Ludwika Wawrzyńska

Ludwika Wawrzyńska (Polish pronunciation: [luˈdvika vaˈvʐɨj̃ska]; 1908–1955) was a Polish teacher who worked at an elementary school in Warsaw. On February 8, 1955 she rescued four children from a burning house where they had been locked by their parents as they were leaving for work. She died ten days later, on February 18, from severe burns.

Wawrzyńska acquired a hero status in Poland and became a symbol of selfless sacrifice. She was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. Wisława Szymborska and Leopold Staff wrote poems in her praise.^[1] Several schools in Poland are named after her.

References

^ Szymborska, Wislawa (1989). "A Minute of Silence For Ludwika Wawrzynska" (PDF). Marek Lugowski and Joanna Trzeciak (translation). p. 32. Translation of "Minuta ciszy po Ludwice Wawrzyńskiej".

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[1] Szymborska, Wislawa (1989). "A Minute of Silence For Ludwika Wawrzynska" (PDF). Marek Lugowski and Joanna Trzeciak (translation). p. 32. Translation of "Minuta ciszy po Ludwice Wawrzyńskiej".

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