Antonina Wyrzykowska
Antonina Wyrzykowska | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Wyrzykowska at her home, 2007 | |
| Born | Antonina Karwowska 12 August 1916 |
| Died | 29 November 2011 (aged 95) |
| Spouse | Aleksander Wyrzykowski |
| Honours | Righteous Among the Nations Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta |
| Righteous Among the Nations |
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 |
| By country |
Antonina Wyrzykowska, née Karwowska (12 August 1916 – 29 November 2011)[1] was a Polish Righteous Among the Nations known for helping Jews who fled the Jedwabne pogrom.[2][3]
Biography
During the Nazi occupation of Poland Wyrzykowska sheltered several Jews on her farm. She was able to prevent the Germans from finding those she was helping by pouring gasoline around their hiding place, which put the Germans' dogs off their scent. She also smuggled food into the Łomża Ghetto, by donning a yellow badge. Following the liberation of Poland, Wyrzykowska was severely assaulted by members of the Home Army as punishment for helping her Jewish neighbours. In 2001 Wyrzykowska was unable to attend the unveiling of a new monument to the victims of the Jedwabne Pogrom out of fear of her Home Army attackers, three of whom still resided in the area.[4] Her case has been highlighted by the historian Jan Grabowski as an example of the post-war retribution meted out by the Polish nationalist movement to Poles who had helped Jews during the Holocaust.[5]
Recognition
She was also decorated with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by Poland's President Lech Kaczyński.[6] Her husband, Aleksander Wyrzykowski, was also honoured as Righteous Among the Nations.[7]
References
- ^ "Wyborcza.pl". wyborcza.pl.
- ^ Antonina Wyrzykowska – her activity to save Jews' lives during the Holocaust, at Yad Vashem website
- ^ "Woman who helped Jedwabne Jews dies". Polskie Radio dla Zagranicy.
- ^ Mikics, David (20 October 2015). "The Day We Burned Our Neighbors Alive". Tablet. Nextbook.
- ^ Grabowski, Jan; Klein, Shira (2023). "Wikipedia's Intentional Distortion of the History of the Holocaust". The Journal of Holocaust Research. 37 (2): 144. doi:10.1080/25785648.2023.2168939.
- ^ "Będziemy się czuli jak w domu". 14 April 2011.
- ^ Aleksander Wyrzykowski at Yad Vashem website
