Jan Zabinski
Encyclopedia
Jan Żabiński was a Polish zoologist
and zootechnician, recognized by the State of Israel to be one of the Righteous Among the Nations
. He was director of the Warsaw Zoo
before the outbreak of World War II
and additionally superintendent of the city's public parks during the Nazi occupation. He his wife Antonina and their son Ryszard used their personal villa and the zoo itself to shelter hundreds of displaced Jews. Additionally he fought during the Warsaw Uprising
, was subsequently injured and became a prisoner of war. Żabiński also authored approximately 60 popular science books.
Many cages in the zoo had been emptied of animals during the September 1939 air assault on Warsaw, and Zabinski decided to utilize them as hiding places for fleeing Jews. Over the course of three years, hundreds of Jews found temporary shelter in these abandoned animal cells, located on the eastern bank of the Vistula River, until they were able to relocate to permanent places of refuge elsewhere. In addition, close to a dozen Jews were sheltered in Zabinski's two-story private home on the zoo's grounds. In this dangerous undertaking he was helped by his wife, Antonina, a recognized author, and their young son, Ryszard, who nourished and looked after the needs of the many distraught Jews in their care. At first, Zabinski paid from his own funds to subsidize the maintenance costs; then money was received through Żegota: Council to Aid Jews
.
An active member of the Polish underground Armia Krajowa (Home Army)
, Zabinski participated in the Warsaw Polish Uprising in August and September 1944. Upon its suppression, he was taken as a prisoner to Germany. His wife continued his work, looking after the needs of some of the Jews left behind in the ruins of the city.
honoring Righteous Among the Nations
, including Zabinski.
In 2007, the U.S. writer Diane Ackerman
published The Zookeeper's Wife
, a book about the Zabinski family's courageous wartime activities, mostly based on the diary of Zabinski's wife. The Polish film director Maciej Dejczer has announced plans for a film about Zabinski's wartime activities.
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and zootechnician, recognized by the State of Israel to be one of the Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
. He was director of the Warsaw Zoo
Warsaw Zoo
The Warsaw Zoological Garden, known simply as the Warsaw Zoo is a scientific zoo on Ratuszowa Street in Warsaw, Poland. The zoo covers about in downtown Warsaw, and sees 600,000 visitors annually...
before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and additionally superintendent of the city's public parks during the Nazi occupation. He his wife Antonina and their son Ryszard used their personal villa and the zoo itself to shelter hundreds of displaced Jews. Additionally he fought during the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
, was subsequently injured and became a prisoner of war. Żabiński also authored approximately 60 popular science books.
Polish underground activities
Zabinski was a Polish agricultural engineer and zoologist who saved many Jews in Warsaw. On the eve of the German occupation, Zabinski was director of the Warsaw Zoo. The Germans appointed him superintendent of the city's public parks as well. Availing himself of the opportunity to visit the Warsaw ghetto, ostensibly to inspect the state of the flora within the ghetto walls, Zabinski maintained contact with prewar Jewish colleagues and friends and helped them escape and find shelter on the "Aryan" side of the city.Many cages in the zoo had been emptied of animals during the September 1939 air assault on Warsaw, and Zabinski decided to utilize them as hiding places for fleeing Jews. Over the course of three years, hundreds of Jews found temporary shelter in these abandoned animal cells, located on the eastern bank of the Vistula River, until they were able to relocate to permanent places of refuge elsewhere. In addition, close to a dozen Jews were sheltered in Zabinski's two-story private home on the zoo's grounds. In this dangerous undertaking he was helped by his wife, Antonina, a recognized author, and their young son, Ryszard, who nourished and looked after the needs of the many distraught Jews in their care. At first, Zabinski paid from his own funds to subsidize the maintenance costs; then money was received through Żegota: Council to Aid Jews
Zegota
"Żegota" , also known as the "Konrad Żegota Committee", was a codename for the Polish Council to Aid Jews , an underground organization of Polish resistance in German-occupied Poland from 1942 to 1945....
.
An active member of the Polish underground Armia Krajowa (Home Army)
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
, Zabinski participated in the Warsaw Polish Uprising in August and September 1944. Upon its suppression, he was taken as a prisoner to Germany. His wife continued his work, looking after the needs of some of the Jews left behind in the ruins of the city.
Legacy
On October 30, 1968 a tree planting ceremony was held at Yad VashemYad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
honoring Righteous Among the Nations
Polish Righteous among the Nations
Polish citizens have the world's highest count of individuals awarded medals of Righteous among the Nations, given by the State of Israel to non-Jews who saved Jews from extermination during the Holocaust...
, including Zabinski.
In 2007, the U.S. writer Diane Ackerman
Diane Ackerman
Diane Ackerman is an American author, poet, and naturalist known best for her work A Natural History of the Senses. Her writing style, referring to her best-selling natural history books, can best be described as a blend of poetry, colloquial history, and easy-reading science...
published The Zookeeper's Wife
The Zookeeper's Wife
The Zookeeper's Wife is a non-fiction book written by Diane Ackerman.The true story of how the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw, and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead,...
, a book about the Zabinski family's courageous wartime activities, mostly based on the diary of Zabinski's wife. The Polish film director Maciej Dejczer has announced plans for a film about Zabinski's wartime activities.