Baran Bolesław

Baran, Bolesław During the German occupation, Boleslaw Baran lived in Crakow, where he was employed as a clerk by the municipality. Under cover of his work, he assisted Jews mainly by supplying them with false Aryan documents. A local actor, appealed to him to issue a forged Kennkarte for his Jewish girlfriend, Jozefa Singer. This undertaking was fraught with danger, as Jozefa was a well-known figure in the city, and her facial features betrayed her Jewish origins. Baran was not deterred from fulfilling the request, however, despite the danger to himself and his family if the deception were discovered. Baran’s reputation as a benefactor of persecuted Jews spread among theatrical circles, and thus another actor appealed to him for forged papers for a Jewish actress, Janina Wernicz. Once again, Baran agreed. Thus Singer and Wernicz were saved owing to his courageous acts, for which he received no payment. On October 22, 1981, Yad Vashem recognized Boleslaw Baran as Righteous Among the Nations.