Witold Pilecki

Witold Pilecki was born on May 19, 1901, in Olonets, Karelia, part of the Russian Empire, but lived most of his life in Poland. Pilecki was best known for his Witold’s Report, which was the first detailed report of the interior of the Auschwitz Camp, which before his report was believed to be a large prison, not a death camp. Also, he founded two resistances against the Germans - the Secret Polish Army and the Union of Military Organizations. Witold Pilecki’s main goal was to create a free Poland. He is a hero because he was brave, he was not afraid to be a leader, and he did not expect anything in return.

Witold PileckiT.Bór Komorowski "Armia podziemna" Warsaw 1990One of the main traits that makes Witold Pilecki a hero was his bravery. In 1940, he proposed to the secret Polish Army that he should infiltrate Auschwitz, in order to discover its inner workings and to offer an inside report about what was happening in Auschwitz. At the time, he had a wife and two children, yet he voluntarily entered one of the Polish round-ups. From within the camp, he gave information about camp conditions to prisoners who had escaped to carry to others outside of the prison. He was able to survive two and a half years in Auschwitz before he himself escaped through a poorly secured door in a bakery outside of the camp.

Another trait that made Pilecki a hero was how frequently he stood up for what he believed and would lead others in this cause. He founded the Secret Polish Army with Major Włodarkiewicz which was a Polish resistance to Russian influence.  While in Auschwitz, he also organized the Union of Military Organizations, an internal resistance which used an improvised radio broadcasting station to broadcast information outside of the camp. The Union of Military Organizations also distributed extra food among inmates and organized an intelligence network inside of the camp.

Witold PileckiDworski, Lamus. “Uncovering Poland.” Uncovering Poland,One of the most interesting things about Witold Pilecki was how little his bravery was recognized. While he was awarded two Crosses of Valor and the Cross of Merit while he was alive, most of his recognition was awarded posthumously. He was not recognized for his bravery in infiltrating Auschwitz until after his death because his heroic deeds were suppressed by the Polish Communist Regime until 1989. This late recognition of Pilecki’s accomplishments is even more admirable because he did these acts for his love of Poland, not for hopes of celebrity. His last words were “Long live free Poland.”

Witold Pilecki is a hero because he was always willing to give up everything for a free Poland. He did not hesitate risking his life with his wife and children if it meant that Poland could be free from Soviet rule. He risked his life in order for Poland to be free and did not expect anything in return by volunteering to enter Auschwitz. He was always ready to be a leader no matter what the consequences were, being the founder of two resistances. Witold Pilecki was a hero because he was always willing to give it his all for his country.

Staff, NPR. “Meet The Man Who Sneaked Into Auschwitz.” NPR, NPR, 18 Sept. 2010, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129956107.

“BIOGRAPHY.” Witold Pilecki, 19 June 2017, witoldpilecki.info/en/witold-pilecki-biography/.