Irena Sendler

Date of Birth: February 15, 1910

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: May 12, 2008

Biography

Irena Sendler, born Irena Krzyżanowska, was a Polish nurse, social worker, and humanitarian who is best known for her remarkable efforts during World War II in saving the lives of Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Born on February 15, 1910, in Warsaw, Poland, she grew up in a family that valued social justice and compassion. Her father, a doctor, died of typhus when Irena was only seven, but his dedication to treating the poor and marginalized left a lasting impact on her. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, Irena joined the Polish underground and the Żegota (Council to Aid Jews). Utilizing her position within the Warsaw Social Welfare Department, she gained access to the Warsaw Ghetto and began smuggling out children, often sedating them and hiding them in ambulances, suitcases, and even coffins. She and her network managed to save approximately 2,500 children, placing them in convents, orphanages, and with sympathetic Polish families. In October 1943, Irena was captured by the Gestapo, tortured, and sentenced to death. However, she managed to escape on the day of her scheduled execution thanks to a bribe paid by Żegota members. After the war, she continued her social work and lived in relative obscurity until her story gained wide recognition later in life. Irena Sendler passed away on May 12, 2008, at the age of 98. She remains a symbol of courage, compassion, and the power of individual action in the face of overwhelming evil.

5 Interesting Facts about Irena Sendler

1. Irena Sendler smuggled Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto using various ingenious methods, including hiding them in ambulances, suitcases, and even coffins.

2. She kept detailed records of the children’s original names and their new identities, burying these lists in jars in her garden to ensure they could be reunited with their families post-war.

3. Irena was arrested and brutally tortured by the Gestapo but never revealed any information about her network or the children she saved.

4. For her heroic efforts, Irena was awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1965.

5. Her story was largely unknown until a group of Kansas high school students produced a play titled “Life in a Jar” in 1999, which brought international attention to her extraordinary deeds.