Ulma Family Exhibition at the European Parliament

Klara Jackl, 1 July 2017

"The Samaritans of Markowa" exhibition has opened in the European Parliament. It tells the story of the Ulma family who, during World War II, were murdered for having hidden Jews.

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"They were like shining stars in the darkest hours of human history", said Israel Deputy Ambassador to the EU, Shuli Davidovich, during the opening of the exhibition at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels in Tuesday 27th June 2017. Other participants in the event included Vice-Chairman of the IPN Dr Mateusz Szpytma, creator of the Ulma Family Museum in Markowa, MEP Tomasz Poręba, the man behind presenting the exhibition at the EU and Władysław Ortyl, Speaker of the Podkarpackie provincial parliament.

The exhibition's panels are devoted to the tragic story of the Ulma family, as well as other Poles who rescued Jews in the Podkarpacie region during World War II. The exhibition consists of twenty panels presenting documents and photographs which illustrate the history of the Polish and Jewish communities of Markowa, as well as the reality of Germany occupation. It also tells the story of a family who, despite the threat of the death penalty, decided to help persecuted Jews. The exhibition is supplemented with a panel presenting the story of an oak tree – Józef of Wiśniowa – the 2017 European Tree of the Year in which, thanks to help from local residents, were hidden two Jewish brothers from Frysztak.

READ THE STORY OF JEWS HIDDEN INSIDE JÓZEF, THE OAK TREE

During the German occupation, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma hid eight Jews in their home – five men from the Goldman family, as well as three locals – Lea (Layka) Didner, her daughter and Genia (Gołda) Grünfeld. As the result of being denounced, the German authorities learned of this and all the Jews being hidden by the Ulms were murderedi. For helping the Jews, the Polish family – Józef Ulma, his heavily pregnant wife Wiktoria and their six small children also lost their lives.

MORE ABOUT THE ULMA FAMILY

In 1995, Wiktoria and Józef Ulma were honoured with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. In 2016, the museum bearing their name was opening in Markowa.