Dżugała Władysław & Maria (Pizio)

Dżugala, Władysław Dżugala, Maria Pizio, Stanisław Pizio, Franciszka During the occupation, Regina Hader, who lived in the town of Podkamień, in the Tarnopol district, was interned in the Rohatyn ghetto, in the Stanisławów district. In December 1942, during the massacre perpetrated by the Germans and Ukrainians against the local Jews, Hader escaped. After wandering on her own for many days and nights, she finally reached her hometown, where she knocked on the door of Maria Dżugała, a school friend, who lived together with her husband, Władysław, and their little son in a single room. Despite the cramped conditions, they took Hader in and looked after her. Since the small size of the apartment intensified the risk of discovery, Hader was transferred to Franciszka and Stanisław Pizio, Maria’s parents, who welcomed her and saw to all her needs, without expecting anything in return. Hader hid on their farm until the area was liberated in July 1944. In saving Hader’s life, the Dżugałas and Pizios were guided by a sense of moral duty, a true friendship and a love of mankind that triumphed over adversity. After the war, Hader immigrated to the United States while her rescuers moved to an area within the new Polish borders. On September 21, 1989, Yad Vashem recognized Maria and Władysław Dżugała and Franciszka and Stanisław Pizio as Righteous Among the Nations. File 3943