Kielce – Jan Karski Bench

Jan Karski was one of those people who just have a story of ridiculous levels of bravery during a war, escaping capture, enduring torture and managing to transport themselves around the country looking to serve it. Karski’s reputation has primarily been sealed by the work he did in alerting the world to Nazi atrocities, as well as assisting the underground movement in Poland. He reported on the Warsaw Uprising, since he had become part of it, to the western powers and the Polish government in exile.

Karski survived the war and decided he’d like to live in the United States, which he did, working as a lecturer specialising in Eastern European politics and affairs. One of his students was Bill Clinton and in 1982 Karski was given the honour of being added to the Righteous Among Nations list. He died in 2000 at the age of 86, having certainly lived a full life.

Some information about his life.

Well, I guess he liked chess.

There are similar statues on benches in Karski’s honour in Warsaw and in Łódź, as well as in the United States, in New York and Washington DC.