Chęciński Sławomir

File 4973 Chęciński, Sławomir Juliusz In March 1943, Werner Schindler escaped to Warsaw from the Lipowa Street camp in Lublin. While looking for a hiding place, he was approached by Sławomir-Juliusz Chęciński, a medical student, who invited him home. Upon his arrival, he discovered that two other Jewish refugees – Edward Marczewski and Professor Orliński – were already hiding in Chęciński’s home. After some months, as the danger of detection grew, Chęciński transferred his charges to other hiding places. In due course, he brought Schindler back and hid him in the cellar of a pastry shop that used to belong to his parents. Chęciński also saved other Jews, such as Marian Sawicki, and a girl called Jelski. During the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising in the summer of 1944, Schindler left his hiding place and, together with Chęciński, joined the insurgents. After the uprising was quashed, Chęciński was captured by the Germans. Schindler managed to escape, and hid in the ruins of Warsaw until the area was liberated in January 1945. Chęciński, who had grown up among Jews and had many Jewish friends, showed himself to be a true and loyal friend, who was prepared to risk his life to save Jews. On July 4, 1991, Yad Vashem recognized Sławomir Juliusz Chęciński, as Righteous Among the Nations.