Irena Sendler

Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker and nurse. She was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1910. During World War II, she helped rescue about 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. She risked her life every day to save them.

Early Life

Sendler grew up in a family that believed in helping others. Her father was a doctor who treated poor patients for free. She became a social worker in Warsaw. When the Nazis created the Warsaw Ghetto, she found ways to get inside and help.

Rescuing Children

Sendler smuggled children out of the ghetto in ambulances, suitcases, and even coffins. She gave them new names and placed them with Polish families. She kept a list of their real names hidden in jars buried under a tree. She was arrested and tortured but never revealed the children's hiding places.

Fun Facts

• Irena Sendler saved about 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust.
• She hid the children's real names in jars buried under an apple tree.
• She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Did You Know?

Even after being arrested and tortured by the Nazis, Irena Sendler refused to reveal where the children were hidden. She escaped execution thanks to a bribe paid by her resistance group.