24 June 1914 – 13 July 2000

On 24 June 1914, one of the greatest heroes of the Second World War was born in Łódź, Poland. Jan Karski, born Jan Kozielewski, would become a legendary courier of the Polish Underground State and one of the first men to bring eyewitness evidence of the Holocaust to the leaders of the free world.

When Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939, Karski joined the Polish resistance. Thanks to his military training, diplomatic experience, and remarkable courage, he volunteered to serve as a courier, carrying vital information between occupied Poland and the Polish Government-in-Exile. It was an extraordinarily dangerous mission, requiring him to cross borders, evade enemy forces, and risk capture at every step.

Twice Karski narrowly escaped death. In 1939, after being captured by Soviet forces, he avoided execution by the NKVD. A year later, he fell into the hands of the German Gestapo. Subjected to brutal torture, he attempted suicide rather than betray the secrets of the Polish Underground. He survived and was eventually rescued by members of the resistance.

In 1942, Karski was entrusted with one of the most important missions of the war. Acting on behalf of the Polish Government-in-Exile and Prime Minister General Władysław Sikorski, he was tasked with gathering evidence of Nazi atrocities being committed against the Jews and other occupied peoples.

To obtain firsthand information, Karski secretly entered the Warsaw Ghetto twice, witnessing the appalling conditions, starvation, and suffering inflicted upon its inhabitants. He also gained access to a Nazi transit camp connected to the extermination system, observing the machinery of mass murder being carried out by Hitler’s regime.

Armed with this evidence, Karski travelled to London and later to Washington, D.C., where he met senior Allied leaders and influential figures. He delivered detailed reports describing the systematic extermination of European Jewry. His testimony became one of the earliest and most accurate accounts of what would later become known as the Holocaust.

Despite the urgency of his warnings, many leaders struggled to comprehend the scale of the crimes he described. Nevertheless, Karski fulfilled his mission: he told the world the truth.

After the war, unable to return to a communist-controlled Poland, Karski settled in the United States. He earned a doctorate from Georgetown University and became a respected professor of international relations, teaching generations of students about Eastern Europe, diplomacy, and moral responsibility. He remained at Georgetown for four decades and became one of the most respected voices on the history of the war and the Holocaust.

Karski lived long enough to witness the fall of communism and the rebirth of a free and democratic Poland. In recognition of his extraordinary courage and service to humanity, he received numerous honours, including the title of Righteous Among the Nations and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded posthumously by the United States.

Jan Karski passed away on 13 July 2000 at the age of 86. His legacy endures as a symbol of courage, truth, and moral duty. At a time when much of the world chose not to listen, Jan Karski risked everything to ensure that the crimes of Nazi Germany would not remain hidden.

Today, on the anniversary of his birth, we remember not only a great Polish patriot and hero, but also a man whose life reminds us that bearing witness to injustice is one of humanity’s greatest responsibilities. His extraordinary courage, integrity, and commitment to truth continue to inspire people around the world.

Polish Sue Association proudly remembers Jan Karski and honours his service to Poland, freedom, and humanity. As guardians of Polish history and heritage, we are committed to preserving the stories of those who stood against tyranny and defended human dignity in the darkest days of the twentieth century. By remembering heroes such as Jan Karski, we help ensure that their sacrifice, values, and lessons are never forgotten by future generations.

Text: Polish Sue