Tribute to Poles who helped Jews in WWII

A variety of events are expected to be held in Poland on Friday to pay tribute to those who helped Jews during World War II.

Plaques on the wall of the Ulma Family Museum, at Markowa in the southeast of Poland, commemorating those who risked their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust during World War II.

Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

March 24 marks a special memorial day in the country dedicated to Poles who risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbours from the Holocaust.

📆 24 marca obchodzony jest Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Polaków ratujących Żydów pod okupacją niemiecką.

Dzień Pamięci ustanowiony został z inicjatywy Prezydenta @AndrzejDuda. pic.twitter.com/I9wRzFCV84

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) March 24, 2023

On March 24, 1944, German military police killed members of the Polish family of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, who were sheltering Jews in the village of Markowa in the southeast of the country.

The story of Ulma family, who were murdered by Nazi Germans for hiding Jews during the WW2

pic.twitter.com/hCPjPCJD0b

— Michał Szułdrzyński🇵🇱 (@MSzuldrzynski) March 24, 2023

Polish President Andrzej Duda was expected to attend a commemorative event in Markowa at midday.

Duda has said that the memorial day aims to pay tribute to Poles who helped Jews during the Holocaust and who "often died while doing so."

Dziś obchodzimy Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Polaków ratujących Żydów pod okupacją Niemiecką.
Pamięć o tysiącach uhonorowanych Sprawiedliwych Polakach i o Tych, którzy za pomoc zostali zamordowani, a pamięć o Ich czynie pomocy odkrywana jest wiele lat po wojnie.
🧵⤵️ pic.twitter.com/3UHDGenS13

— PL1918 (@PL1918) March 24, 2023

Poland's Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) has said in a message for the day that "Poles who saved Jews were, are and should serve as role models and inspiration."

Józef Ulma, a man of many talents and family man, had six adorable kids and a loving wife Wiktoria, expecting the seventh.

They lived in Markowa, General Government, occupied Poland.

Giving shelter to two Jewish families, they broke German laws that banned assistance to Jews. pic.twitter.com/BUggbTY3n4

— Institute of National Remembrance (@ipngovpl_eng) March 24, 2023

Poland’s Roman Catholic Church announced last month that the Polish Ulma family, who lost their lives for hiding Jews during World War II, would be beatified on September 10.

24 March 1944, the Germans murdered Józef, Wiktoria, Stasia, Basia, Władzio, Franio, Antoś, Marysia and the unborn baby. The Jews – Saul Goldman, his sons Baruch, Mechel, Joachim and Moses, Chaim Goldman’s daughters Golda Grünfeld and Lea Didner, his grandchild Reszla – died too. pic.twitter.com/mYmTFIQf1D

— Institute of National Remembrance (@ipngovpl_eng) March 24, 2023

In the Catholic Church, beatification is one stage short of being declared a saint.

(gs)

Source: IAR