Poland marks 65 years since uprising

Antipodean Andy · Apr 15, 2008

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/16/2218036.htm

Israeli President Shimon Peres has paid tribute to Jews who took part in the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising against Nazi tyranny, saying there had never been a greater victory even though the insurgents perished.

"The majority of the insurgents died, murdered in cold blood," he said at the Warsaw ghetto memorial in a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the insurrection.

"They lost the battle, but from history's point of view there never was a greater victory, a victory of humanity over human bestiality."

The Jewish revolt that was crushed by the occupying Germans marked a symbolic stand against the Holocaust.

Ceremonies began at the site where the Nazis sent more than 300,000 Jews by train to the Treblinka death camp, 100 kilometres to the north-east.

Mr Peres spoke of the insurgents' "historic heroism, surpassing all legend, all celebration, all measure - a heroism which our children will carry with pride in their hearts."

Polish President Lech Kaczynski said World War II had seen many acts of heroism, "but among them the insurrection of the Warsaw ghetto is exceptional.

"The soldiers of the ghetto fought not for victory but for honour," he said.

Leading Polish and Israeli personalities as well as Holocaust survivors attended the ceremony.

Guests included US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who decorated Marek Edelman, the last surviving leader of the uprising, with the French Legion of Honour.

Another survivor, Stanislaw Wierzba, 83, recalled the event, saying it was "the only solution."

"What other fate awaited us?" he asked.

"It was a case of either die with dignity or be deported to crematorium ovens like my relatives who were probably killed in Treblinka."
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morse1001 · Apr 16, 2008

I think it is about time for Russia to apologise for the lack of support given to the inhabitants of the Ghetto.

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