Kałuża Jan & Józefa (Psioda); Daughter: Maria

Kałuża Jan Kałuża Józefa Kałuża Maria Kałuża Józef Kałuża Stefania Psioda Jan Psioda Wiktoria At the beginning of the war, Jan and Józefa Kałuża, who lived in the village of Jaworze Dolne, in the county of Pilzno, Rzeszów district, began helping Jews, and during the occupation, hid many Jews in their home. Jan dug a hiding place under the stable, where Jewish refugees hid for short periods. Jewish fugitives hiding in the surrounding forests often came to the Kałuża’s house for the night or for several nights. Among the Jews who were helped by the Kałużas were: Salomon Kampf and members of the Thau family who fled from the nearby Pilzno ghetto. Although Józef, the Kałużas’ son, arranged “Aryan” papers for the two Thau daughters and one of the sons, which enabled them to find work, they were subsequently caught and murdered. Józef also sheltered another of the Thau boys, Roman, from the winter of 1942 until the area was liberated in January 1945. Jozefa’s parents, Jan and Wiktoria Psioda, also joined in the rescue work and hid Mendel Ekstejn in their home. On the night of February 23, 1943, the German authorities, alerted by informers, surrounded the three houses belonging to the Kałużas and Psiodas and began a systematic and thorough search of the premises. Kampf, who was staying with Jan and Józefa Kałuża, hid in the attic and survived. Roman Thau, who was staying with Józef Kałuża, was hidden by Józef in the chimney before the Germans even entered the house, and survived. Józef, however, was beaten up before the Germans left the house. Mendel Ekstejn, who was staying with the Psiodas, was discovered. The Psiodas and Ekstejn, and the Psiodas’ eldest grandchild, Maria, were all taken to the courtyard, cruelly tortured, and shot. In his subsequent testimony, Józef Kałuża pointed out that his activities on behalf of Jews had been inspired by his religious beliefs: “I believe in helping the unfortunate, particularly those whose lives are in danger, such asthe Jews at the time.” After the war, Kampf immigrated to the United States while Roman Thau immigrated to Germany. On February 12, 1992, Yad Vashem recognized Józefa and Jan Kałuża, their children, Maria, Józef, and Stefania, and Wiktoria and Jan Psioda, as Righteous Among the Nations. File 4787