Irena Sendler
Irena Sendler
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Irena Krzyzanowska Sendler was a Polish social worker and resistance member who became known for her courageous efforts to save Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. She is also referred to as Irena Sendlerowa in Polish.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: February 15, 1910, in Otwock, Poland
Died: May 12, 2008, in Warsaw, Poland
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Polish social worker and resistance member
Early Life and Background
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Irena Sendler was born into a family of modest means in Otwock, Poland. Her early life was marked by tragedy when her father died from tuberculosis in 1922. This event had a profound impact on Irena, who became determined to help those in need.
Sendler studied social work and began working with children at the age of 15. During this time, she met Mieczysław Sendler, whom she later married. Together, they had two sons, but their marriage was cut short when Mieczysław died fighting for the Polish resistance in 1939.
Major Accomplishments
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Rescuing Jewish Children: Irena Sendler joined the Zegota (the Underground Council to Aid Jews), a Polish underground resistance movement that helped Jews escape persecution. She created false identification documents and smuggled hundreds of children out of the Warsaw Ghetto, often placing them with Catholic families.
Code-Named "Jolanta": Sendler worked under the code name "Jolanta," which was given to her by the Polish resistance.
Notable Works or Actions
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Sendler's most notable work was her efforts to save Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. She and a network of volunteers would often pose as German soldiers, enter the ghetto, and search for families willing to part with their children. Once the children were smuggled out, Sendler would create false identification documents and place them in Catholic orphanages or other safe houses.
Impact and Legacy
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Irena Sendler's selfless acts of courage have left an indelible mark on history. Her bravery and compassion during one of humanity's darkest periods serve as a testament to the power of individual actions to make a difference.
Sendler was recognized for her heroism after the war, receiving numerous awards and honors from governments around the world. In 2003, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of American students who had learned about her story while working on a school project.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Irena Sendler's legacy extends far beyond her own lifetime. Her courage and selflessness have inspired countless people to take action in the face of adversity, making her one of the most revered figures of World War II.
Quotes by Irena Sendler
We all have to ask ourselves, “What would I have done?“. I agree with Wladyslaw Bartofszewski, one of the organizers of ZEGOTA, who said, “Only the dead have done enough.
Every child saved with my help is the justification of my existence on this Earth, and not a title to glory.
I was taught by my father that when someone is drowning you don’t ask if they can swim, you just jump in and help.
Over a half-century has passed since the hell of the Holocaust, but its spectre still hangs over the world and doesn’t allow us to forget.
Heroes do extraordinary things. What I did was not an extraordinary thing. It was normal.
I was taught that if you see a person drowning, you must jump into the water to save them, whether you can swim or not.