Tribute to the Polish Righteous – Maria Rogowska-Falska
In 1985 Maria Rogowska-Falska was honored by the Yad Vashem Institute with the title “Righteous Among the Nations” for rescuing Jews during the Second World War.
The Righteous, together with Janusz Korczak and Maria Podwysocka, founded the “Our Home” Childcare Center in Pruszków. This institution was created in 1919 for the orphans of the activists of the workers’ movement. Janusz Korczak has closely collaborated with the center from the beginning.
Maria Rogowska-Falska, called “Mrs Maryna” by her charges, became fascinated by the educational ideas of Janusz Korczak, carried out at the Orphans’ House at 92 Krochmalna Street since 1912.
In 1928 the “Our Home” Society – Janusz Korczak was one of its board members – bought a new building and the orphanage moved from Pruszków to Pola Bielańskie.
“Our Home”became a center of educational and cultural work. It consisted of a kindergarten, a day room for poor youth, a play center, a library and a school for young children.
During the Nazi occupation, the former students from the “Our Home” Center fought in the Warsaw Uprising, mainly in the Żoliborz and Mokotów districts. 25 Jewish children were hidden in the center and Maryna Falska organized false birth certificates for them.
On September 7th, 1944 the Nazis ordered Maria Rogowska-Falska to evacuate the children and employees from the center. She died on the same night. In November 1946, on the initiatives of its former residents, the institution was named after her.
For her educational achievements and dedication, Maria Rogowska-Falska was decorated with the Golden Cross of Merit in 1926, the Cross of Independence in 1931, the Officer’s Cross Polonia Restituta in 1947 and the medal “Righteous Among the Nations” in 1985.
