Bieliński Antoni & Bielińska Helena (Sikorska)

Bieliński Antoni Bielińska Helena During the occupation, six members of a Jewish family from Wegrow found shelter in a 35-square-meter hut belonging to Antoni and Helena Bieliński, a peasant couple who lived on the outskirts of Kziezopole Budki, a nearby village in the Siedlce district. Before the Aktion in Wegrow, five members of the Przepiorki family fled to the Bielińskis’ small apartment, where they were later joined by another member of the family. The apartment, which comprised one room and a kitchen, also housed the Bielińskis’ baby daughter and Helena’s elderly parents. The Bielińskis built an escape hatch behind a partition in the living room for times of particular danger. The Bielińskis were constantly subject to harassment by thieves or members of the Gestapo who came to search their house. During one of these searches, Bieliński was beaten and arrested for helping Jews. However, despite being severely beaten, he refused to betray his Jewish charges, who stayed in his home even during the month he was held for interrogation. With the approach of the front in August 1944, the six Jews were transferred to the nearby forest, where Bieliński continued to see to their needs. Although Bieliński never asked for payment, the refugees gave him some gold coins each month, even though these were insufficient to pay for their upkeep. In risking their lives to save Jewish refugees, the Bielińskis were guided by humanitarian motives only. After the war, the Birds family kept in touch with the Bielińskis, helped them financially, and erected a headstone over Helena’s parents’ grave. On September 13, 1989, Yad Vashem recognized Helena and Antoni Bieliński as Righteous Among the Nations.