Irene Gut Opdyke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Irene Gut Opdyke
Front cover of In My Hands. Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Gut Opdyke, ISBN: 0385720327
Born	Irena Gut 5 May 1922 Kozienice, Poland
Died	17 May 2003 (aged 81) Fullerton, California, United States
Nationality	Polish
Citizenship	United States
Occupation	Nurse
Spouse(s)	William Opdyke
Honours	Righteous Among the Nations

Irene Gut Opdyke (born Irena Gut, 5 May 1922 – 17 May 2003) was a brave Polish nurse. She became famous for helping Polish Jews during World War II. These Jewish people were being persecuted by Nazi Germany. Irene was honored as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. This award is given to people who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Irene saved twelve Jews from certain death.

Irene's Early Life and Courageous Actions

Irena Gut was born into a Catholic family in Kozienice, Poland. She had five sisters. Her family later moved to Radom. Before the Nazi-Soviet invasion in 1939, she started nursing school.

In 1942, when she was 20, Irene saw a German soldier kill a baby. This terrible event changed her life. During the German occupation, Irene worked in a hotel kitchen. This hotel often served important Nazi officials. Inspired by her strong religious faith, Irene secretly took food from the hotel. She then delivered it to the Jewish people in the Tarnopol Ghetto.

Hiding Jews in a Villa

Irene also helped Jews escape the ghetto. She would smuggle them into the nearby forest. She brought them food there too. Later, a German officer named Major Eduard Rügemer hired Irene. She became a housekeeper in his large villa. Irene bravely hid 12 Jewish people in the villa's cellar. When Major Rügemer was away, they would come out. They helped Irene clean the house.

One day, Major Rügemer discovered the Jews she was hiding. This put everyone's lives in great danger. But instead of reporting them, Rügemer kept Irene's secret. He did this under a very difficult condition that Irene had to accept to keep everyone safe.

In 1944, the Russians advanced, and Rügemer fled with the Germans. Irene and several of the Jews also escaped west. They went to Allied-occupied Germany. Irene was placed in a Displaced Persons camp. There, she met William Opdyke, who worked for the United Nations. She moved to the United States and married William. They built a family together.

Irene's Legacy and Recognition

For many years, Irene did not talk about her wartime experiences. But in 1975, she heard someone say the Holocaust never happened. This made her decide to speak out. Irene began sharing her story publicly. This led to her writing a memoir called In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer.

In 1982, Yad Vashem honored her. She was recognized as one of the Polish Righteous Among the Nations. Years later, in 2012, Eduard Rügemer was also honored. He was recognized as one of the German Righteous Among the Nations.

A Special Papal Blessing

On June 9, 1995, Irene received a special papal blessing. This blessing came from Pope John Paul II. It happened at a service for both Jews and Catholics in California. The Pope also invited her to meet him. This blessing was the first time the Roman Catholic Church officially recognized her efforts during the Holocaust. Irene said, "This is the greatest gift I can receive for whatever I did in my life."

Reunion in Israel

In July 1997, Irene traveled to Israel. This trip was for a TV show called ABC Primetime Live. On the show, Irene was reunited with Hermann Morks. He was one of the twelve Jews whose lives she had saved.

During the trip, Irene also met important people. She met former President and Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres. She also met the Speaker of the Knesset, Dan Tichon. She met Mordecai Paldiel, who directs the Department of the Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem.

Irene also met Roman Haller. He was a baby she saved during the war. Roman's parents, Ida and Lazar Haller, were hiding in Rügemer's cellar. Ida became pregnant. Irene convinced them that Ida should have the baby. After the war, the Hallers took Rügemer into their home. He became like a grandfather, or "Zeide," to Roman.

Irene's Book and Other Tributes

Irene Opdyke's memoir, In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer, was published in 1999. She wrote it with co-author Jennifer Armstrong.

Foundation and Play

The Irene Gut Opdyke Holocaust Rescuer Foundation was started in 1997. It aimed to give awards and scholarships to young people. It wanted to inspire them to stand up against racism and hate. The foundation has since closed.

A play based on her book, Irena's Vow, opened on Broadway in 2009. It told Irene's amazing story.

A Song for Irene

In 2012, a British songwriter named Katy Carr released a song about Irene. The song is called "Mała Little Flower." It was part of her album Paszport.

See also

• List of individuals and groups assisting Jews during the Holocaust
• List of Polish Holocaust resisters
• Witold Pilecki, who volunteered to Auschwitz to gather intelligence on the camp from the inside
• Rescue of Jews by Poles during the Holocaust