Irena Sendler: Risking Her Life to Save Others

During World War II, Polish social worker Irena Sendler leveraged her vast network to smuggle food, medicine, and supplies into the Warsaw ghetto in German-occupied Poland—and smuggle Jewish children out. She relied on unconventional and dangerous methods to thwart the Nazis, including orchestrating the escape of infant Elżbieta Kopel (later Ficowska) in a small wooden box.

Nothing stopped Irena. She remained determined to save Jewish lives even after she was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death. Join us to commemorate Women’s History Month by honoring Irena Sendler’s life and legacy.

Guest
Dr. Ewa Wampuszyc, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Host
Dr. Edna Friedberg, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum


Read about the conditions and deportations happening in the Warsaw ghetto as Irena Sendler helped hundreds of Jews escape: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/conten...

Learn more about Żegota, an underground rescue organization that Irena Sendler was a part of whose main objective was to save Jews from Nazi persecution: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/conten...