Wąchalska Anna ; Sister: Sawicka Maria ; Nephew: Siewierski Stefan

Wąchalska, Anna Sawicka, Maria Siewierski, Stefan Symcha Rathajzer (later Rotem), known by his code name “Kazik,” got to know Anna Wąchalska and her sister, Maria Sawicka, after being sent by the Jewish Fighting Organization out of the Warsaw ghetto in April 1943, to organize the escape of the remnants of the fighters from the burning ghetto. When Rathajzer arrived, Anna and Maria, who were already hiding a Jewish girl in their house, welcomed him and treated him like a son. From that time on, the two sisters tied in their lot with that of the Jewish fighters who escaped from the ghetto to the Aryan side of the city. Sawicka, the younger sister, even became a courier for the Jewish Fighting Organization, and on several occasions, was sent on dangerous missions, including visits to members of the organization in the forests and camps. For about a year, the sisters’ apartment served as a meeting place for the last of the fighters. Among those who hid there were Cwzja Lowski, Jicchak Cukierman, and Stefan Grajek. Stefan Siewierski, the sisters’ nephew, who also participated in the rescue operation, led some of the Jewish fighters to the partisans in the forest and paid for it with his life. Shortly after the Gestapo arrested Siewierski and searched his aunts’ apartment, Rathajzer turned up at the house, not knowing that Siewierski had been arrested. When he asked if he could stay the night, Wachalska immediately answered: “If you’re not afraid, you’re welcome to stay.” In his recommendation that they be recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, Jicchak Cukierman, one of the commanders of the Jewish Fighting Organization, wrote: “Among the gentiles who, with great generosity of spirit and courage, risked their lives in those days to save Jews and carry out dangerous missions – these two women deserve a place of honor.” On June 16, 1964, Yad Vashem recognized Anna Wąchalska and her sister, Maria Sawicka, as Righteous Among the Nations. On March 3, 1965, YadVashem recognized their nephew, Stefan Siewierski, as Righteous Among the Nations