WARSAW (VINnews) – Holocaust survivors, Polish leaders and international representatives gathered in Warsaw on Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, paying tribute to Jewish fighters who rose up against Nazi oppression in one of World War II’s most symbolic acts of resistance.

Agnieszka Markiewicz, director of the Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe Institute, represented American Jewish Committee at the ceremony, joining survivors, Jewish community leaders and senior Polish officials.

Michael Smuss was the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising’s last survivor.

“I’m 99 years old, I speak 5 languages, and Almighty G-d gave me that I remember everything which is terrible.”

Today is the 83rd anniversary of that heroic uprising.

May Michael’s memory forever be a blessing.🕯️ pic.twitter.com/sAc89gJOtY

— dahlia kurtz ✡︎ דליה קורץ (@DahliaKurtz) April 19, 2026

Among those in attendance were Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Parliament Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, alongside diplomats, ministry representatives and residents of the capital.

As sirens sounded across the city, Warsaw fell silent in a moment of collective reflection — a tribute to the courage and defiance of Jewish fighters who chose resistance in the face of annihilation.

Participants stood in solemn remembrance, honoring not only the uprising’s fighters but also the broader Jewish community that suffered under Nazi occupation. The annual commemoration serves as a reminder of both the atrocities of the Holocaust and the enduring legacy of those who resisted.

The 1943 uprising, though ultimately crushed by Nazi forces, has come to symbolize resilience and the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.

History

On April 19, 1943, Michael stood up against the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

82 years later, we share his story and remember the bravery of those who fought against the Nazis.@ZBasalon pic.twitter.com/eqpwnOgo0n

— TheJewishAlly (@TheJewishAlly) April 19, 2026

“Their message endures: freedom isn’t granted—it’s defended. Even against impossible odds. We remember them not only for how they died, but for how they chose to live and to fight,” it added.

Today, the Director of Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe Institute, Agnieszka Markiewicz, represented @AJCGlobal at the commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in Warsaw.

Together with Holocaust Survivors, Jewish community leaders, President of Poland @NawrockiKn,… pic.twitter.com/Kno4ne2Bjz

— AJC Central Europe (@AJC_CE) April 19, 2026