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Ostrów Mazowiecka

Commemorated

Called by Name

  • Jadwiga Długoborska

Saved Jews

  • Emil Żółtogórski
  • ten people from the Renkant, Ryczke, Lewartowicz and Szumowicz families
  • a man unknown by name and surname

Boarding house

Only a few hundred meters separated Jadwiga Długoborska’s boarding house in Ostrów Mazowiecka from the German prison run by the gendarmerie and Gestapo in the “Czerwoniak” building. Nevertheless, Jews and Home Army soldiers alike found shelter there throughout the whole occupation.

Shortly before the withdrawal of the German forces, a maid who had been fired by Długoborska for stealing told the Gestapo everything. The Germans entered the boarding house on the night of 23 June 1944 and arrested Jadwiga on suspicion of hiding Jews and cooperating with the Home Army. Jadwiga’s sister, Cecylia Pachecka, was also arrested.

Cecylia was later released, and that thanks only to the intervention of their other sister, Wanda Wujcik. Jadwiga however was subjected to cruel torturę and was finally shot in the forest outside Ostrów on 29 June 1944. The interrogations and execution were carried out personally by Gestapo officer Anton “Cyk” Birkenfeld, who was otherwise known as the Ostrów executioner. He never faced punishment for his crimes.

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