First and last names: Andrzej, Bronisława, Szymon and Walerian Czajkowski
Place during the war: Zręcin, Podkarpackie Voivodeship (former Lwowskie Voivodeship)
During the war Czajkowski family lived in Zręcin near Krosno. In summer 1942, the Germans took the local Jews to the ghetto in Krosno, and to a labour camp in Krosno airport. Only few of the deported managed to escape and Lipiner family was among them: Ignacy (42 years old), Chaja (40 years old) and their daughters, Erna (20 years old) and Sonia (10 years old) and also Chaskiel Morgenstern (37 years old, the brother of Chaja Lipiner), Józef Brajtowicz (40 years old), and Bergman brothers: Rubin (25 years old, fiancé of Erna Lipiner), Max (28 years old) and Roman (22 years old). All the fugitives came to the Czajkowski family, well-disposed towards Jews. Andrzej Czajkowski wrote in his report:
At first I was shocked at the enormous responsibility and fear of the death penalty. My and my family lives was hanging in the balance. It was not just one person, it was nine people! After a sleepless night, I decided to help them.
Szymon Czajkowski, his son Andrzej and grandson Walerian made a hideout in the stable where they were hiding Jews for two years.
I just added another wall. The room was cramped. I made bunk beds. And so it began.
– wrote Andrzej Czajkowski.
Czajkowski family had to take precautionary measures. Bronisława, wife of Szymon, cooked potatoes in skins and beans for the Jews – like for livestock. Andrew smeared horse hooves with creolin and painted the stable with lime, because even the human scent could betray the hiding persons. The daughter of Andrzej, Bronislawa Czajkowska (Lipińska after the husband) also became involved in helping Jews. All managed to survive.
Bronisława and Szymon Czajkowki were awarded the medal “Righteous among the Nations” on 4 June 1963, Andrzej Czajkowski on 28 Feb. 1985, and Bronislawa Czajkowska-Lipińska and Walerian Czajkowski – 24 Feb. 1988.
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- Walerian Czajkowski, son of Andrzej (Sept. 23, 1925 – May 10, 1993). From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Andrzej Czajkowski. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Bronisława Czajkowska-Lipińska, daughter of Andrzej (Feb. 8, 1930 – July 13, 2000). The photo from 1950. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Sonia Lipiner. The photo taken a few years after the war. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Chaja Lipiner, sister of Chaskiel Morgenstern. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Sonia Pomeranc nee Lipiner in an interview with Andrzej Czajkowski in the backyard next to the place of hiding in Zręcin. The photograph from the eighties of the last century. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Roman Bergman. The post-war photography. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- Chaskiel Morgenstern with wife Irena. From collections of Jacek Lipiński.
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- The stable in which the Czajkowski family hid persons being under their care. Photo Igor Witowicz (2004).
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- Zręcin, Czajkowski family’s house with farm buildings. Photo Igor Witowicz (2004).
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