Warsaw – Israel’s ambassador to Poland, Zvi Rav-Ner, decorated 13 Poles in Warsaw for aiding Jews during the German Nazi occupation of Poland during WW II.
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The newly championed ‘Righteous Gentiles’, in some cases represented by their families, were from various localities, both urban and rural.
Amongst those recognized was Bronislawa Ogoniewska, originally from the city of Stanislawow (now Ukraine), who helped hide some 32 Jews.
With over 6200 now honored, Poland has the highest number of righteous gentiles in comparison with other countries.
However, it is accepted that the numbers of people involved in aiding Jews was vastly higher. For a gentile to be officially honored, the testimony of a Jewish survivor must be given, or incontrovertible evidence to support the candidacy.
Most of those that were aided are now no longer alive, whilst others were executed along with their saviours. The official penalty for aiding Jews was the death sentence (often meted out to the entire family) although this was not always practised.
I always wonder why none of these so-called righteous goyim were available during the holocaust. According to survivors they were no where to be found. Now they are all coming out of the woodwork….