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Holocaust: Irena Sendler's Role In The Holocaust

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“I could have done more. This regret will follow me to my death,” stated Irena Sendler, even after she sacrificed her own life to save thousands of impoverished Jewish children from the Holocaust (“An Unsung Heroine”). Irena Sendler was born on February 25th, 1910 in Otwock, Poland, and died on May 12, 2008 in Warsaw, Poland (“Family & Cast”). Many know her as an excellent and fearless woman for her efforts during World War II. Her childhood and family, role in the Holocaust, and the awards she has won are all crucial parts in her life that have made her who she is today. Starting with her childhood and family, Irena grew up in Otwock, Poland. During her adolescence, her father, Stanisław Krzyżanowski greatly influenced her. Her father was …show more content…

Irena got a pass from Warsaw’s Epidemic Control Department, which allowed her to legally visit the Ghetto daily. Then, between 1942-1943, she snuck children out of the Warsaw Ghetto to safe hiding places, and found non-Jewish families to adopt them. The youth only knew Irena by her code name “Jolanta”. She had to persuade many parents to part from their children, which was a very difficult and dreadful task. Irena later recalls, “In my dreams, I still hear the cries when they left their parents.” Her procedure to get the children out was very risky, but Irena stoutly refused to give in. The children were smuggled out in peculiar ways that included being put in gunnysacks, body bags, potato sacks, and coffins. A mechanic would even take a baby in his toolbox. Next, she put all of the children in an ambulance, which then took them to homes, orphanages, or convents. Priests and high-ranking officials in the Social Services Department signed the counterfeit Catholic birth certificates and identity papers. With the help of the Social Welfare Department, “…she issued hundreds of false documents with forged signatures and successfully smuggled almost 2,500 Jewish children to safety and gave them temporary new identities,” (“Irena Sendler”). Sendler and the Polish Resistance would teach the kids Catholic prayers and how

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