Jan Karski honoured with the Medal of Freedom

President Obama announced his intention to honour Karski on 23rd April during a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington. He stressed that Karsky’s conduct during World War II was deserving of respect and should be remembered by future generations.

Karski, as a courier for the Polish Underground in 1942, travelled to London with a report of what was happening in occupied Warsaw. His report was primarily concerned with the extermination of the Jews. He presented it to the Polish Government-in-Exile, and then to American and to British politicians. U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, personally listened to what Karsky had to say. His courier’s mission was, however, unsuccessful in that the information which he provided was not responded to with any action to stop the Holocaust.

Jan Karski died in 2000. During the White House ceremony, the medal was accepted by Polish diplomatic chief, Adam Rotfeld who, as a child, was rescued from the Holocaust.

The Presidential Freedom Medal is awarded to people who specifically contribute to world peace, to the security of the USA or who have made some outstanding achievement. Apart from Jan Karski, on 29th May, the Freedom Medal was awarded to another eleven people – outstanding politicians, activists and artists, among them being former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Israeli President and two-time former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and musician Bob Dylan.