Cywiński Feliks

Cywiński, Feliks Feliks Cywiński, an engineer by profession and officer in the Polish Air Force, was one of the foremost saviors of Warsaw Jewry during the occupation. Cywiński risked his life to save Jewish fugitives from the Warsaw ghetto and the vicinity, in a completely selfless desire to help his fellow man. Cywiński viewed saving Jews as a Socialist imperative and a civil obligation, and as an integral part of his fight against the enemy. Cywiński saved about 26 Jewish refugees, found them shelter, saw to their needs, fed them, and provided them with “Aryan” documents. When a Jewish woman gave birth while in hiding, Cywiński himself delivered the baby, stating: “While Jews are being killed, we must view the birth of a Jewish baby as something sacred.” Among the refugees helped by Cywiński were: Jacob Finkelstain, four members of the Kenigswein family, the Szac couple, the Rabinowicz family, Tova Heilig (née Lewin), Chaja Dorembus, Elwira Guter (later Grosfeld), and Aniela Klepfisz. During the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, Cywiński, a captain, commanded the AK’s “Wigry” Battalion. Cywiński also set up a Jewish fighting platoon, under Shmuel Kenigswein, one of his wards, and a famous wrestler. On August 5, 1944 – the fifth day of the Uprising – the “Wigry” battalion participated in a combat operation to free the Gesiowka concentration camp, which had been established on the ruins of the Warsaw ghetto. After their release, the camp’s former inmates were well cared for by Cywiński, who fed them and clothed them. Most of them subsequently joined the Polish insurgents. Of the Jews saved by Cywiński, the majority emigrated after the war, particularly to Israel. In 1965, Cywiński was invited to Israel, where he was given a hero’s welcome. On May 31, 1966, Yad Vashem recognized Feliks Cywiński as Righteous Among the Nations.