Tadeusz Pietrzykowski (Poland) - Part 1 of 2

Tadeusz Pietrzykowski was the Warsaw Bantamweight Champion prior to the outbreak of World War 2. His prominence in Poland led to his nickname - Teddy. Teddy was not Jewish but faced persecution from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union due to his Polish nationality. In World War 2, Polish citizens - especially in the city of Warsaw - faced particular horrors and in greater numbers. More Poles were killed than any other European Country - excluding Germany. Poland also had the highest death rate in World War 2 sitting above 17%, including about 90% of the Jewish population.

 

Teddy would be sent to Auschwitz where his boxing abilities would be tested under the extraordinary circumstance of life or death. Teddy joined an underground resistance group inside the camp, and engaged in an assassination attempt of a Nazi leader. He confronted danger courageously on numerous occasions during the war - just like many Polish citizens. The first mass uprising in German Occupied Europe took place in Warsaw followed by another, even larger scale uprising the next year. This is a story of bravery and resilience. The story of Tadeusz Pietrzykowski.

 

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