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2012-01-02

Marek Edelman was born ninety years ago

Ninety years ago, Marek Edelman, one of the leaders in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, was born. After the end of the war, he worked as a cardiologist. At the time of the Polish People’s Republic, he was an opposition activist.

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Under the German occupation, Marek Edelman was engaged in the foundation and operations of the Jewish Combat Organization (ZOB). During the uprising in the ghetto, after Mordechaj Anielewicz killed himself, he became the last leader of the insurgents. He also took part in the Warsaw Uprising, fighting in Srodmiescie and Zoliborz, the two Warsaw districts. In 1976, Marek Edelman signed the protest letter written by one hundred and one intellectuals against introducing amendments to the constitution. The letter was addressed to the authorities of the Polish People’s Republic. From 1976-1980, he was involved in the activities of the Workers’ Defence Committee (KOR), and afterwards in the Solidarity movement. He took part in the underground Solidarity movement and in the Polish Round Table talks. From the years 1989 to 1993, he was a member of the Polish Sejm, taking an active part in initiatives aiming to preserve the memory of the Polish Jews who lived in Poland for centuries.

In 2008, Marek Edelman received the French National Order of the Legion of Honor. The ceremony took place at the residence of the French ambassador in Warsaw. The order was presented by the Head of French Diplomatic Mission Bernard Kouchner. Marek Edelman’s life story was the theme of Hanna Krall’s book entitled ‘Shielding the Flame’ while Agnieszka Holland’s recent movie ‘In Darkness’ is dedicated to him. The movie tells the story of a group of Jews who were in hiding in Lvov sewage for fourteen months and a Polish man who took care of them. It is a remarkable story of survival, which presents a fresh look on Polish-Jewish relations.

For more information, visit the the Polish Radio website.

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