Antonowicz Wincenty & Jadwiga (Pietkiewicz); Daughter: Bauer Lucyna (Antonowicz)

Antonowicz, Wincenty Antonowicz, Jadwiga Bauer-Antonowicz, Lucyna When Joanna Malberg escaped from the Vilna ghetto to the Aryan side of the city in the summer of 1942, she made her way to the home of Wincenty and Jadwiga Antonowicz, casual acquaintances from before the German occupation. The Antonowiczes gave Malberg a warm welcome and prepared a hiding place for her behind a closet in their daughter’s bedroom, where they took good care of her. Later, when the Germans began rounding up local Jews, Malberg was sent to Wincenty’s mother’s home, where their daughter Lucyna took excellent care of her. In the winter of 1943, after the Antonowiczes obtained “Aryan” papers for Malberg, she was transferred to the nearby town of Niemenczyn, where she worked as a private French teacher until the area was liberated in July 1944. After the war, Malberg emigrated to France, while the Antonowicz family moved to central Poland. In risking their lives to save Malberg, the Antonowiczes were guided by altruistic, humanitarian motives. In addition, during 1943-1944 the Antonowiczes assist in rescue efforts to additional 24 Jews who fled from the Vilno HKP labor camp. On June 14, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Jadwiga Antonowicz and Wincenty Antonowicz and their daughter, Lucyna Bauer-Antonowicz, as Righteous Among the Nations. File 5834