Maksymilian Kolbe
Persons, originating from Poland

Maximilian Kolbe

Born January 8, 1894 in Zduńska Wola
Died August 14, 1941 in Auschwitz
Name in Polish: Maksymilian Kolbe. Born as Rajmund Kolbe.
He was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar.

During the Second World War, in the friary, Kolbe provided shelter to people from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews. In February 1941, he was arrested by the German Gestapo and was transferred to Auschwitz. In July 1941, a man from Kolbe's block had vanished. As a revenge 10 men were picked from the same block to be starved to death. One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family, and Kolbe volunteered to take his place. After two weeks of starvation, only four of the ten men were still alive, including Kolbe. During the time in a bunker, he led the men in songs and prayer. The cells were needed, and Kolbe and the other three were executed. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 10 October 1982, in the presence of Gajowniczek.
More information

The statue of Kolbe above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey.


Polonica stamps:

German Fed. Rep. 1973, 25 V
 San Marino 2021, 30 III
 Vatican City 2016, 13 IX