938 and financed primarily by Victor Sassoon
Victor Sassoon
Sir Ellice "Victor" Sassoon, 3rd Baronet, GBE was a businessman and hotelier from the Sassoon banking family. He succeeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his father Edward Elias Sassoon in 1924...
.
The IC provided housing, jobs and financial assistance for the 18,000 German, Austrian and other refugees who came into Shanghai. The IC also issued international passport
International passport
In some countries, the international passport or passport for travel abroad is a second passport, in addition to the internal passport, required for a citizen to travel abroad within the country of residence....
s to the Jews of Shanghai whose Nazi passports were confiscated or no longer valid. Stateless refugees received identification cards signed by Paul Komor. These documents were accepted by the Shanghai Municipal Council as well as the Japanese authorities, and even by some foreign countries, such as Australia. These passports gave the refugees "legal" status so they could emigrate to the United States, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
See also
- Shanghai GhettoShanghai ghettoThe Shanghai ghetto, formally known as the , was an area of approximately one square mile in the Hongkou District of Japanese-occupied Shanghai, to which about 20,000 Jewish refugees were relocated by the Japanese-issued Proclamation Concerning Restriction of Residence and Business of Stateless...