# Żegota (1942)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1942-zegota
Location: Warsaw

The Council to Aid Jews, Żegota, was set up by the Polish underground state to help Jews in hiding, the only such government-backed organisation in occupied Europe. Within the broader World War II period: Invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland suffered brutal occupation and the Holocaust, while its underground state and armed forces fought on every front of the war. At this point in the timeline (4 December 1942), the governing authority was Władysław Raczkiewicz (President of Poland (in exile)). President of the internationally recognised Polish government-in-exile in France and London during World War II. Żegota mattered because collective action by ordinary people challenged those in power and changed Polish society. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Żegota mattered because collective action by ordinary people challenged those in power and changed Polish society.

Ruler at the time: [Władysław Raczkiewicz](https://poland-history.com/rulers/wladyslaw-raczkiewicz)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Żegota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBegota)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Żegota](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=%C5%BBegota)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland (1939–1945) (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1939%E2%80%931945))