Righteous Honoured in Szczecin

KJ, 16 November 2016
On 11th December, in the Pomorskie Duke’s Castle, a ceremony took place honouring two families with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Leokadia and Edmund Krajewski, together with Amelia and Antoni Sokólski, were honoured posthumously.

Nadav Eshcar, Israeli Deputy Ambassador to Israel, Róża Król, Chair of the Szczecin branch of the Jewish Social-Cultural Association, Mayor of Szczecin, Piotr Krzystek, and Deputy Speaker of the Zachodniopomorskie Province, Wojciech Drózdz, were among those who participated in the ceremony. The Israeli Deputy Ambassador presented the medals and certificates to relatives of those honoured.

The Krajewski family lived in the village of Rożyszcze in the Wołyn region (now Ukraine). During the occupation, they saved the lives of Ewa Turzyńska-Traunstein and her son Leon. Leokardia and Edmund took part in organising their escape from the Germans. Thanks to the help of many people, Ewa and her son managed to survive the occupation. After the War, the Krajewski family left their home village and moved to Szczecin. 

On behalf of those honoured, the awards were accepted by Elżbieta Celebudzka and Michał Krajewski (Edmund Krajewski’s children) and Tadeusz Krajewski and Ryszard Krajewski (Leokadia Krajewska’s nephews).

During the War, Amelia and Antoni Sokólski lived in Mierestki district, on the edge of the Grady village, near Knyszyna, where they ran a farm and raised two small children. Despite the risks, they decided to take into their home two escapees from the Knyszyna ghetto, who had avoided being transported to the Treblinka death camp. Over 22 months, six people (the four-member Drzewko family and the Kagan couple) hid in a specially prepared hiding place dug inside the stable. The Sokólski couple were totally devoted to the help they provided until the Soviet Army arrived in August 1944. After the War, those saved immigrated to Bolivia.

The award was accepted by their children, Irena Poźniak and Ryszard Sokólski.

Television coverage of the event can be viewed on the TVP website.