Witold Pilecki
Polish Resistance leader and officer
Born
1901
125 years ago
Died
Category
Activists & Humanitarians
Country
Poland
Links & References
An officer in the Polish Army who became a key figure in the Polish resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II. Pilecki voluntarily entered Auschwitz to gather intelligence on the atrocities being committed there and to organize a resistance movement within the camp. He later documented the conditions in Auschwitz, sending reports to the Polish government-in-exile. After the war, he faced arrest by the Soviet authorities for his opposition to communism and was executed in 1948.
Volunteered to enter Auschwitz concentration camp
Formulated the first reports on Auschwitz atrocities
Organized resistance within the camp
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