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Viorica AgariciChairman of the Red Cross during World War II
Date of Birth: 01.01.1886
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Content:
- Early Life and Family
- World War II
- "Train of Death" Intervention (July 2, 1941)
- Aftermath
- Recognition and Legacy
Early Life and Family
Viorica Agarici was born into a prominent family in Roman, Romania. Her father served as the city's mayor, and her son, Horia Agarici, became a renowned Romanian pilot and squadron commander during World War II.
World War II
During the war, Agarici worked as a nurse in the Roman hospital, tending to wounded Romanian soldiers returning from the Eastern Front.
"Train of Death" Intervention (July 2, 1941)
On July 2, 1941, Agarici received word of a train carrying Jewish survivors of the Iasi pogrom. The passengers were denied food, water, and access to restrooms, and the train was guarded by gendarmes. Using her position as head of the local Red Cross, Agarici secured permission to provide aid to the passengers, allowing them to eat, wash, and remove the dead bodies. This act of mercy delayed the train in Roman for a day.
Aftermath
Agarici's actions drew the ire of the local population, and she lost her job and was forced to move to Bucharest.
Recognition and Legacy
Despite the persecution she faced, Agarici's heroism was recognized posthumously. On January 3, 1983, four years after her death, she was named a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. A bust and memorial plaque were erected in her honor at the Roman railway station.
