Commemorating "Żegota"

In 1963, the Yad Vashem Institute of Remembrance in Jerusalem honoured the Council in its "Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations", where Władysław Bartoszewski, as one of its members, planted a small olive tree. At that time, he gave an hours-long testimony which the Institute used to document the organisation's activities.

In 1995, on the square on Ludwika Zamenhofa Street in Warsaw, now at the front of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Professor Bartoszewski unveiled a monument designed by Hanna Szmalenberg and Marek Moderau. An oak tree was planted close to it.

At the initiative of the Polish Association of Jewish War Veterans, a memorial plaque was placed onto the wall of the tenement at 24 Żurawa Street in Warsaw, where the organisation ran its secret office.

In 2005, in Kraków, at 11 Jagiellońska Street, where "Żegota" ran its secret branch office, a plaque was placed, which was financed by the Home Army Museum and the Józef Piłsudski Association.

In 2009, the Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) issued a set of commemorative coins dedicated to the organisation and its workers.

Each year since 2012, on 4th December, on the anniversary of the Council's establishment, POLIN Museum organises educational activities. The most important of these events are meetings of youth with witnesses to history. Together, they lay flowers at the abovementioned "Żegota" monument. For the first three years, the young people met with Władysław Bartoszewski. Following his passing, Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska has taken over his role. Anniversary commemorations include educational workshops, history lectures and film screenings.

 Karolina Dzięciołowska, December 2017 / English translation: Andrew Rajcher

Read more about the Council to Aid Jews "Żegota"

We present the stories of Council members, its structure, its activity methods,
memorials in Poland and Israel, as well as memorabilia from POLIN Museum collection

Bibliography

Marek Arczyński, Wiesław Balcerak, Kryptonim „Żegota”. Z dziejów pomocy Żydom w Polsce 1939-1945, Warszawa 1979.
Anna Bikont, Sendlerowa. W ukryciu, Warszawa 2017.
Teresa Prekerowa, Konspiracyjna Rada Pomocy Żydom w Warszawie 1942-1945, Warszawa 1982.
Gunnar S. Paulsson, Utajone miasto. Żydzi po aryjskiej stronie Warszawy (1940-1945), Kraków 2007.
Ten jest z ojczyzny mojej. Polacy z pomocą Żydom 1939-1945, oprac. W. Bartoszewski, Z. Lewinówna, Warszawa 2007.
„Żegota”. Rada Pomocy Żydom 1942-1945. Wybór dokumentów, oprac. A. K. Kunert, Warszawa 2002.
„Żegota. Dokumenty 1942-1945”, oprac. M. Olczak, Warszawa 2017.