As a jewish sympathizer since childhood, sendler sendlerowa and her friends produced thousands of false documents to help jewish families prior to joining the resistance group zegota council for aid to jews. Her film about irena sendler, in the name of their mothers, is an official selection at this years united nations association film festival unaff. Unable to promise safety for even herself, irena would respect their decision even though she knew the. In pawiak prison, the nazi soldiers broke sendlers feet and legs, crippling her for life in their efforts to pry information from her. Childhood, family and early life if you see someone drowning, you must jump in and try to save them, even if you dont know how to swim. Ive written about irena sendler before, here and here. Jan 01, 2007 unlike schindler, mrs sendler or sendlerowa, a polishcatholic, was in real danger of her life, as were, fellow poles who worked with her to save thousands of jewish children. Petition reward irena sendler the nobel peace prize. The director of the film, mary skinner, was there to answer questions following a screening of the film which was a more complete version of the pbs version. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1. In the name of their mothers is a documentary film about the polish social worker irena sendler, who saved 2,500 jewish babies and children from the warsaw ghetto and almost certain death at treblinka. This documentary just won the 2012 gracie award for outstanding documentary in public tv mary skinner is a former marketing executive turned documentarian.
Irena sendler biography childhood, life achievements. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Irena sendler saves jewish children from the warsaw ghetto. B this article has been rated as bclass on the projects quality scale. Jan 20, 2011 like the steady stream that creates a canyon, irena sendlers consistent courage, day in and day out, changed the fate of over 2,500 jewish children during the holocaust of wwii. During the german occupation of poland during wwii irena lived in warsaw as early as 1939 when the germans invaded poland, she began aiding jews she and her helpers created over 3,000 false documents to help jewish families. By the time of her death in 2008, irena had been honored by the governments of poland and israel, pope john paul ii, and. The director of the film, mary skinner, was there to answer questions following a screening of the film which was a. She escaped miraculously on the day she was to be executed. Irena was polish and did not have to help the jews but decided to help without anyone asking her. Working as a nurse and a social worker, she was active in the polish undergroundthe polish resistance movement in world war iiin germanoccupied warsaw during the world war ii. After the german occupation, the department continued to take care of the great number of poor and dispossessed people in the city. Irena sendler, irena krzyzanowska, polish social worker born february 15, 1910, otwock, russian empire now in polanddied may 12, 2008, warsaw, pol.
What she did, however, was nothing short of extraordinary. Irena sendler died 12 may 2008 aged 98 in warsaw, poland. This article is within the scope of wikiproject biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize wikipedias articles about people. Irena was a candidate for the 2007 nobel peace prize. An unfamiliar name to most people, but this remarkable woman defied the nazis and saved 2,500 jewish children by smuggling them out of the warsaw ghetto. Trained as a social worker, sendler became 1942 a member of zegota council to aid the jews, the polish underground organization established to help save. Irena made me believe that not all europeans were bad during the holocaust. Check local times here, and you can buy the dvd here. Irena saved at least 2,500 jewish children from certain death during the holocaust. During the wwii she saved about 2,500 jewish children from warsaws ghetto. Unlike schindler, mrs sendler or sendlerowa, a polishcatholic, was in real danger of her life, as were, fellow poles who worked with her to save thousands of jewish children. Irena sendler stories of women who rescued jews during the. This film expertly captures the will and character of the women of the resistance against the backdrop of.
It is also the story of the students from kansas who rediscovered her, each carrying their own painful burden and each called in their. The courageous heart of irena sendler is a 2009 television film directed by john kent harrison. Irena sendler, in the name of their mothers, the story of a group of young polish. Irena s story would also be an interesting study for womens history month. Irena sendler a polish social worker who helped save some 2,500 jewish children from the nazis by smuggling them out of the warsaw ghetto. Irena sendler was born into a catholic family in poland in 1910. Life in a jar the courageous story of irena sendler. Irena sendler was a polish woman who along with her trusted network is credited to have saved the lives of 2,500 jewish children during the holocaust. A hero of the children and their mothers i was taught by my father that when someone is drowning, you dont ask if they can swim. In the name of their mothers 2010 polish social worker irena sendler and other women save thousands of jewish children during world war ii. In the name of their mothers together, they rescued over 2,500 jewish children. Book on holocaust heroine irena sendler sheds light on her longsuppressed life she was only 4 ft 11 in tall, a wisp of a catholic girl in her early 30s, a fairhaired blueeyed beauty, and an. Words of irenas father on february 15th, 1910 born into a catholic family, irena krzyzanowki later became sendler when she married her first husband was born.
And yet, while she was hailed for her work by those she had helped, for years, she wasnt permitted to tell her story. She had saved 2,500 children and put their real names in a jar and kept the only record of the names in a neighbors back yard, buried under an apple tree, at the address of 9 ledarska. This past week, pbs premiered the latest film by ken burns. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 3. New book on holocaust heroine irena sendler by tilar. In the name of their mothers is the first historical documentary made outside poland which highlights the true record of sendler and the women who worked with. This article is within the scope of wikiproject poland, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of poland on wikipedia.
In the name of their mothers is a perfect supplement to your world war ii, holocaust, or anne frank unit. Mother of the children of the holocaust hardcover muza sa editor. Sendler is the polish holocaust heroine who, with her team from the clandestine organization zegota, saved about. The research is thorough and come alive through the many interviews the author conducted with irena herself and the people who knew her. Mary skinners special film irena sendlerin the name of. In the name of their mothers dvd,this is the story of 29yearold irena sendler who saw the suffering of warsaws jews, and reached out to her most trusted colleagues for help, and outwitted the nazis during world war ii. The film is a coproduction between american and polish companies. May, 2008 according to irena, the greatest heroes of these rescue missions were not the rescuers, but the mothers of the children, who intuitively sensed the end of their lives approaching and knew that was the only way for their beloveds to be saved from the horror of extermination. A mustsee film for those who want to know the true story of irena sendler, a true polish hero. This viewing guide for the pbs documentary irena sendler. The real ending in the movie was was edited from the book.
For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in. It is the inspirational story of protestant students from kansas, each carrying her own painful burden, each called in her own complex way to the history of a catholic woman who knocked on jewish doors in the warsaw ghetto and, in sendlers own words, tried to talk the mothers out of their children. In 1943 the gestapo captured sendler, tortured her and sentenced her to death, but she refused to divulge anything about the women or the hidden children. Sendler s authorized biography can also be purchased on the website.
Mieszkowska lets irena tell her own story in her own words. It provided much of the source material for the beautiful pbs documentary, irena sendler. They smuggled thousands of jewish children out of the warsaw ghetto and kept them safe until the end of the war. The irena sendler project is a holocaust history and more. This page is dedicated to her memory and to honour such a courageous woman. Irena sendler 1910 2008 when hitler and his nazis built the warsaw ghetto and herded 500,000 polish jews behind its walls to await liquidation, many polish gentiles turned their backs or applauded. At times, mothers and families would not wish to let their children go, fearing they would never see their children again or that their children would lose their heritage. Irena sendler, in the name of their mothers, the story of a. Whoever saves a single life, it is as if he had saved the whole world. Visit life in a jar for more information about the play. From october 1943 she was head of the childrens section of zegota, the polish council to aid. There was a huge turn out november 7, 2011 at buffalos canisius college to view mary skinners documentary irena sendlerin the name of their mothers.
At 95, irena sendler reveals how she and a group of young polish women risked their lives to save thousands of jewish children from the warsaw ghetto. In the name of their mothers 2011 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Trained as a social worker, sendler became 1942 a member of. Mary skinners special film irena sendlerin the name of their mothers 1 june 2011 mary skinner is a former marketing executive turned documentarian. And yet, while she was hailed for her work by those she had. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. In the name of their mothers 2011 starring irena sendler and jan becker on dvd and bluray. Sendler is the polish holocaust heroine who, with her team from the clandestine organization zegota, saved about 2,500 children from the warsaw ghetto in world war ii.
Irena stanislawa sendler nee krzyzanowska, also referred to as irena sendlerowa in. She is recognized as righteous among the nations and was nominated for a. Irena sendler poland when world war ii broke out, irena sendler was a 29yearold social worker, employed by the welfare department of the warsaw municipality. This is the story of 29yearold irena sendler who saw the suffering of warsaws jews, and reached out to her most trusted colleagues for help, and outwitted the nazis during world war ii. Throughout the german occupation in world war ii, irena worked tirelessly to help save polands jews from the nazi horror. Irena sendler stories of women who rescued jews during. Irena sendler ap photoalik kepliczwhat happens when an ordinary polish woman encounters extraordinary evil. Irena sendler was never anyone to bragshe always said that she simply did what she had to do. Irena sendler sculpture at irena sendler school, hamburg.
Schindler robbed and exploited the 1200 jews he saved. Irena sendler 1910 2008 polish catholic social worker people and their households caught hiding jews risked death sentences in germanoccupied poland. In poland, she is affectionately known as the mother of the holocaust children. His subject was waitstill sharp, a unitarian minister and his wife martha, who, during world war ii, helped smuggled at least 150 jews out of nazicontrolled areas, operating first in. From irena sendler in the name of their mothers youtube. The list was in the parcel sendler threw out the window that day, reburied by her compatriot. The inspirational story of irena sendler, who knocked on jewish doors in the warsaw ghetto and, in sendler s own words, tried to talk the mothers out of their children. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. During the war irena risked her life in order to save other people. Students are fascinated by the inspiring story of a young p. Sendler was captured by the gestapo, tortured and sentenced to death in 1943 but she refused to divulge anything about her underground operation.
643 1203 601 221 749 778 948 155 634 1451 323 1649 483 918 295 422 1192 56 635 522 454 92 916 325 865 27 702 698 1257 395 1411 1475 1420 71 450 1300 1663 43 209 1464 174 525 764 901 1027