Jan Karski

Hoover curator and Research Fellow Katharina Friedla tells the story of Jan Karski, the Polish diplomat who in 1942 infiltrated the Warsaw Ghetto, witnessed the unfolding Holocaust, and tried to warn British and American officials, including President Franklin Roosevelt. Drawing on Karski’s papers, housed in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Friedla describes the skepticism that greeted Karski’s warnings about the complete destruction of Europe’s Jews. She recounts how, after the war, Karski was enlisted as a Hoover curator and played a pivotal role in helping the Library & Archives amass its outstanding Polish wartime collections.

Cast

Katharina Friedla

Katharina Friedla

Related

Thomas Sowell’s Impact On Economics

How Thomas Sowell used economic history, evidence, and storytelling to challenge conventional wisdom and bring economics to the public.

October 1, 2026

What Thucydides Can Teach Us About Politics And War

Everyone quotes Thucydides—but are we getting him right? Historian Andrew Novo joins Andrew Roberts to explore what the chronicler of Athens and Sparta really tells us about war, democracy, ambition, and human nature. 

September 28, 2026

Articles

Navigating a More Uncertain World: Lessons from CIA’s Red Cell

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the United States is confronting yet another era of profound uncertainty and potential dangers. The pace and scale of change are creating unforeseen disruptions that impact our security, stability, and prosperity. Advancing technologies are being adopted and applied in unexpected ways, sparking debates about the unintended consequences for human existence. 

September 24, 2026