In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January), Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania holds the exhibition entitled “To Me There’s No Other Choice” organized by the Swedish Institute. It is dedicated to Raoul Gustaf Wallenberg who has been designated as a Righteous Among the Nations. In 1944, this Swedish diplomat worked in the Nazi-occupied Hungary and saved thousands of Hungarian Jews by distributing certificates of protection to Jews and providing shelter to them in the buildings which came under the Swedish jurisdiction. After the Red Army seized Budapest in 1945, Wallenberg was arrested by the KGB and subsequently disappeared, never to be heard from again. It is believed that he died in the KGB Moscow prison in 1947.

To honour his heroic life-saving efforts, Wallenberg’s memory was immortalized in numerous monuments, and streets were named after him. He was declared an honorary citizen of the United States, Canada, Hungary, Australia and Israel, and in 1981, the Raoul Wallenberg Committee was created. Each year it bestows awards on individuals who perpetuate humanitarian ideals and non-violent courage.

Opening of the exhibition: 30 January, 5:00 p.m., Atrium, 3rd floor.

The event will be attended by the ambassador of Sweden to Lithuania H.E. Maria Christina Lundqvist, the Director General of Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania Prof. Renaldas Gudauskas,  the head of the Department for Commemoration of Rescuers of Jews at Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum, Danutė Selčinskaja, and opera soloist Rafailas Karpis.

Brief information about the exhibition