Dec Maria (Desset)

TARASOWA, ALEKSANDRA DEC-DESSET, MARIA Aleksandra Tarasowa lived near Krzemieniec in Wolyn. Her home was surrounded by a large garden and hidden behind hills. She was a wealthy and educated woman. For 18 months, from October 1942 until March 1944, she hid eight Jews in her home. They were: Tova Tepper, Sofia Kręglicka, Pinchas Cajtag, Abraham Czacki, Wowa Landesberg, Henryk Kot, Jakub Kot, and Mietek Alerhant. Initially, the hiding Jews paid their hostess, "but when the money ran out, she hid us without any compensation whatsoever” wrote Tepper in her testimony to Yad Vashem. Maria Desset, Aleksandra’s friend, also lived there, earning her living by doing laundry for the Germans. Because of the occupation, the Germans frequently visited the house; however, Aleksandra and Maria were above the German suspicion and the house was thus never searched. All eight Jews lived in one room, but after a while, they began digging a bunker. One of the Jews, Czacki, who was an electrician by trade, arranged lighting in the bunker. They also used the lighting as a signal when the Germans were near. From time to time, they would conquer their fears and actually go upstairs in order to get some fresh air. Two of the men living in the bunker were married to non-Jewish women. Wowa Landesberg was married to a Pole,and Jakub Kot was married to a German. Both women lived in Krzemieniec, and helped by providing food, money, and newspapers. On March 23, 1944, the Red Army seized Krzemieniec and two days later the eight Jews left the bunker for the final time. After the town was liberated, Aleksandra sold her farm, married Pinchas Cajtag, and moved with him to Dzierżoniów in Lower Silesia. After a time they divorced and Cajtag emigrated from Poland to Italy. The rest of the Jews immigrated to Israel, the United States, Canada, and Germany. Landesberg stayed in Poland. On November 5, 1972, Yad Vashem recognized Aleksandra Tarasowa as Righteous Among the Nations. On June 22, 1976, Yad Vashem recognized Maria Dec-Desset as Righteous Among the Nations.