Jan Karski: "My mother was very liberal, very tolerant, while my father was a nationalist. So there was bad political feeling between them. Second, my mother claimed that she came from a better family than my father. Her family looked down on my father's family-- some petty, provincial thing."

"There were Jewish boys and Jewish girls at university, not so many as in high school, but yes. Only, 1931 to 1935, every year it was a little worse, with nationalism, chauvinism, anti-semitism, etc. 1931, not outspoken. But I remember two last classes, 34-35, already, 'Jews to the back benches.' Already students demonstration, numerus clausus. It was ugly. [How did you react?] I did not react. I don't want to boast. No, I did not react. At that time, I hated it, of course, but I didn't take part in any counter-demonstrations. But I saw it." [for career reasons] "A diplomat represents the country and he wears a dinner jacket."

"Yes, naturally, I was always repelled as a student at those anti-semitic outbursts-- beating the Jews, the last benches only for them, standing up to make room for the Polish ethnic students etc. Only, I do not hesitate to say it, before the war I was not an active defender of the Jews. I wanted to to get out of any domestic politics, not to be controversial, because at the university I already knew I will enter diplomatic service-- I had good contacts.  

"So the first one or two years at university I was active in Pilsudskite youth, Legion Mlodych. I became even a commander of the local student association, Legion Mlodych. But I was so inefficient-- I am not a leader by nature; I never was-- and I didn't want to endanger my career. So I got out. Some of my friends, like Lerski, when he became a student, he actually defended the Jews. So they crushed his head; he spent several weeks in the hospital. [ZBIGNIEW CONFIRMS THIS.] I didn't want to get involved in these affairs-- they might disfigure my face and I wouldn't be an attractive ambassador. But I saw in that first period anti-Semitism in Poland now freely revealed, because no government to punish them. Moreover, I suspect that some Poles from extreme right were thinking, 'The Germans are bad, they subjugated us, but at least in one respect they do what we want them to do....'"

[In regards to Anti-Semitism at the University]

"But I remember one professor in particular, Ludwik Ehrlich, prominent scholar, he wrote a European-wide book on The Law of Nations, international law. He himself was born Jewish and he became Catholic. And as sometimes happens, converts become crazy, he became fanatically Catholic, going to masses with students every Sunday etc. Everybody was afraid, because he required the presence at lectures, and his assistant unexpectedly from time to time would read the name from the roll. So he would burst out: 'Why are you standing in the back? There is plenty of room up here. I cannot conduct my lecture with you hovering back there. You disturb me. Have a seat.' And the Jews would come, and the Endeks could not object. Ehrlich wouldn't say, 'You rightist anti-Semites' etc.-- only 'You disturb me.'

"Every anti-Semite will tell you his best friend is Jewish, but nevertheless: At the time I had Jewish friends. But I would be a liar if I said I got involved."

Jan Karski interviewed by E. Thomas Wood - click here to read more