Brauner Adolf

File 1894 Brauner, Adolf Prior to the outbreak of war, Brauner Adolf worked for the Hirszberg & Birenbaum firm, situated in the city of Łódż, at 96 Piotrowska Street; where he worked under the management of Przybyszewicz Chaskiel (Henryk), who was the managing director of it. After the Germans occupied the city, Brauner, who was of German extraction (Volksdeutsche), was appointed for the position of managing director of the firm (the owner of the business was Mr. Budzyner). Thanks to Brauner’s intervention (he told the German authorities, that Chaskiel’s “…advice was indisputable…” Wrote, Przybyszewicz-Putman Krystyna in her testimony to Yad-Vashem), thus Chaskiel could work at the firm for additional several months. In the period, when Przybyszewicz Chaskiel was still working at the business, each day, Brauner was escorting him to the office and from it (at that time, Chaskiel was wearing a yellow Star of David). Once, when Brauner escored Przybyszewicz, they were passing nearby a synagogue (which was located at 2nd Tadeusz Kościuszko Street), where the Nazis have set it on fire; those who were engaged in setting that fire, attacked Chaskiel; this has stopped only when Brauner used his muscles and diplomacy, in order to save the life of Przybyszewicz Chaskiel. Furthermore, Brauner helped them to hid theirs valuables, this by smuggling them from Łódż to Warsaw; afterwards he arranged their transfer from Łódż ghetto to Warsaw ghetto. Moreover, he (Brauner) kept a constant touch with the Przybyszewicz family, during their stay at Warsaw ghetto (from 1940 till 1942), (he smuggled for them food). In September 1942, Chaskiel’s wife (named- Dwojra, née: Fragman) was sent to Treblinka concentration camp, where she perished in gas chambers. Chaskiel and his son named- Bolesław (“Bolek,”) were killed in Lublin, during 1943. Only Chaskiel’s daughter has survived- Przebyszewicz Melania [Lusia], (after the war, she was known as- PutermanKrystyna), while Brauner arranged for her an “Aryan papers” for the name of “Bogucka.” She escaped from Warsaw ghetto, and afterwards from the Aryan side of the city, pretending to be a Polish woman, in order to be sent to Germany for works. Eventually she was sent to Germany, where she stayed till the end of the war. During all that time (from 1943 till 1945), Brauner send her money, packages with food and was keeping up her spirit (he wrote her letters of encouragement). She worked at the city of Wolfsburg, as a kitchen-made in Hotel Am Heheustein, as well as at Volkswagen factory. After the war, Brauner returned her all the valuables that her father had left him, for safekeeping. Afterwards Lusia immigrated to Australia, while Brauner sent her the property deeds belonging to her family. In addition, it should be stressed that Brauner was married to a Jewish woman, and they had a son named Gerhard. Thus, during the occupation time he provided help to his family members. In saving the lives of Jewish fugitives, Brauner acted selflessly, out of loyalty toward his employer for whom he was prepared to risk his life. Furthermore, in addition to providing help to his acquaintances and family members. Brauner, also helped other Jewish fugitives. On the 18th of December 1981, Yad Vashem recognized Brauner Adolf, as a Righteous Among the Nations. On the 22nd of August 2011, during the 23rd International Child Survivors Conference in Warsaw; at Righteous ceremony, a Certificate of Honor and Medal were handed to Brauner’s granddaughter- Banaszczyk Ewa, from the city of Łódż.