Brothers for Resistance and Rescue 1 - CENDO

escaped once and managed to reach the Hungarian border where he was caught and returned to
his unit. He ran away again and succeeded in reaching Budapest. He immediately joined the
underground activities. Hunwald, one of the “Hashomer Hatzair” leaders, had leadership and
organization skills so it was natural that he should be the manager of the “Glass House”. Like
Grossmann, his predecessor, he had bitter arguments with Arthur Weisz about accepting more
Jews into the house. Hundreds of people assembled each day in front of the gate of the “Glass
House” and begged for shelter. The relationship between the two worsened.
On November 23rd at 5 o'clock in the morning, there were sounds of guns hitting the gate. One of
the guards hurried to wake Arthur Weisz who got dressed and arrived at the gate. He went out on
the street where he confronted a gendarme lieutenant escorted by a squad of soldiers. “We have
an order to look for weapons” the lieutenant announced.
“I firmly protest the violation of the diplomatic status of this house” said Weisz while pointing at the
sign on the gate.
“I have a written order” the lieutenant insisted.
“And I have a written certificate from your commander, lieutenant colonel Ferenczy”, replied
Weisz.
The lieutenant hesitated, turned to his soldiers and told then to leave the place. He turned around
and mumbled: “Don’t worry, I will return”.
On 1.1.1945 a unit of Arrow Cross men with Pál Fábry at its head appeared in front of the gate. “I
want to speak to Arthur Weisz” he said aggressively.
Weisz came down from his office and stood behind the gate guard. “Here I am”, he announced. He
knew Fábry who was the commander of a military unit whose base was in the neighborhood. “What
is the matter?” he asked.
“Mr. Weisz”, Fábry said politely, “I request that you follow me. My fellow officers and myself want
to discuss with you issues related to the consulate house.”
Weisz hesitated and did not answer.
“You had better come with me for your own sake and the sake of the people living here. I give you
my word as a Hungarian officer that nothing bad will happen to you.”
“I want to consult my friends and will return at once” replied Weisz.
“Don’t go on any account! You cannot trust them! Find an excuse or offer him a bribe or food” his
friends, Mezei and Salamon, advised him.
“I am going”, Weisz suddenly announced. He left the house and got into Fábry’s car. The car
drove in the direction of the Parliament. From that moment Weisz’s traces disappeared.
It was late at night. The small black car of the consulate with the Swiss emblem on its doors came
through the gate. Simha Hunwald got out of the car. The minute he saw the people’s faces he
understood that something had happened.
“Arrow Cross men with Fábry, the officer, took Arthur away. We clearly told him not to go”, he
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