Rytel Zygmunt

Rytel, Zygmunt During the occupation, Zygmunt Rytel, a journalist by profession, was active in the Socialist Fighting Organization (Socjalistyczna Organizacja Bojowa—SOB) in Warsaw. Rytel produced forged papers, printed underground publications, and maintained an indirect relationship with the Jewish National Committee that operated on the Aryan side of the city. Rytel helped Jews who escaped from the ghetto and, as a courier for the members of the Jewish National Committee, provided them with the financial support and the documents they needed and placed them in housing and jobs. Rytel also helped to move Jews from place to place—sometimes accommodating Jewish fugitives in his own apartment—and kept them in contact with each other. Three of the Jews whom Rytel assisted were Sonia Wisznia and her two daughters, Rina and Szulamit. After they fled from the ghetto, he concealed them in his home, provided them with money and “Aryan” papers, and arranged housing for them. Rytel also helped his friend Bruno Rotman and his two daughters, who had fled from Lwów to Warsaw. He arranged an apartment and a job for Bruno, placed the older daughter in the residence of a nursing school, and enrolled the younger daughter in a convent. Rytel also helped a number of Jews who contacted him for assistance in living on the Aryan side and served them as an address in case of trouble. His motives in saving Jews were solely humanitarian and did not involve material reward. On January 24, 1967, Yad Vashem recognized Zygmunt Rytel as Righteous Among the Nations.