page_title: Constantin Karadja
section_title: Diplomatic activity
hierarchical_section_title: Constantin Karadja / Diplomatic activity
caption_attribution_description: English: 1940 passport annotation signed by Constantin Karadja, Berlin. The passport holder may have been a Jewish woman.
context_page_description: Prince Constantin Jean Lars Anthony Démétrius Karadja was a Romanian diplomat, barrister-at-law, bibliographer, bibliophile and honorary member of the Romanian Academy. He was a member of the Caradja aristocratic family.
context_section_description: Influenced by his humanistic and juridical education, Constantin Karadja constantly followed the principles of international law respecting human rights. He did not cede in front of political pressures, "doctrines" en vogue or potential "opportunities", but engaged himself with perseverance in the protection of the rights of Romanian citizens living abroad, regardless of ethnicity or religion. As the Romanian consul general in Berlin (1932–1941) and the director of the consular department of the Romanian Foreign Ministry (15 June 1941 – 17 October 1944), "in both functions, during one and a half decades, Karadja developed an intense activity to save Romanian Jews surprised by the war in the kingdom of death". "Tens of thousands owe their lives to his exceptional persistency, abnegation, determination and amplitude marking his long-term engagement in favour of the Romanian Jews stranded under the Nazi regime." Yosef Govrin, former Israeli ambassador, also writes that it "required extraordinary courage to act as he did through diplomatic means" as he was putting his career in consequent jeopardy. Shortly after his dismissal on 17 October 1944, he was re-appointed by the new foreign minister, Constantin Vişoianu. On 1 September 1947 he was dismissed again from the ministry, this time permanently. This was one of the last measures taken by minister Gheorghe Tătărescu, who one month later, was himself forced to leave his post to Ana Pauker. Subsequently, the payment of Karadja's pension was refused. In an atmosphere of incertitude and menace, he died on 28 December 1950.
caption: 1940 passport annotation signed by Constantin Karadja, Berlin. The passport holder may have been a Jewish woman.
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