Białkowski Bolesław & Białkowska Zofia (Korzewicz)

Białkowski, Bolesław Białkowska, Zofia Bolesław and Zofia Białkowski lived in the town of Stryj, in the Stanisławów district. In the spring of 1942, six Jews who had succeeded in escaping from the local ghetto arrived at their apartment: Mosze and Rozalia Brenner; Aron Brenner; Janusz and Jadwiga Rozenberg, and a lawyer by the name of Lehrer – all of them residents of Stryj and nearby Bolechowice. Without requesting any remuneration, the Białkowskis took in the fugitives and hid them in a narrow, dark cubicle some six square meters in area in their attic. The Jews were forbidden to speak amongst themselves in case the neighbors heard them. However, Bolesław created a small skylight for them on the tiled roof to provide them with some light. In order to muffle the fugitives’ voices, the floor of the hideout was covered with straw, which also served as bedding. Bolesław removed the refuse from the cubicle each morning, and brought the local newspaper from time to time. His wife, Zofia, prepared meals for the Jews and washed their clothes, hanging them up to dry in the apartment so as not to arouse the neighbors’ suspicions. For a short time the fugitives paid $50 a month for their keep, but when their money ran out, Bolesław met all the costs of their maintenance from his meager earnings as a tinsmith. One day, the Biakowskis received a visit from a Jewish acquaintance, Jakov Lewit, who was employed by the Germans for his essential skills. He brought with him his four-year-old daughter, Erna, whom he asked the Białkowskis to shelter. The latter agreed, and the child remained with them. For reasons of security, she was not placed in the attic with the other Jewish fugitives but stayed inside the apartment. Erna became attached to the Białkowskis’ four children and played with them, hiding in a cupboard whenever strangers came. After the war, the Białkowskis remained on friendly terms with their Jewish protegés, most of whom subsequently emigratedfrom Poland. Some sent them money and medicines, and a number remained in contact with their former protectors for many years. On March 19, 1987, Yad Vashem recognized Bolesław and Zofia Białkowski as Righteous Among the Nations. File 3589