Sugihara Visa Archive

CORRECTION 2026-07-28: people list de-duplicated and pruned. 'Rochelle Zielonka' was the same person as Ruchla Zielonka (her name after emigration, not a second traveller). 'Leah Zielonka' was removed as a traveller: per her own account (Leah Zell, Liberties Journal, 24 Jul 2026) the child on the journey was her sister, born c.1937 — recorded here as Julie — and her brother Sam was born in Chicago in September 1941, so Leah herself was born in the United States after the escape. She is the author of the cited article, not a person on the visa. issue_date and category set from official register No.789 (1940-08-02), which matches the date she gives.

added later: nine-image family correspondence acquired (sources 813-821) — his mother wrote from Antwerp through Nazi censors in July 1941, and Leipzig relatives kept writing to Shanghai; the letters survived with him.

from NAA A435 1946/4/5501: certificate Nr. N-208 (31 Jul 1940) — b. 29 May 1904 Warszawa, married, bookkeeper (buchalter); the earlier 'Aljona' reading was a garble. Wife Fajga No.745 and son Michał traveled beside him; the family reached AUSTRALIA on British Kobe visas of Jun 1941 (letter M 101, 13 Jun 1941 — the earlier 'Jan 13' note was a misread).

from Eric Saul/ISRAH bio: birth name ZALKE GENKIND — no Genkind on the register, consistent with the family not escaping. The eleven-year-old who hosted Sugihara at Hanukkah 1939 and whose aunt's plea in the sweet shop reportedly first brought the refugees' plight before Sugihara; survived the Kovno Ghetto and Landsberg-Kaufering, liberated by Japanese-American soldiers of the 522nd Field Artillery — the extraordinary symmetry at the heart of Saul's 'Light One Candle' exhibit and Ganor's memoir.

CORRECTION 2026-07-27 per AKIRA KITADE (email; Emerging Heroes p.85): this visa No.21 is NOT a Sugihara visa and NOT Jokubas Burstein — it was issued by NEI SABURO, Acting Consul-General at VLADIVOSTOK, to SZYMON KORENTAJER. The register-No.21 derivation was a false-number match. Register No.21 (Jokubas Burstein) remains undocumented.

added later: appears in the documentary "Sugihara Survivors"; became Distinguished University Professor Emerita of Epidemiology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (faculty from 1969), a principal investigator of the Women's Health Initiative — the child of record 607's Wassertheil family who grew up to shape American public-health research.

CORRECTION 2026-07-26: register DOES list Granek Szulem — No.1246 (6 Aug 1940). The surviving NKVD exit permit (17 Dec 1940) shows he was still exiting months after his visa was issued. Match set to No.1246.

from Leah Zell essay, Liberties Journal: family fled Sosnowiec 1939 with firstborn daughter; visa No.789 (wife Ruchla No.790, 2 Aug 1940); Trans-Siberian→Vladivostok→Japan; emigrated to US May 1941; son SAM ZELL born Chicago Sep 1941. In Apr 1989 the widowed Mrs. Zell hosted Yukiko Sugihara in Chicago — Yukiko called her "a truly special friend" in her memoir prologue. Daughter Leah Zell provided the essay and visa photo.

identified: Leidimas Serja A Nr.07808 reads LEWIN Izaak (earlier 'Zorn' misread) — man of letters, b. 1906, of Vilnius, with wife Peula and son Natan b.1936 = Dr. Isaac Lewin, the Łódź/Vilnius scholar (later professor in New York), father of attorney Nathan Lewin. Register No.17 Isak Levin (26 Jul 1940) — among the first visas issued, matching Lewin's own account. See record 566 (Pessla Lewin = wife Peula/Pesla).

identified: name line reads Mnachem Hersz Frydchai — register No.407 Frydchaj Hersz Menachem; the '1005' is the Zwartendijk declaration number (declaration dated 25 Jul 1940, Sugihara visa 31 Jul 1940).

identified: handwritten family research note (Georgetown Suites stationery): Saul arrived in the US on the SS Cleveland 25 Oct 1940 from Kobe; his three sisters and father were killed 24 June 1941. Relates to register No.805 Szaps Jaskolka (family record 190). Owner approved keeping this note public (2026-07-26).

IDENTIFIED 2026-07-25 from Kedem auction 6909 lot 121690: preparatory documents of David Morgenstern (Kraków 1939 passport certificate + Mexico 1941 translation, Vladivostok→Yokohama boat ticket Sep 1940, Panama/Curaçao telegram; the visa itself absent) = register No.53 David Morgenstern (27 Jul 1940); No.50 Malka Morgenstern likely wife.

IDENTIFIED 2026-07-25 from Dynasty auction lot 23463: Polish citizenship certificate + Suriname transit visa (Jul 1940) of Rabbi Meir Malin, b.1906, son of R. Isser Malin Av Beit Din of Brisk; fled Kovno→Shanghai→Eretz Israel = register No.361 Mejer Malin (30 Jul 1940).

IDENTIFIED 2026-07-25 from Kedem auction 89 lot 125 (sold $5,500): five documents of R. Eliezer Sorotzkin (1915-2007), Telshe student, son of R. Zalman Sorotzkin of Lutsk; transit visa dated 31 Jul 1940 = register No.520 Lejzer Soroczkin (31 Jul). Later founder of Kiryat Ye'arim (Telz-Stone). Confirms tentative match on record 576.

added later: passport entrusted to the NPO Chiune Sugihara Visas For Life museum (Tokyo, Yaesu) by sons George (the UBC professor whose numbered Sugihara list this archive uses) and Bob Bluman; Fukui entry permit 2 Feb–2 Mar 1941 — the family wintered in the USSR and crossed to Tsuruga in Feb 1941, then on to Canada.

identified: Soviet transit page reads гр. Новогродский Мар[кус] (Latin fragment ...ogrodzki visible in margin) = register No.1506 Nowogrodzki Markus (issued 7 Aug; visa page stamped VIII 8). Destination amended 'to U.S.A.', Soviet visa via Moscow 24 Sep 1940, Fukui PERMITTED TRANSIT 9 Oct 1940 — one of the earliest Tsuruga crossings in the archive.

identified: source file 1256_Berliner_Pinkus.jpg follows the archive's {No}_{Name} naming = register No.1256 Berliner Pinkus (1940-08-06; visa page dated VIII 6 agrees).

from Mirweb full passport, source 726: British passport No.21587 of Pinkus Berliner, b. London 17 May 1916, student, BRITISH SUBJECT BY BIRTH — a British citizen with the yeshiva refugees. Route in stamps: Warsaw consular registration 27 Sep 1938 → Stołpce county (Mir district) 1937-39 → British Consulate Riga 4 Sep 1939 → Tallinn (Norwegian consulate visa attempt 5 Sep 1939) → Lithuania 30 Oct 1939, Telšiai registration Nov 1939, Kėdainiai Mar 1940 → US non-quota student immigration visa No.8, American Consul Kaunas 19 Jul 1940 → SUGIHARA VISA 6 Aug 1940 (Curaçao struck, 'to U.S.A.') = register No.1256 → Soviet transit visa via Vladivostok (Intourist 27 Oct 1940) → CAIRNS, Australia customs 3 Dec 1940. Passport renewed to 1943.

identified: same passport as records 367/403/451/579/659 — Sugihara transit visa 1940 VIII 22, Soviet visa No.299518 (Feb 1941, to America via Vladivostok), Czechoslovak-issued residence permit No.334 (17.VII.38), Fukui transit permit Apr 2 1941, Hyogo entry Apr 17–Jun 15 1941. Holder line reads Эмиль Якубович = register No.1964 Jakobovitsch Emil (checoslov., 1940-08-19; stamp in passport dated VIII 22 — 3-day discrepancy noted).

CORRECTION 2026-07-25: the 'Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41' inscription also appears on records with visa dates VIII 8 and VIII 21 — it was a group authorization by H.M. Consul Kovno covering multiple holders, NOT proof of one family. Liberman identification applies specifically to records 301 (filename) and 401 (30 Jul date agreement); records 229/361/362/426 are other holders in the same Palestine group.

IDENTIFIED 2026-07-25 by owner via passport-collector.com: Czechoslovak passport of EGON HERTZKA (issued 1936), Sugihara visa on page 11 dated 21 Aug 1940 = register No.2066 Egon Hertzka (checoslov., 21 Aug 1940) — exact name/nationality/date match. From Tom Topol's collection.

CORRECTION 2026-07-25: the 'Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41' inscription also appears on records with visa dates VIII 8 and VIII 21 — it was a group authorization by H.M. Consul Kovno covering multiple holders, NOT proof of one family. Liberman identification applies specifically to records 301 (filename) and 401 (30 Jul date agreement); records 229/361/362/426 are other holders in the same Palestine group.

CORRECTION 2026-07-25: the 'Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41' inscription also appears on records with visa dates VIII 8 and VIII 21 — it was a group authorization by H.M. Consul Kovno covering multiple holders, NOT proof of one family. Liberman identification applies specifically to records 301 (filename) and 401 (30 Jul date agreement); records 229/361/362/426 are other holders in the same Palestine group.

CORRECTION 2026-07-25: the 'Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41' inscription also appears on records with visa dates VIII 8 and VIII 21 — it was a group authorization by H.M. Consul Kovno covering multiple holders, NOT proof of one family. Liberman identification applies specifically to records 301 (filename) and 401 (30 Jul date agreement); records 229/361/362/426 are other holders in the same Palestine group.

identified: name on document reads Alexander Haffka — register No.459 Aleksander Hafftka (31 Jul 1940 = visa date on page). Zwartendijk declaration No.1362 (29 Jul); destination amended Curaçao→Canada→ENGLAND — consistent with Aleksander Hafftka, prewar Polish ministry official (Jewish affairs), bound for the Polish government-in-exile. Family follows on register: Paumena 1302, Samuel 1303, Hela 2093, Samuel 2131.

CORRECTION 2026-07-25: the 'Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41' inscription also appears on records with visa dates VIII 8 and VIII 21 — it was a group authorization by H.M. Consul Kovno covering multiple holders, NOT proof of one family. Liberman identification applies specifically to records 301 (filename) and 401 (30 Jul date agreement); records 229/361/362/426 are other holders in the same Palestine group.

CORRECTION 2026-07-25: the 'Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41' inscription also appears on records with visa dates VIII 8 and VIII 21 — it was a group authorization by H.M. Consul Kovno covering multiple holders, NOT proof of one family. Liberman identification applies specifically to records 301 (filename) and 401 (30 Jul date agreement); records 229/361/362/426 are other holders in the same Palestine group.

IDENTIFIED 2026-07-25 by owner via Chiune Sugihara Israel FB group (Krichely Yossi post): the laissez-passer of ISRAEL ZIMMERING, yeshiva student and Hapoel Hamizrachi member — register No.1466 Cimring Izrael (7 Aug 1940; page stamped VIII 8). Visa obtained in Zorach Warhaftig's Mizrachi group — matching the Government-of-Palestine group telegram (9/1/41) on the document. Reached Japan, made aliyah 1942, settled Netanya as a lawyer; his children Hava Appel (Netanya Museum director) and Avraham Zimmering hold the document in the photo.

added later: Kedem lot 108 catalog adds the full route — Nazi-stamped exit permits (Włocławek 5.10.39, Ciechanów 14.10.39), Vilna refugee committee no.4474, Zwartendijk declaration 1.8.40, Sugihara visa 5.8.40, Japan stay permit 3.4.41 (no.2703), Kobe Ashkenazi community attestations (Aug 1941), Polish consular passport issued Tokyo 9.12.1941, Shanghai movement permit + Committee for Assistance of Jewish Refugees receipts (Jun-Jul 1942).

identified: image is the visa page of Nachman Icchok Sroka's citizenship certificate — Winner's auction 096 item 11 (2016); same physical document as record 638 (Winner's/Bidspirit 13810 lot 31036 re-listing). Register No.1500 Sroka Nachman; USHMM Flight and Rescue exhibition.

MATCHED No.1264 Gutwirth Senzer Nathan: register nationality is Netherlandy (Dutch), resolving the earlier Dutch-passport conflict — this IS the famous Nathan Gutwirth of Telshe.

MATCHED No.2070 Chil Benjamin Fiszof = Benjamin (Yechiel Benzion) Fishoff.

Gersh=Hersz G/H transliteration).

MATCHED No.691 Grynberg Mojsze: document number equals register number and given name agrees.

MATCHED No.697 Malka Bryskier: document number equals register number and given name agrees.

MATCHED No.703 Debora Kalmanowicz: document number equals register number and given name agrees.

MATCHED No.704 Hersz Kalmanowicz: document number equals register number and given name agrees.

MATCHED No.709 Hiena Brafman: document number equals register number and given name agrees.

IDENTIFIED as part of the Palestine family set (records 229/259/301/361/362): full laissez-passer with Zwartendijk declaration (Kaunas 27 Jul 1940), HANDWRITTEN Sugihara transit visa 30/VII 1940 — matching the register issue date of the Liberman family Nos.423-425 (30 Jul 1940) — Kobe guarantee, Fukui entry 5 Mar–2 Apr 1941, British visa Kobe 30 Apr 1941 for Palestine (Government of Palestine telegram 9/1/41, letter of H.M. Consul Kovno), NKVD registration to 18 Feb 1941, Yokohama Specie Bank Kobe exchange 29 May 1941. Family had multiple sheets — this is a second one.

LLM guessed M) = Zorach Warhaftig; wife Nauma/Naomi is No.454 Nauma Warhaftig.

surname rare; issue date 1940-07-30 matches exactly). Wife Rachie traveled on the same visa.

MATCHED No.599, master name repaired Baca→Taca per Bluman list (#599 Hersz Pejsak Taca, 20, student, cousin of #299).

Susan traveled on his visa.

Theodor (Tovia) Lasdun.

MATCHED No.2032 Langer Mozes = Moshe Langer.

same person as visa record 156 — candidates for merge.

Lucille and sister traveled on her visa.

MATCHED No.746 Mojzesz-Szloma Margolin.

see passport scans in records 367/403/451/579 (doc number 87 is another series).