Płaskacz Bronisława

Płaskacz, Bronisława In 1916–1923, Bronisława Płaskacz was a nanny for the Bugajer family in Częstochowa and stood out for her kindness and moral scruples. Her relations with the Bugajers slackened after she left them, but during the occupation, when they were interned in the ghetto, Płaskacz visited them regularly and offered them her assistance. When the Aktionen began and the situation worsened, Płaskacz tried to persuade the Bugajers to flee to the Aryan side of town, and in October 1942 their oldest daughter, Maria, reached Płaskacz’s door exhausted and destitute. Płaskacz gave her a warm welcome and shared her only bed. Three weeks later, when her younger sister Irena also came, Płaskacz, childless and poor, treated both Jewish sisters as if they were her daughters. All three got by on Płaskacz’s income from domestic work and food that her employers gave her. Płaskacz’s living conditions were such that the presence of the two Jewish fugitives could not be concealed from the neighbors, but Płaskacz was not swayed by the danger of denunciation. Some time later, Józef and Helena Bugajer, the girls’ parents, joined them in Płaskacz’s home. Only in early 1943, after the oldest daughter, Maria, went to Warsaw to arrange a hiding place for her family on the Aryan side of that city, did the Bugajers move to Warsaw. For the next year and a half, they were out of touch with Płaskacz. After the Warsaw Uprising was crushed in October of 1944, the Bugajers needed assistance again and resumed contact with Płaskacz, who helped them as she had in the past. All of her rescue actions were prompted by altruism and religious faith. After the war, the Bugajers, having resettled in Israel, spared no effort to assist Płaskacz financially and stayed in touch with her for many years. On December 14, 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Bronisława Płaskacz as Righteous Among the Nations.