Stary Lipowiec

The eve of Epiphany

The farm of Wojciech and Anastazja Kusiak was situated at the edge of the forest in the village of Stary Lipowiec near Biłgoraj. Anastazja and two of her sons, Roman and Franciszek, and three chance guests – neighbors Katarzyna Grochowicz, Katarzyna Rybak and Jan Zaręba – were present when the Germans surrounded the property on 5 January 1943. A young Jewish woman, Ita Becher, whom the Kusiaks had previously helped, had been arrested by the Gestapo and tortured until she named the families who had helped her.

The Germans shot Jan and Roman when they tried to flee, then they set fire to the house in which the rest of people still remained. Ita Becher also died in the flames with them.

Wojciech Kusiak came home with his son Józef and found the burned-out buildings and charred bodies of his loved ones. They were forced to go into hiding for the rest of the war.