Poland honors Catholics who saved Jews during Nazi occupation

March 24 holds profound significance in Poland’s national memory. It is the
day in 1944 when the Ulma family—Józef, his pregnant wife Wiktoria, and their
six children—were executed by Nazi German forces for hiding eight Jews in their
home. Since 2018, the date has been officially recognized as the National Day
of Remembrance for Poles Who Rescued Jews Under German Occupation.

“This day carries special meaning, as it precedes the Day of the Sanctity of
Life,” said Father Mirosław Kalinowski, rector of the John Paul II Catholic
University of Lublin (KUL), at a press conference March 24. “We honor those who
risked their lives to help persecuted Jews. They demonstrated immense courage
and determination, fully aware that they and their loved ones faced the death
penalty.”