Abdol Hossein Sardari was not a household name for the Iranian Jewish community. Not until recently, that is. A newly published book, In the Lion's Shadow, reveals how he had helped thousands of Iranian Jews escape Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War.
At that time, Iran's ruler, Reza Shah, had economic and diplomatic relations with Nazi Germany. He saw the Germans as a counterweight against Britain and Russia. Both countries had for years meddled in Iran's affairs, plundered its resources through agreements with corrupt rulers and, in the case of Russia, attacked and occupied northern parts of Iran.
Race was another factor. Reza Shah saw Iranians as Aryans. This is why he changed the name of the country to Iran (meaning Aryan) in 1935. Hitler also considered Iranians to be Aryans.
Although Iran declared itself neutral in the war and German troops never invaded Iran, it is believed that Hitler had numerous spies in Iran during the war. Reza Shah made sure they brought no harm to Iran's Jews. He was later deposed by London and Moscow for his relations with Hitler.
