irene gut
The Rescuer
Irene Gut began her teenage years during a very dark time in history: Hitler had just become chancellor and president of Germany. Like every teenage girl, Irene had dreams. She thought maybe she would like to be an actress, though she felt plain and unattractive.
She could be found climbing trees and riding horses. Boys weren’t of interest, as she found herself daydreaming of partaking in heroic acts, saving lives, and sacrificing herself to save others. With such lofty ambitions, romance took a back seat and sounded rather dull. Adventure was set deeply in her heart.
But Irene also knew that there wasn’t much in the way of adventure for a young girl in the 1930s. She saw, however, that there were ways she could serve locally. Her mother and father were always showing mercy toward their out-of-luck neighbors, wounded animals, and even the Gypsies, the town outcasts. Irene knew she could help her sisters prepare baskets of food for the poor and sick. And she could do more; with her parents’ blessing, Irene decided to join the Red Cross as a volunteer candy striper.
She learned first aid and how to tend to medical emergencies. During her time at the hospital, Irene grew to admire the nuns in their service to God; she thought she would like to do that. Her father was surprised and advised her to first go to nursing school at St. Mary’s Hospital in Radom. If she still felt called after that, her father said she could study to be a nun.
Irene began nursing school in 1938, when she was just sixteen. She was lonely and afraid to be in a strange city with no family nearby. Irene immersed herself in her books.
Soon rumors of war began. Hitler wanted to reclaim Poland. Irene’s parents wanted her to come home if war was indeed imminent. But Irene didn’t listen. Living in Poland, she knew some of her country’s suffering and was taught to be proud of her heritage. Though the dark regime of Hitler was on the rise, Irene knew little of politics and what was about to take place. She informed her parents, “If Hitler tries to come here, we will fight him and chase him all the way back to Berlin.”
Times were changing. Irene returned home for the summer to find neighbors renouncing their Polish heritage, speaking German. People openly admired Hitler’s policies and embraced his leadership. Signs around town read, “Don’t buy from Jews!”
Irene was saddened and confused. Never before had race and ethnicity been issues. She had many Jewish friends and couldn’t imagine why such hatred existed. Living on the border of Germany, Irene felt Hitler’s influence creeping into her neighborhood.
After Irene returned to nursing school, Radom’s sky was full of bombers. War had begun. All of Irene’s days and nights were spent at St. Mary’s Hospital caring for the wounded. They never had enough food, clean sheets, or medicine for everyone. Maimed Polish soldiers arrived in droves.
Irene had no way of knowing if her family was safe. She worked around the clock, dazed by the horrors around her. As the Germans continued to invade Radom, the Polish soldiers began to retreat and requested that doctors and nurses accompany their men in battle. Without reservation, Irene volunteered.
During those days, the streets were full of fleeing citizens. Houses were on fire. Wreckage and smoke were everywhere. Wounded soldiers covered the ground. Word came that Poland was no longer a country, and the Germans had seized Radom. The troops were in Russia, trying to stay alive.
One cold day, Irene was chosen to go on a bartering mission with four soldiers. Russian soldiers chased Irene, then beat and raped her. Police found her unconscious and took her to the hospital for medical help.
Irene was then a Soviet prisoner. She learned to speak Russian while being nursed back to health. But Irene didn’t know what would happen to her, a renegade nurse from the Polish army. She cried out to God, feeling alone and defeated. With the help of a benevolent doctor, she finally escaped. After two long years, her prayers and courage finally led her home.
Irene’s homecoming was sweet. Irene told her family all she had been through, and her father proudly said, “God has spared your life, and He has a plan for you.” She was able to celebrate her nineteenth birthday with her family, though it was solemn. The Gut family barely had enough food to survive, but they managed to keep their faith and rely on their God. The war had to end soon.
One Sunday after morning worship, German soldiers were waiting outside the church. “You will be transported to Radom to work for the Reich,” they said.
Irene’s new work was packing ammunition boxes. Though she hated the drudgery, she was at least thankful to be in Radom again. The Germans soon discovered her fluency and decided she was better suited to work at an old, stately hotel. At the hotel, Irene was treated well. She served the German officials their meals and went about her domestic duties, often overhearing about the “Jewish problem.” One day she witnessed a Hasidic Jew being brutally beaten outside the hotel window. She watched in horror. Herr Shulz, her boss, saw Irene’s deep compassion for the man and warned her not to be a “Jew-lover.” It was broadcasted over loudspeakers in the street: “Whoever helps a Jew shall be punished by death.” But still she longed to help in some way.
Soon the city was Jew free except for the Jewish ghetto. During that time Irene’s assignment changed once again. Herr Shulz loved Irene and trusted her, so she began to serve him as his housekeeper. Rokita, another German official, occasionally dined with Herr Shulz. Irene waited on them and overheard their plans and schemes for Hitler’s regime. Thus she knew of the plans to completely rid the city of Jews.
Herr Shulz gave Irene a crew of workers from the nearby Jewish ghetto. The Jews who worked with her in the laundry room grew to trust her. Her conscience did not allow her to stand for the evils of the Third Reich, and Irene began scheming to find hiding for them.
One day, she found a vent in Herr Shulz’s bathroom. Removing the grate, she saw that it could probably hold six people. It was perfect. No one would suspect that Herr Shulz would hide Jews. They stayed there until she could have them transported to a foxhole in the forest. She also hid her friends at a villa that Herr Shulz was having repaired. By then, everyone thought the city was judenrein—Jew-free—but Irene knew otherwise.
Irene ended up helping more than fifteen Jews escape death. She did not set out to be a hero. She merely knew she had to act—that God required it of her. He had faithfully watched over her and it was her turn to do the same for others. She never regretted her choice. She was simply thankful to be able to use her free will to rescue others.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
(1 Peter 2:12)
WEEK NINE JOURNAL
• What are you asking God to do in your life right now?
• When have you seen God answer your prayers in the past?
• If God were to answer your prayers, how would life be different?
• How can a Christian get her life in tune with God’s plan?
• What Bible verse or passage of Scripture has been most meaningful to you this week? Why?