Unacceptable Statement on Holocaust and Poland by FBI Director James Comey

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC took immediate action after an unacceptable statement was made by FBI Director James Comey, who in his remarks suggested that Poland shared responsibility for the Holocaust.

Already on Friday, April 17, a few hours after the text of the speech was published in “The Washington Post” Poland’s Ambassador sent a letter to the statement’s author, protesting against the falsification of history, especially for accusing Poles of perpetrating crimes which not only did they not commit, but which they themselves were victims of.

The letter, which was also sent to the Washington Post, clearly and deliberately presents both the fate Poles faced under Nazi German occupation, as well as the role of the Polish Underground State and Polish citizens alike in aiding their Jewish neighbors.

Addressing the FBI Director, Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf reminded both of the activity of “Zegota” as well as Jan Karski’s mission. The Ambassador further wrote that on the wall of the righteous located within the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, which commemorates those who brought aid to Jews during World War II, the largest group of names are those of Poles.

Embassy of the Republic of Poland
in Washington D.C.