Did you know that a British intelligence officer helped save thousands of lives during the Holocaust? This is the story of Frank Foley, one of the lesser-known heroes who risked his life to help Jews escape the Nazis.
During the 1930s, Captain Francis (Frank) Foley served as Britain’s passport control officer in Berlin while secretly working for MI6. As the Nazis came to power, Foley used his position to issue visas to help Jews flee Germany. He also visited concentration camps to secure the release of prisoners and sheltered Jewish families in his own home. Unlike diplomats, Foley had no diplomatic immunity and risked arrest by the Gestapo for his actions.
Historians estimate that Foley helped save as many as 10,000 Jewish lives.
After the war, Foley rarely spoke about what he had done and lived a quiet life until his death in 1958. Decades later, survivor testimonies helped bring recognition to his extraordinary actions. In 1999, he was recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.
Frank Foley left behind a legacy of humanity. We remember his remarkable bravery and heroism, and he will never be forgotten.
