How One Person Helped save around 2,500 children from the Nazis

Irena Sendler daughter of Dr Staninslaw a physician and his wife Janina. Her father died from typhus contracted from the patients he was treating, mainly Jews whom other physicians had rejected.

She, later on, went to study at the University of Warsaw and was suspended shortly afterwards because of her public protests.

Her most dangerous and valuable possession was the glass jar which contained names of over 2000 children whom she had smuggled to safety. Her entire life was that glass jar.

When the Nazis had invaded Poland, they made further laws that eroded Jewish rights. Hitler forced the Jews into just one square mile of land. They were subjected to constant surveillance and the families eventually became sick and starving.

Sendler and her colleagues secured passes into the Ghetto and claimed to be checking for typhus outbreaks. They tried to smuggle food and medicines to the people with the help of the Polish. But the scenario was different inside. People were desperate to help their children escape through sewage and over fences.

It was when Irena and her group of 10 realized that they had to change their plan of action. They developed rescue missions –

1. Make use of an ambulance to take a child out hidden underneath the stretcher.
2. Escape through the courthouse or church.
3. Children could escape through the sewer pipes and other underground passages.
4. A trolley was used to aid in carrying out a child in a sac, suitcase, coffin etc.
5. If a child pretends to be very ill – he could be legally removed using an ambulance.

The children were sent to convents, foster families and orphanages.

The names of all these children were written down on cigarette papers and stored in glass jars.

The police captured Sendler but her records remained safe. She was repeatedly tortured and finally sent to be executed. But the German officer diverted her course as he was paid a lump sum amount for her release.

She continued her mission of smuggling children out of the Ghetto camps till the defeat of the Nazi’s in 1945.

Irena was awarded for Valor and Courage in 2003.