During World War II, as a courier of the Polish Underground State and emissary of the Polish government-in-exile, Jan Karski traveled undercover to the West to transmit secret material on life in occupied Poland.
To bear witness, the Underground smuggled Karski inside the Nazis’ vast system of industrialized slaughter.
He was one of the first people to inform the world about the German Nazi plan to exterminate the Jews. Karski did not manage to stop Holocaust, but the history of his mission remains relevant to this day, as it proves that one can refuse to be indifferent when confronted with evil.
The exhibit presents the story of Karski and the events that led to Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel’s assertion that “Thanks to him, more than one generation continues to believe in humanity.”

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition publication do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.