Mordecai Anielewicz

Leader

Mordecai Anielewicz was most commonly known from his role as the Ghetto Revolt Commander and leader of the Jewish Combat Organization during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Born on April 11, 1919, in Poland, he was a part of Jewish youth organizations from an early age. Once WWII began, Anielewicz attempted to create a route to Israel to sneak out Jewish children and teenagers, but he was caught and sent to Soviet jail. Immediately after being released, Anielewicz was sent to Warsaw Ghetto, where he assumed his position as the leader of resistance movements. On April 19, 1943, the Nazis were called to liquidate the Warsaw Ghetto, forcing the ZOB (Jewish Combat Organization) to launch the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Despite knowing that they stood no chance, Anielewicz and his colleagues led the fighters into battle against Nazi forces. While information concerning his death is uncertain, it is most likely that Anielewicz and fellow Jewish rebels committed suicide in a bunker before Nazis could capture them.