On the National Day of Remembrance of Poles Who Saved Jews under German Occupation, the exhibition of the Institute of National Remembrance, “Poles Saving Jews During World War II,” was presented at the European Parliament. The opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy President of the IPN, Prof. Karol Polejowski.

Eighty-two years ago, in Markowa in the Podkarpacie region, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, their children, and the Jews they were hiding were murdered by the Germans. This date—March 24—was established in 2018 by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, as the National Day of Remembrance of Poles Who Saved Jews under German Occupation. At the seat of the European Parliament, exhibition “Poles Saving Jews During World War II,” prepared by the IPN branch in Rzeszów was unveiled.

The exhibition features archival photographs and documents presenting assistance provided by Poles to the Jewish population. It highlights both organized aid (including the activities of “Żegota”) and individual efforts, carried out within territory of occupied Poland as well as beyond its borders. The documents show the actions of Poles who, at the risk of their own lives, saved Jews during the Holocaust. Selected examples also present individuals who were persecuted for such activities, as well as postwar contacts between survivors and their rescuers, and the fate of Jewish children saved by Poles.

During the opening, Prof. Karol Polejowski recalled that among the Poles who saved Jews were representatives of various communities: the intelligentsia, clergy, workers, and peasants—both individuals and entire families. The Blessed Ulma Family of Markowa has become a symbol of the sacrifice made by Poles who saved Jews.

The decision to shelter Jews required extraordinary courage and determination. In the German-established General Government on occupied Polish lands, any form of assistance to Jews was punishable by death. Despite the constant, everyday threat to their own lives, many of our compatriots chose to provide such help. Today, Poles constitute the largest group among those who were honored by the Israeli Yad Vashem Institute with the title ‘Righteous Among the Nations.’ title. A total of 7,318 Polish citizens have been awarded this title, emphasized the Deputy President of the IPN.

Prof. Karol Polejowski also read a letter from the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, addressed to the participants of the event.

Thanks to the work of distinguished Polish scholars of history, visitors to the European Parliament can view a unique exhibition  devoted to a truly exceptional aspect of the history of World War II, which, unfortunately, remains to a large extent forgotten. It is a story about ordinary people who demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of monstrous evil, stressed the President of the Republic Poland in his letter.

Among those attending the presentation of the exhibition were: Members of the European Parliament Bogdan Rzońca, Ph.D. and Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Vice-President of the European Jewish Association Alex Benjamin, Director of the Office of the IPN President's Office Marek Jedynak,Ph.D. and Director of the IPN Branch in Rzeszów Prof. Dariusz Iwaneczko.

The exhibition at the European Parliament will be open to visitors until March 27, 2026.