A statue of a Polish woman who saved hundreds of Jewish children from near certain death has been unveiled in Nottinghamshire.
Irena Sendler, who died in 2008, used her job as a social worker to obtain a permit to enter into the Warsaw Ghetto and help bring Jewish children to safety.
She was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo in October 1943 but managed to conceal her list of the addresses of children in hiding and the money owed to those who helped.
Ms Sendler was sentenced to death but made a lucky escape after she was released by bribed officials. She continued her work but went into hiding.
She was recognised as a righteous among the nations in 1965 and received a number of honours, including Poland’s Order of the White Eagle.
Today's unveiling ceremony of the #RighteousAmongtheNations #IrenaSendler statue in #Newark @NSDCouncil.
— Polish Cultural Institute in London (@PLInst_London) June 26, 2021
Irena Sendler and her associates saved several hundreds of Jewish children from the #WarsawGhetto, effectively saving them from the death in holocaust. @ipngovpl_eng pic.twitter.com/kXKIWTSRwD
Polish ambassador Arkady Rzegock, who joined communities minister Robert Jenrick at the unveiling ceremony in Newark on Saturday, praised the “fitting tribute to a WW2 hero”.
The statue - mostly funded by the Institute of Polish Remembrance - was created over a six month period.
Artist Andrew Lilly said the work’s prominent location will help reach many people in the area.
“Knowing that the story of this little lady who stood up to the cruelty of the Nazi war machine will be on show for everyone to see, especially younger audiences, is really rewarding.
“Her actions during World War II should be remembered for generations and it’s great I can do my part to share her story,” she said.
The local council leader David Lloyd said Ms Sendler’s sacrifice “will be remembered for generations to come” and noted Newark’s “deep rooted connection” to the Polish community.
Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said she “saved an amazing number of young lives while still being a young woman herself."
