Szmul Zygelbojm
Never let it be said that the Allies did not know what the Nazis were up to or in fact that the British themselves did not know…..
Szmul Zygelbojm a senior Bund official was assisted by supporters to escape Poland after the Nazi occupation. He arrived in London in 1942 and became a member of the National Council of the Polish Government in Exile. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness of what was happening in his home country, including speaking to the Labour Party, publishing a booklet in English and broadcasting on the BBC in June 1942. In April 1943 despite heroic resistance the Warsaw Ghetto was liquidated by the Nazis, those killed included Zygelbojm’s family. In May that year he wrote this letter:
SAMUEL ZYGELBOJM’S LETTER OF FAREWELL TO THE POLISH GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE, MAY 1943
With these, my last words, I address myself to you, the Polish Government, the Polish people, the Allied Governments and their peoples, and the conscience of the world.
News recently received from Poland informs us that the Germans are exterminating with unheard-of savagery the remaining Jews in that country. Behind the walls of the Ghetto is taking place today the last act of a tragedy which has no parallel in the history of the human race. The responsibility for this crime- the assassination of the Jewish population in Poland-rests above all on the murderers themselves, but falls indirectly upon the whole human race, on the Allies and their governments, who so far have taken no firm steps to put a stop to these crimes. By their indifference to the killing of millions of hapless men, to the massacre of women and children, these countries have become accomplices of the assassins.
Furthermore, I must state that the Polish Government, although it has done a great deal to influence world public opinion, has not taken adequate measures to counter this atrocity which is taking place today in Poland.
Of the three and a half million Polish Jews (to whom must be added the 700,000 deported from the other countries) in April, 1943, there remained alive not more than 300,000 Jews according to news received from the head of the Bund organization and supplied by government representatives. And the extermination continues.
I cannot remain silent. I cannot live while the rest of the Jewish people in Poland, whom I represent, continue to be liquidated.
My companions of the Warsaw Ghetto fell in a last heroic battle with their weapons in their hands. I did not have the honor to die with them but I belong to them and to their common grave.
Let my death be an energetic cry of protest against the indifference of the world which wit nesses the extermination of the Jewish people without taking any steps to prevent it. In our day and age human life is of little value; having failed to achieve success in my life, I hope that my death may jolt the indifference of those who, perhaps even in this extreme moment, could save the Jews who are still alive in Poland.
My life belongs to my people in Poland and that is why I am sacrificing it for them. May the handful of people who will survive out of the millions of Polish Jews achieve liberation in a world of liberty and socialist justice together with the Polish people.
I think that there will be a free Poland and that it is possible to achieve a world of justice. I am certain that the President of the Republic and the head of the government will pass on my words to all concerned. I am sure that the Polish Government will hasten to adopt the necessary political measures and will come to the aid of those who are still alive.
I take my leave of all those who have been dear to me and whom I have loved.
Samuel Zygelbojm
http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/site/pp.asp?c=ivKVLcMVIsG&b=476155