ABSTRACT
Throughout WWII, Turkey, along with Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal, succeeded in avoiding the war’s destruction by remaining a neutral country. For Jews trapped in the German sphere, these neutral countries in Europe were crucially important destinations to be reached, and for those who wanted to help them, they served as potential bases for rescue and aid operations. Thus, the willingness of these countries to protect, aid, and save Jewish people gained vital importance during the war years. Their policies often determined whether Jews were rescued from German atrocities, or pushed to an end that might be fatal.
