69th Anniversary of the Death of the Ulma Family

KJ, 16 November 2016
In Markowa, today, commemorations were held in connection with the 69th anniversary of the tragic deaths of the Ulma family, as well as the Szall and Goldman families – two Jewish families for whom the Ulma family provided shelter during the War.

Wiktoria and Józef Ulma, together with their six children lived in the village of Markow (Podkarpackie Province). From the autumn of 1942, they hid eight Jews in their house.  A Polish police officer denounced them to the authorities. On 24th March 1944, German military police came to the house. All members of the Ulma family, plus all the Jews they were hiding in their attic, were shot by firing squad.  Wiktoria Ulma was in the ninth month of pregnancy at the time.  The Ulma family was honoured, by the Yad Vashem institute, with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. In 2003, the process of their beatification began.

Today’s commemoration was led by the prelate of Przemyśl, Archbishop Józef Michalik.  Flowers were laid at the monument honouring those who were murdered.

A Museum bearing the name of the Ulma family is to be established in Markowa.  Tenders were called for this project at the beginning of March and the project is planned to be completed by the end of next year.