Marek Edelman (Yiddish: ?????? ????????, born 1919 in Homel or 1922 in Warsaw – October 2, 2009 in Warsaw) was a Jewish-Polish political and social activist and cardiologist. Before his death in 2009, Edelman was the last surviving leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.Before World War II, he was a General Jewish Labour Bund activist. During the war he co-founded the Jewish Combat Organization (?OB). He took part in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, becoming its leader after the death of Mordechaj Anielewicz. He also took part in the city-wide 1944 Warsaw Uprising.After the war, Edelman remained in Poland and became a noted cardiologist. From the 1970s, he collaborated with the Workers' Defence Committee and other political groups opposing Poland's communist regime. As a member of Solidarity, he took part in the Polish Round Table Talks of 1989. Following the peaceful transformations of 1989, he was a member of various centrist and liberal parties. He also wrote books documenting the history of wartime resistance against the Nazi German occupation of Poland.
On the Nazi gas chambers: These people went quietly and with dignity. It is an awesome thing, when one is going so quietly to one's death. It is definitely more difficult than to go out shooting.
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On the Warsaw Ghetto uprising: It was a defensive action. We fought simply not to allow the Germans alone to pick the time and place of our deaths.
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God is trying to blow out the candle, and I'm quickly trying to shield the flame, taking advantage of his brief inattention. To keep the flame flickering, even if only for a little while longer than he would wish.
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When you were responsible for the life of some 60,000 people, you don't leave and abandon the memory of them."
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When you cannot defend freedom through peaceful means, you have to use arms to fight Nazism, dictatorship, chauvinism."
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Fact
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After the war, he went to medical school and became a physician in Lodz. He was one of Poland's leading cardiologists, and wrote a textbook on treatment of heart attacks.
2
In 1968, Poland launched an anti-Semitic campaign, during which he was demoted at the hospital, and his wife and children emigrated, along with most remaining Jews in Poland. However, he stayed.
3
After 30 years of silence about his Holocaust experiences, he began speaking out. He challenged those who claimed that there had been many more than 220 ghetto fighters.
4
Father of Aleksander Edelman and Ania Edelman of Paris, France. He is survived by two grandchildren of Paris, France.
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He was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
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Last surviving leader of the ill-fated 1943 Warsaw ghetto revolt against the Nazis.
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Also fought in the Warsaw uprising in 1944.
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Joined the Solidarity movement and was interned under the December 13, 1981 martial law aimed against the movement.
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Was the leader of the ill-fated 1943 Warsaw Ghetto revolt against the Nazis.
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His heroism in the ill-fated 1943 Warsaw ghetto revolt earned him membership into the French Legion of Honor, and Poland's highest civilian honor, the Order of the White Eagle.
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Uprising
2001
TV Movie historical consultant
Lastauspaikka - Umschlagplatz
1987
TV Movie documentary archives
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Marek Edelman: Zycie. Po prostu
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Resistance
2001
Video documentary short
Himself, Warsaw Ghetto resistance fighter
Smierc Zygielbojma
2001
Documentary short
Himself
Kronika powstania w getcie warszawskim wg Marka Edelmana
1993
Documentary
Himself
Lastauspaikka - Umschlagplatz
1987
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Avant la bataille
1983
Documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rotem
2013
Documentary
Himself
Known for movies
Kronika powstania w getcie warszawskim wg Marka Edelmana (1993) as Himself
Resistance (2001) as Himself, Warsaw Ghetto resistance fighter
$12 Million