NB: In this message to his colleagues overseas, Hungarian Zionist Rudolf (Rezso) Kasztner outlines the Nazi offer to stop killing Jews in exchange for goods from abroad. This was the infamous “blood for goods” plan that his fellow Zionist Joel Brand conveyed to the Allies. The message proves that Kasztner tried to save hundreds of thousands of Jews; he did not betray them to the Nazis. The Kasztner collaboration myth had inspired a generation of communist antisemitic propagandists who wanted to blame Zionists for the Holocaust. Kasztner gambled that his negotiations would stop the trains to the death camps. Tragically, he was wrong. But error is not murder and negotiation is not collaboration. Translated from German – Webmaster. Kasztner on Holocaust Rescue From The Holocaust: Selected Documents, Vol. 15: Relief in Hungary and the Failure of the Joel Brand Mission, (New York: Garland, 1982), Document 16:- Budapest, June 15, 1944 In connection with the negotiations conducted by Joel Brand, we have undertaken to supply certain quantities of merchandise to the [SS] authorities who determine the Jewish question. Payment for the deliveries would be “human lives,” i.e., the deportations would be stopped. The items required are mainly those needed for the civilian population, e.g., cocoa, medicine, menswear, etc. We promised our [SS] opposite numbers to get these abroad, but we immediately started the fundraising and made an effort to get hold of them in areas under Axis control. This effort, coordinated by Julius Link (who suggested the idea in this form) promises success. NB: the goods are not to be imported from overseas (this question was also the subject for negotiation by Brand, but we do not yet know what agreements he has reached about this abroad); these are goods to be found in these [Axis] territories and they just need to be collected and paid for by us. The payment must be made in Swiss francs specifically as that is the only way these goods can be purchased. The first instalment should be completed in the shortest possible time and around 8,000,000 francs will be needed. To the extent that we supply the goods, certain relief of the Jews’ position will be granted by our opposite numbers. Many hundreds of thousands have to be saved from deportation and its related outcome, so we must be helped to carry out this plan. From the JDC a contribution in the range of $10,000,000 is expected, which may well seem a large amount, but must be regarded as absolutely trivial in relation to the hopes resting on it. In both cases – the aforementioned 8,000,000 francs and the question of the dollars – if all else fails the money could be treated as a loan, repayable post-war from Jewish assets. My advice would be: In both cases some financial sources should make the required funds available in the form of loans. As security for these loans the Budapest Jewish community, whose real estate alone is worth well over $50-60 million, has its entire asset base. You can sort out the details. It is still possible to help many hundreds of thousands of Jews and keep them alive, no time can be lost, try to do everything for the success of this plan. We must assume that our opposite numbers are serious in their offer. JOE [Codename for Kasztner]