Sobiesiak Józef

File 2123 Sobiesiak, Józef Before the war, Sobiesiak Józef, who belonged to a peasant family from the village of Pilaszkowice, in the county of Krasnystaw (today: Świdnica County), Lublin district, was active in Polish left-wing circles. In September 1939, Sobiesiak fought as a solider in the Polish Army and afterwards settled in the Volhynia region (pl. Wyłoń). In 1941, when the Germans occupied the area, Sobiesiak, under the pseudonym of “Maks” (also known as- “Bronicz”), organized a large partisan unit known as the “Frunze” (on the name of “Frunze Mikhail”), which later recruited Jewish fugitives from the Kowel, Maniewicze, Poworsk, Rafałówka, Kamień-Koszyrski and Trojanówka ghettos, among others. Unlike other commanders, who only took on able-bodied recruits, Sobiesiak, sensitive to the plight of the Jewish refugees in the forest, extended his patronage to many homeless elderly people, women and children. He set up three family camps for them in the forest alongside the fighting units, catering to about 500 Jewish men, women and children – including dozens of orphans – who were not fit for combat. Sobiesiak protected his charges, whom he recruited as service staff for the fighters, and provided them with food and medicines. Known among the Jewish partisans hiding in the forests of Volhynia as a loyal friend, Sobiesiak won their deep admiration for his efforts on their behalf. After the war, Sobiesiak served as a Brigade General in the Polish Army. The many Jews who were saved by him immigrated to Israel, the United States and Canada. On the 5th of April 1982, Yad Vashem recognized Sobiesiak Józef, as a Righteous Among the Nations.