It said Biden on December 12 signed an act recognising 60 diplomats from 28 countries, including five from Poland, for their efforts to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution during the Holocaust.
The Polish honorees include Aleksander Ładoś, who led a group of Polish diplomats based in Bern, Switzerland that fabricated passports for Jews to save them from the Holocaust.
Three other members of the group, Konstanty Rokicki, Stefan Ryniewicz and Juliusz Kuhl, were also honoured by Biden, according to the Polish foreign ministry, along with Henryk Sławik, who is credited with helping save around 5,000 Polish Jews in Hungary.
The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to members of the diplomatic service who "resisted the antisemitic Nazi agenda, risking their families, careers, and lives to help innocent Jewish people flee persecution” and “valiantly defied that systemic hatred by bravely doing what was right to stand up for not only the Jewish community, but of all mankind," the Polish foreign ministry said on Friday.
Their efforts included issuing passports and visas, setting up safehouses and getaways, and working with local communities to aid the persecuted in their escape, it added.
The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honours in the United States.
(gs)
Source: gov.pl