In today's fast paced world, we're often preoccupied with the future, but it's still important to remember the past, no matter how dark.

During WWII, Shanghai provided shelter to more than 20,000 Jewish people, and about one-tenth of them were Polish. An exhibition of stories about people helping Polish Jews during the Nazi occupation will open on Friday at the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

An exhibition of stories about people helping Polish Jews during the Nazi occupation will open on Friday at the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma were a couple living in the southeastern Polish village of Markowa during the Nazi occupation during World Word II. The village was home to 4,500 inhabitants, including 120 Jews.

In 1942, the Germans began to murder Jews living in Markowa and threatened other villagers who helped them. Fully aware of the risks, the Ulma family continued to harbor eight Jews.

On the early morning of March 24th, 1944, A patrol of German police killed pregnant Wiktoria and her husband in front of their six children and then shot all of the kids.

Three other families who helped hide Jews were executed that day. Altogether nine Polish families in the village of Markova were sheltering Jewish families, and 21 Jews survived the war thanks to their help. Visitors to the exhibition can learn about the Ulma family and others like them.

“During the darkest period of human history, humanity never died out. So we'd like to share the story about how Polish people sacrificed to help the Jews in our museum,” said Chen Jian, Curator of Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

Poland's ambassador to China says the two countries share a common history on sheltering Jews.

Poland's ambassador to China says the two countries share a common history on sheltering Jews.

"We cannot understand our present without knowing very well such important moment in the history. And it is also very important for the future. Just how to avoid the history not to replicate in the future. How to avoid such tragic mistakes," said Miroslaw Gajexski, Polish Ambassador to China.

The exhibition runs until May 15th and admission is free.

Exhibition opens at Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum