Firszt Mieczyslaw ; Mother: Maria

File 1626 Firszt, Mieczysław Firszt, Maria In late July 1942, when many Jews of the town of Borysław (in the Lwów voivodeship), were ordered to report for “transfer” to the east; many Jews rightly feared that this was a euphemism for deportation to the death camps. As the date approached, some Jews, including Fink Lola and her five-year-old son, (Fink ) Bruno; tried to find shelter outside the city. Fink and her son, knocked on the door of Mieczysław Firszt (who lived with his mother- Firszt Maria), and asked for help. After welcoming the two refugees, Firszt and his mother arranged a hiding place for them in their apartment; and despite their straitened circumstances, they shared their meager fare with them and saw to all their needs. In doing so, they were inspired by their religious faith and humanitarian considerations. In early 1944, the Gestapo discovered their hiding place. Fink and her child- Bruno, managed with the help of- Mieczysław Firszt, to flee to the nearby forest; while, Firszt Maria was arrested by the Germans. In August 1944, shortly before the Germans withdrew from the city, Maria was publicly shot to death “…with other group of prisoners from Drohobycz on the White Market.” Wrote, Fink Lola in her testimony to Yad Vashem, on the 15th of December 1978. Fink Lola stayed with her son in the forest; where Firszt, continued to look after them- to feed them and clothe them until the Red Army liberated the area. Furthermore, Firszt Mieczysław and his mother also helped Gross Aron, an inhabitant of Borysław, who in the summer of 1942, was hiding in the forest. Later, Gross testified in his testimony, that Firszt and his mother were people of humanitarian values, and who have saved his life. Moreover, during the occupation times Firszt Mieczysław constantly provided food, to Gross Aron and other Jews; who were imprisoned at the Borysław labour camp: “…when he was bringing to me and to other Jews to the campof forced labour provisions.” Wrote, Gross Aron in his testimony to Yad Vashem, on the 15th of December 1978. After the war, Firszt Mieczysław and the three survivors moved to Lower Silesia (pl. Dolny Śląsk); within the new borders of Poland. Gross Aron, Fink Lola with her son- Bruno, as well as Firszt Mieczysław- settled down in the city of Wałbrzych. On the 24th of May 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Firszt Mieczysław and his mother- Firszt Maria, as a Righteous Among the Nations.