Diana's list
10:12:00 AM
Few days ago it was 38 years since Diana Budisavljević died. Have you ever heard of her? I bet the answer is no, just like mine would be a week ago. But everyone heard of Schindler, and what her did should be heard too.
She was born in Austria-Hungary, but after she married Julije Budisavljević (doctor from Serbia), the couple moved to zagreb. Zagreb was the capital of, at that moment, during the World War II, Independent state of Croatia, a puppet state of Nazi Germany. Jasenovac death camp was located nearby.
Here's what i've found about her:
“During World War II, Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis forces in April 1941 and the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia began a genocidal campaign against Serbs, Jews and Roma, setting up numerous concentration camps in Croatia. After she learned about children held at the camp Lobor-Grad, in October 1941, together with a number of collaborators, she launched a relief campaign named "Action Diana Budisavljević". The Action took care of mostly Serbian children but also women held in various concentration camps including the Jasenovac death camps.
With help from the local Jewish community, which was forced to support the camp inmates, her team sent supplies of food, medicines, clothes and also money, first to Lobor-Grad and later to another camp at Gornja Rijeka, both situated north of Zagreb. Her team also helped the members of the Croatian Red Cross at the main railway station in Zagreb, providing travel supplies for workers in trains that stopped there on their way to forced labor in Germany - some of those men, women and children returned to Zagreb after they were stopped in Maribor and Linz and were not allowed to travel further due to their illness - they were taken care by the Red Cross and the Action. During that work, in March 1942, Diana Budisavljević met the Headnurse Dragica Habazin, who became a close collaborator in the following months and years in helping the inmates from various camps that were relocated to Zagreb and other places.
At the beginning of July 1942, with assistance from German officer Albert von Kotzian, Budisavljević obtained written permission to take the children from the Stara Gradiška concentration camp. With the help of the Ministry of Social Affairs she was able to relocate child inmates from the camp. After the rescue efforts in Stara Gradiška, Budisavljević, wearing the uniform of a Red Cross nurse, took part in the transport of children from Mlaka, Jablanac and Jasenovac. More than 6,000 children had been moved away from those camps by the "Action" in July and August 1942. After obtaining permission in August 1942 to move the children from the institutions in Zagreb into the care of families, she worked together with the Zagreb Archdiocese branch of the Caritas and in that way made it possible for several thousands of children to be placed with families in Zagreb and rural communities.
Out of 15,536 children that Budisavljević saved, 3,254 children died during the rescue or immediately after leaving the camp, exhausted by torture, hunger and disease, while more than 12,000 rescued children survived the war. Eleven members of her team were killed during World War II. Upon request by the Ministry of Social Politics in May 1945, she handed over the card-files that she managed for 4 years.”
She died when she was 87.
Even seeing the horror of Nazi’s death camps is terrifying enough, but she chose to risk her life and do her best to help those poor children. More than 15 thousand of them! 15 THOUSAND.
I think that Internet should be filled with her and people similar to her instead of reality stars. So that’s why i’m sharing her story with you, she doesn’t deserve to be forgotten.
P.S. I had so many problems writing this text, my computer and internet connection were acting up so much. This has never happened to me before. As if someone didn’t want me to share this lol. If you could, share this post with someone, i truly believe more people should learn about Diana.
26 comments
This is a very nice post and a very nice story. I come from Serbia, but I have never heard about her. So, thanks for sharing this information. I am always looking for this kind of stories, expressly from Balkan region. :)
ReplyDeleteSvet Knjiškog Moljca
Very nice story :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing woman. No I hadn't heard of her before now and I can understand why you were inspired to research more. I'm surprised that more is not publicised about her, What an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing her story.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to learn something about the personalities whose life had more meaning.
ReplyDeleteTruly a remarkable woman, Diana Budisavljević. All wars are horrible. But in every war, there are heroes, and certainly Diana is one. Imagine, saving 15 thousand lives.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazinglifedaily.com #AmazingLifeDaily
Great people are being forgotten and celebrities pop like mushrooms. These type of people should be remembered. She is an inspiration to us all even if we havr different stories.
ReplyDelete"Courage, compassion, bravery, love and selflessness of heart" I wonder which of the current generation will have these qualities celebrated. Hopefully more than we've found thus far. This was a wonderful way to wrap up a Wednesday. Talk about motivation. If she can save 15,000 kids- I can surely get through today with a smile.
ReplyDeleteI think I read about her before, I just don't remember when. But, yes, her life is definitely inspirational. Her passion and desire to help others didn't stop because of the problems that they are having. Those kids she helped would be forever grateful to her forever. Or maybe they've already thanked her because they're in heaven now? idk. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree when you say the Internet should be filled with people like her and not reality stars. She is a true inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of her too. But, yes, it really takes great courage to continue helping after witnessing the horrors of the war. I hope the poor children she has helped has helped a lot of people too. And I hope a lot of people will follow her example in helping the current war refugees. -Me-An Clemente of http://yogoandcream.com
ReplyDeleteAw, what a nice story about her.she is very encouraging women in action and love... I hope I can read her story but I know it's not too late I will search her after this..
ReplyDeleteDunja, I really appreciate you bringing the story of such an amazing woman to us. You are right when you said that the internet should be filled with stories about such humanbeings. Kudos on this post
ReplyDeleteIt's almost comical when you think of what the history books will be filled with in 100 years. Children today know much more about the Kardashian family than they do awesome women like Diana
ReplyDeleteNow this is what I call an amazing woman. I too think kids need to study women like this instead of some of the trash on tv.
ReplyDeleteHey Roxy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing Diana Budisavljević! Even I didn't know about her. It's so sad that the world is not acknowledging the true real heroes instead running behind celebrities and stars! It takes a hell lot of courage to risk your life for others and she did that during the Nazi empire!
Wow this is very very interesting, I have never heard of her ever before. It is beyond unbelievable that she saved over 15000 kids!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a selfless and kindhearted woman. She must be enjoying heaven now with the good deeds she did here on earth. I admire brave and principled women like her.
ReplyDeleteThis is true inspiration. Much better than the kardashions right? It seems much more valuable to read this kind of stuff than watch silly tv programs. I like history! Great post!
ReplyDeleteVery nice story! She is an inspiration and these type of people should be remembered!
ReplyDeletewhat a fascinating person, I love hearing other peoples stories, some stories are just so touching and can be inspiring for others. thank you for sharing this story : )
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice one! I love learning new things about people, establishment and anything that goes by history.
ReplyDeletethis is an interesting piece of history.. it's said that some heroes are often being ignored by people either because their story is not written in most history books or they are just left to be forgotten.. the story of Diana is really inspiring and shows woman's empowerment and how they can really make a huge difference!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this woman before! I think each country in the world had unique stories in the war. For the Philippines we also had "patrons" of the war. Those who may not have been in the battlefield, but used their resources and risk their lives just the same.
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring story. I agree with you that kind of her shouldn't be forgotten. I hope that the world war won't happen again. It's just so saddening that kids get become a victim of it.
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring and full of thoughts! This post makes me think who are the other important but not too popular people back in the days. Thank you.
ReplyDelete