Cechal Franziska

Cechal, Franziska Böhm, Maria Kuchar, Anna Rosalia Wasserstein (later Ista) was a young Jewish woman living in Vienna during World War II. On May 18, 1942, Wasserstein learned that she was on the list of Jews who were to be transferred to Poland. She decided to go into hiding, and turned to Franziska Cechal, an acquaintance she knew strongly disapproved of Nazism, and asked for help in finding a hiding place. Chechal agreed to hide Wasserstein in her own home. Wasserstein was penniless, and could offer Chechal no compensation for her kindness, but Cechal supplied all Wasserstein’s needs by sharing her own food with her. Wasserstein also hid during certain periods at the home of another woman, Anna Kuchar, and also, for a short period, at the home of Maria Böhm. In this way, Wasserstein survived by shifting from house to house until the end of the war. During one of her stays at Cechal’s house, Wasserstein was almost discovered. A Nazi activist came to Chechal’s door, requesting a charitable donation. Wasserstein instantly identified the activist as someone who she had known in her youth; she had to leave the room quickly to avoid being recognized. Cechal did not receive any compensation for her activities, and even made a great personal sacrifice by sharing her food and clothing with Wasserstein, who of course was not entitled to ration coupons. Wasserstein continued to live in Vienna after the war. On December 25, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Franziska Cechal, Anna Kuchar, and Maria Böhm, as Righteous Among the Nations.