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Brzóza Królewska

Commemorated

Called by Name

  • Katarzyna Kazak
  • Sebastian Kazak

Jews who received help

  • Chana Stiller
  • Chyla Chym (probably Eliahu “Eli” Springer)
  • a man unknown by name and surname

Alone in misery

Katarzyna and Sebastian Kazak lived in Brzóza Królewska near Leżajsk. When the Germans began rounding up Jews for the extermination camp in Bełżec, the Kazaks came to their Jewish neighbors’ aid. First, they hid the children from the Wachs family. Next, in autumn 1942, they took in Chana Stiller. Two men joined her in December 1942; one of them is identified as Chyła Chym alias Eli Springer.

On the morning of 27 March 1943, German gendarmes and Blue Police officers surrounded the Kazaks’ property. They immediately shot the three Jews, and then murdered Katarzyna and Sebastian. Their daughters Agnieszka – who was out in the fields at the time – and Józefa – who managed to flee the house – evaded death, but they were forced to go into hiding. They returned to Brzóza Królewska in autumn 1945. For many years before the remains were moved from the courtyard to the mass grave in Wierzawice, Józefa cared for the burial place of the Jewish victims.

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