Witold Pilecki

A Polish resistance fighter who voluntarily infiltrated Auschwitz to expose its atrocities

Witold Pilecki (1901–1948) is one of history's most audacious heroes, renowned for his voluntary imprisonment in Auschwitz during World War II. A cavalry officer and intelligence operative, Pilecki devised Operation Witold in 1940 to gather firsthand evidence of Nazi crimes. For nearly three years, he organized a clandestine resistance network within the camp, smuggling out reports that alerted the Allies to the Holocaust’s scale.

Pilecki's ‘Witold’s Report’ remains a pivotal Holocaust document. After escaping Auschwitz in 1943, he fought in the Warsaw Uprising. Post-war, he was executed by Poland’s communist regime for refusing to abandon his anti-totalitarian ideals. His legacy as the man who volunteered for Auschwitz underscores unparalleled bravery and moral defiance.

Learn more about his life at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.