Today is National Day of Remembrance of Poles who rescued Jews during the German occupation. The National Day of Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews under German Occupation is a significant day in Poland, observed annually on March 24th. This day honors the brave Poles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, which occurred during the German occupation of Poland in World War II.
During the Nazi occupation, Poland had the largest Jewish population in Europe, and unfortunately, many Poles collaborated with the Germans in the persecution of Jews. However, there were also many courageous Poles who resisted the Nazi regime and helped to save Jewish lives. The exact number of Polish rescuers is unknown, but estimates range from tens of thousands to as many as 100,000.
These Poles provided shelter, food, and other forms of assistance to Jews in hiding, often at great personal risk to themselves and their families. They were motivated by a deep sense of humanity, compassion, and resistance to the Nazi ideology of racial hatred and genocide. Many paid for their actions with their lives.
The National Day of Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews under German Occupation was established in 2018 by the Polish parliament to commemorate the heroic acts of these brave Poles. The day is intended to promote awareness and understanding of this important aspect of Polish history and to honor the memory of those who risked everything to save others.