During World War II, Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg arrived in Budapest in July 1944 under the auspices of the U.S. War Refugee Board. He issued thousands of protective passports and commandeered more than 30 “Swedish houses” as safe havens, shielding Jewish families from deportation and death. He intervened at train stations, demanding safe passage for those bearing his papers, and negotiated directly with Nazi and Arrow Cross forces. Estimates vary, but it’s commonly agreed he saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews—perhaps up to 100,000 according to some sources.

In central Stockholm’s Raoul Wallenberg Square—adjacent to Nybroviken and Berzelii Park—a polished granite globe bears the inscription “RAOUL WALLENBERG” and lines in multiple languages memorializing his rescue of Hungarian Jews From this sphere, embedded metal rails run across the plaza, symbolically linking the monument to the nearby historic Great Synagogue, representing train routes used during the Holocaust A cast in bronze replica of Wallenberg’s signature lies in the pavement before the globe—referring to the protective passports he issued. Together, the elements create a contemplative pathway that honors his courageous efforts and Jewish heritage.