Rada Pomocy Żydom „Żegota”

Była jedyną w okupowanej Europie wspieraną przez Państwo instytucją powołaną w celu ratowania Żydów. Czytaj m.in. o historii Rady, jej strukturze, mechanizmach działania, upamiętnieniach w Polsce i Izraelu oraz o pamiątkach ze zbiorów Muzeum POLIN.


The History of "Żegota"

The Council was established on 4th December 1942 by the Government Delegation for Poland to replace the "Konrad Żegota" Provisional Committee to Aid Jews.

The Structure of "Żegota"

The work of the Council was streamlined into departments: legal, finance, residential, anti-blackmail, propaganda, children, medical and clothing.

Kraków Branch of the “Żegota” Council to Aid Jews

The Council to Aid Jews (RPŻ) was established, in occupied Warsaw, on 4th December 1942, continuing the mission of the Provisional Committee for Aid to Jews, which had been formed a few months earlier. Its members and collaborators – both Poles and Jews – representing various political parties, operated underground under the codename “Żegota”. At one of its first meetings, the Presidium of the RPŻ decided to expand its coordinating activities by creating district councils in other centres of occupied Poland. By this time, the Zamość-Lublin Committee for Assisting Jews was already active. Founded by Stefan Sendłak in the summer of 1942, it became an extension of “Żegota”. Attempts to establish branch offices led to the creation, in the spring of 1943, of two branch offices of the RPŻ – in Kraków and Lwów.

The "Felicja" Cell

"Felicja" was the codename of one of the Council's cells founded by Maurycy Herling-Grudziński. One-fifth of the Jews in hiding in Warsaw remained under its care.

Those Cared for by "Żegota"

The Council to Aid Jews "Żegota" helped escapees from ghettoes, from transports heading to extermination centre, as well as those left alive after German liquidation operations.

Commemorating "Żegota"

The essence of this commemoration is being passed on into the memory of the next generations. It takes various forms. The "Żegota", and the people connected with it, are honoured in both Poland and Israel.

Source Relating to "Żegota"

Presented here are selected sources – books, films and podcasts relating to the history of the Council, its members, its structure and its methods of activity.