Karski, Jan, 1914-2000

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Liaison officer and courier of the Polish government-in-exile to the Polish underground, 1939-1943; author, Story of a Secret State (1944).

From the description of Jan Karski papers, 1922-2007. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 754868753

Biographical Note

  • 1914 June 24: Born Jan Kozielewski in Lodz
  • 1935: Law student at University of Lwow
  • 1939: Recruited into the Polish diplomatic service Mobilized, September campaign - escapes Soviet imprisonment First mission to the West, France
  • 1940: Second mission - Failed
  • 1942: Smuggled into Warsaw ghetto and a concentration camp to prepare a report on Nazi war crimes Reports on his mission to representatives of governments of Poland and Great Britain
  • 1943: Reports about situation in Poland to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other U.S. officials
  • 1944: Publishes Story of a Secret State
  • 1952: Receives PhD from Georgetown University
  • 1953: Enrolls at School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
  • 1954: Naturalized as American citizen. Works for United States Information Service
  • 1965: Marries Pola Nirenska
  • 1984: Retires from Georgetown University
  • 1985: Publishes The Great Powers and Poland
  • 1994: Made honorary citizen of Israel
  • 2000 July 13: Dies in Washington D.C.

From the guide to the Jan Karski papers, 1939-2007, (Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Jan Karski papers, 1939-2007 Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace
referencedIn Wood, E. Thomas, 1963-. E. Thomas Wood papers, 1939-2000. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Polish Embassy in the United States records, 1939-1945. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Karski, Jan, 1914-2000. Jan Karski papers, 1922-2007. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn E. Thomas Wood papers, 1939-2000 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn Oral history collection, 1919-1986. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Poland. Ambasada (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Sikorski, Władysław, 1881-1943. person
associatedWith Wood, E. Thomas, 1963- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Poland
Germany.
Poland.
Subject
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Jews
Jews
Propaganda, German
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1914-06-24

Death 2000-07-13

Americans

English,

Polish

Information

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SNAC ID: 68788119