Germany had invaded Poland during World War II. When Stuka bombers bombed Warsaw on September 1939, the city's zoos were no exception. The Nazis would shoot at anyone who tried to escape. Two zookeepers, Jan and Antonina Zabinski, began to smuggle Jews in their empty zoo cages and violate the Nazi policy that anyone who helped hide a Jew would be sentenced to death.
Most of the Jews that were hiding in the zoo were total strangers, and yet the Zabinskis still helped them. They even gave the Jews that had Aryan feats jobs. The Zabinski's were terrified everyday that their secret would be caught by the Nazi's, and they carried a cyanide tablet with them at all times.
Jan joined the Resistance movement and hid explosives in the elephant cages. He smuggled food and made many useful contacts in the Ghetto. The Ghetto was a terrible place and was guarded by Nazi soldiers who enjoyed shooting Jewish children trying to escape and its women were often raped. Unfortunately, Jan's involvement in the Resistance made it difficult for him to be home often. It was then left to Antonina to look after their son, Rys, and take care of all the "guests".
In July of 1942, the Nazi's began to liquidate the Warsaw Ghetto. In about two months, 265,000 Jews were shipped from Warsaw to Treblinka. The remaining 55,000 in the Ghetto became a labor camp run by the SS. (The SS were the Fuhrer's bodyguards that grew to be a powerful force). Zagota, a rescue group, gave the Zabinski's food and many fake documents. Soon many more people from Warsaw helped the Jews escape.
In 1943, Antonina had another child. The Zabinski's new daughter seemed to give many Jews hope among all the war and death. Jan joined the Home Army and was called to action on August 1, 1944. Early on through the uprising, he was shot in his neck and the hospital that he was being cared for in was captured by the Germans. He was sent to a POW (prisoner of war) camp. All throughout his absense, Antonina cared for her two children and her elderly mother-in-law as well as the Jew refugees. The Polish Army waited for the Russians and the Germans to fight each other until the Germans were weak. and then they made their move. Eventually the zoo reopened in 1949 and Antonina died in 1971.
This book is a symbol of all the hope that was given even during such violent times. Antonina wanted to show people that humans differ from animals in that we don't have to give into our natural and violent instincts.
Most of the Jews that were hiding in the zoo were total strangers, and yet the Zabinskis still helped them. They even gave the Jews that had Aryan feats jobs. The Zabinski's were terrified everyday that their secret would be caught by the Nazi's, and they carried a cyanide tablet with them at all times.
Jan joined the Resistance movement and hid explosives in the elephant cages. He smuggled food and made many useful contacts in the Ghetto. The Ghetto was a terrible place and was guarded by Nazi soldiers who enjoyed shooting Jewish children trying to escape and its women were often raped. Unfortunately, Jan's involvement in the Resistance made it difficult for him to be home often. It was then left to Antonina to look after their son, Rys, and take care of all the "guests".
In July of 1942, the Nazi's began to liquidate the Warsaw Ghetto. In about two months, 265,000 Jews were shipped from Warsaw to Treblinka. The remaining 55,000 in the Ghetto became a labor camp run by the SS. (The SS were the Fuhrer's bodyguards that grew to be a powerful force). Zagota, a rescue group, gave the Zabinski's food and many fake documents. Soon many more people from Warsaw helped the Jews escape.
In 1943, Antonina had another child. The Zabinski's new daughter seemed to give many Jews hope among all the war and death. Jan joined the Home Army and was called to action on August 1, 1944. Early on through the uprising, he was shot in his neck and the hospital that he was being cared for in was captured by the Germans. He was sent to a POW (prisoner of war) camp. All throughout his absense, Antonina cared for her two children and her elderly mother-in-law as well as the Jew refugees. The Polish Army waited for the Russians and the Germans to fight each other until the Germans were weak. and then they made their move. Eventually the zoo reopened in 1949 and Antonina died in 1971.
This book is a symbol of all the hope that was given even during such violent times. Antonina wanted to show people that humans differ from animals in that we don't have to give into our natural and violent instincts.