Nowak Tadeusz

Nowak, Tadeusz During the occupation, Tadeusz Nowak of Skarżysko-Kamienna, in the Kielce district, worked in the local Hasag arms factory alongside thousands of Jewish prisoners. An active member in the AK (Armia Krajowa – Home Army), Nowak helped the Jewish prisoners by buying food and smuggling it into the camp for them. The Germans discovered his actions and decided to publicly execute him, and on April 21, 1943, all the workers and prisoners in the camp were assembled and forced to witness Nowak’s execution by hanging. After the footstool was kicked out from under his feet, the rope tore and Nowak fell unconscious to the ground. At that point, Kurt Krause, the camp SS commandant approached his unconscious body and shot him in the head. The Germans left his body hanging at the gate to the factory with a sign hanging on his neck, “This Pole gave Jews bread.” On March 28, 1990, Yad Vashem recognized Tadeusz Nowak as Righteous Among the Nations. File 4604