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Raczyński's Note

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Edward Bernard Raczyński during office work.
"The Mass Extermination of Jews in German Occupied Poland", a paper issued by the Polish government-in-exile addressed to the then-United Nations, 1942

Raczyński's Note - the official diplomatic note of the Government of Poland in exile from December 10, 1942, signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edward Raczyński, regarding persecution and crimes committed against the Jewish population in Poland occupied by the Germany. It was the first official report on the Holocaust, informing about the crimes the western public opinion. It was also the first official speech of one of the governments in defense of all Jews persecuted by Nazi Germany - not only citizens of their country.[1][2][3]

History

The note was written by the Polish diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Exile Government in London Edward Raczyński on the basis of documents imported in the form of microfilm (materials prepared by the Jewish Affairs Department of the Home Army Headquarters) to London by courier Jan Karski and confirmed by his certificate, and Karski's reports prepared in 1940-1942 by Jan Karski. Raczyński's note was sent on December 10, 1942 to the governments of the signatory countries of the United Nations Declaration. It was personally addressed to other foreign ministers.[4][5]

He informed the governments of allied countries on behalf of the Polish government about the difficult situation of Jews in the German-occupied Poland and the crimes committed against them, calling for help.[6][7][8]

Contents

The note has been written on 9 pages of the typescript. In 21 points presented a description of the background of the problem and the current situation of Jews in occupied Poland, a chronological description of the information campaign of the Polish government on this area, as well as the call of allied governments to stop the crime. Note was sent to foreign ministers of 26 governments who signed the Declaration by United Nations in 1942.[9][10] Below the note sent to Anthony Eden on 10 December 1942:[11]

  • Cover of document
    Cover of document
  • I page 10 December 1942 adressed to Anthony Eden
    I page 10 December 1942 adressed to Anthony Eden
  • II page
    II page
  • III page
    III page
  • IV page
    IV page
  • V page
    V page
  • VI page
    VI page
  • VII page
    VII page
  • VIII page
    VIII page
  • IX page
    IX page

References

  1. ^ Raczyński (1942)
  2. ^ Wroński (1971)
  3. ^ Engel (2014)
  4. ^ Raczyński (1942)
  5. ^ Wroński (1971)
  6. ^ Raczyński (1942)
  7. ^ Wroński (1971)
  8. ^ Engel (2014)
  9. ^ Raczyński (1942)
  10. ^ Wroński (1971)
  11. ^ Engel (2014)

Bibliography

  • Raczyński, Edward (1942). The Mass Extermination of Jews in German Occupied Poland. London, New York, Melbourne: Republic of Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Wroński, Stanisław (1971). Polacy i Żydzi 1939–1945, (eng. "Poles and Jews" 1939-1945) (in Polish). Warsaw: Książka i Wiedza.
  • Engel, David (2014). In the Shadow of Auschwitz: The Polish Government-in-exile and the Jews, 1939-1942. UNC Press Books. ISBN 9781469619576.

See also

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