Irena Sendler

War Hero

Birthday February 15, 1910

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Otwock, Poland

DEATH DATE May 12, 2008 (98)

#61,800 Most Popular

About

Polish nurse who risked her life to smuggle 2,500 children out of Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II.

Before Fame

She hid infants at the bottom of her large tool bag and smuggled older children in burlap sacks. As she carried out her rescue operation, her dog warned her of approaching Nazi soldiers.

Trivia

Her heroism remained largely unrecognized until a group of Kansas high school students wrote a play called "Life in a Jar" that was based on her story.

Family Life

She was married three times and had one daughter.

Associated With

She was called the female Oskar Schindler because she, like Schindler, saved thousands of Jews from certain death.