Rightous Among the Nations – Łódź
Polish figure of the „The Holocaust” topic
Holocaust – mass genocide of European Jews by Nazi Germany had many faces, from repressing basic human rights to extermination camps. Those that decided to help the Jews despite the threat of punishment were given the title of Righteous Among the Nations. At this moment the medal was given to 28,217 people – their memory and honourable acts are still commemorated. Amongst them were 7,232 Poles. The Righteous Among the Nations are a symbol of courage and proof that people are capable of good even in the darkest of times.
The Nazi Germany set out on their mission to exterminate all off the Jews from existence a religion and ethnicity that inhabited and was part of the community of most European countries for centuries. Their actions had one goal in mind – extermination of the Jews from Europe. So called the Final Solution to the Jewish Question was precisely organised and methodised plan of their mass genocide. Many people despite the threat of harsh punishment or even death decided to in any way they could, to help them avoid death form the hands of the Nazis. The help came in many forms, from helping them escape, providing fake documents, medical aid or food. In 1963 Parliament of Israel established the title of the Righteous Among the Nations, as a way to commemorate and award the actions of those that despite the threat of repercussion helped those that the Nazi Germany set out to exterminate – Jews. The medal – a highest civil award in Izrael was since then awarded to 28,217 people of different nationalities and religions. 7,232 of them were Poles – the biggest nationality group. Among them were such people as Irena Sendlerowa – a polish woman that was capable of saving hundreds of children from the Warsaw Ghetto and the Ulmn family – murdered for hiding Jews in their home. Each person awarded was an example of how morality and humanitarian values cannot be squashed – some of them managed to avoid punishment while others died for their actions. They are commemorated in the Garden of the Righteous that is part of the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem. The award is still being given, as instances of those honourable acts are still being discovered.
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