Seeking Polish People or Their Relatives Who Sheltered My Family (named Moriles) During WW2

My grandfather was a cattle trader who, daily, travelled around the area and regularly visited various marketplaces. As a result, he had many Polish friends and acquaintances. My grandfather was born in Górka Kościejowska, which is a small village, near Racławice (on road # 783, about 15 km east of Miechów). His family was the only Jewish family in that village, and his parents remained living there until they were taken away by the Nazis. My grandfather had two brothers and three sisters. The names were Mortek (Mordechay), Aaron, Masha, Fella and Mania.

In Proszowice, my grandfather (and family) lived in a rented flat at 75 (house number) 3 Maja street (the house is still owned by relatives of the original owner, from whom they rented it. His sister was still living on the first floor when we visited the area two years ago).

In late August 1942, the family ran away from their home to hide in the woods because they were warned that the deportation of Jews was about to begin. At first, they went to the woods near Jakubowice (just east of Proszowice) and, later, even further. At that time, they were partially supported (with some food) by the landowner by the name of Kleszczyński. In the following years he continued to help them. My grandmother fell ill (pneumonia) during that few weeks’ stay in the forest and died, as they could obtain no medicine for her. After that stay in the forest, they returned to their apartment in Proszowice for a few more months.

On November 8th 1942, they ran away again.  My grandfather and his two children went to the house of an acquaintance, outside of Proszowice. (I don’t know where it was, but it must have been within walking distance.) The surname of that acquaintance was Koteza. It was a house in a village. My family stayed there in an attic, with Koteza providing them with food. They only went out at nights, except for my father who looked like a Polish child and hence was allowed to play with Koteza’s children outside. They stayed at this place for about two months.

After German soldiers had searched that village, caught and murdered two Jews and also murdered the family who hid those Jews, Koteza couldn’t resist his wife’s pressure any longer and asked my grandfather to leave, as the risk had become unbearable.

The next place they were at may have been closer to Górka Kościejowska. They were hiding in a barn. A ladder was used to get in and out of that hiding place. The owner of the house grew tobacco, and was divorced (or his wife had passed away) and had two children (both girls).  He lived with a spouse.

One day, that woman climbed the ladder and found them. That same day, they were asked to leave (as it had become too risky, both for them and their hosts).

The last hiding place was a house in the village of Lelowice, or somewhere nearby. The house was located quite a distance away from the nearest house in that village. According to my father’s memories, the house was built from mud, with a straw roof.The owner of the house was very poorand barely had enough to provide for his own family. He may have had a carriage with only one horse, a dairy barn (probably with only one cow) and two chickens. 

My family was hiding in a hole which had been dug under the barn.  The cow walked above their hiding place which had been covered with wooden boards, sheets, sacks and mud.

By that time, some other family members joined and stayed at the same hiding place: Masha (my grandfather’s sister) with her children (Joseph, David and Tsila) and another sister named Fela, with her husband, Isak (Itche). They never went out during the daytime, except for my aunt Bronia, who received exact directions from my grandfather and who, based on these, went to get some basic foods and some money from a few landowners in the area who were friends of my grandfather and did that in order to help him.At nights, my grandfather used to walk to Kaczowice to bring some food.

I have a letter written by a Polish citizen named Zygmunt Zubacki (or Zubatkin, who lived in Opatkowice 39, about 2 kms north of Proszowice). His family still lives there.  My grandfather used to trade cows with his family, and he visited there many times during the hiding period, just to get some food.

According to the letter, my grandfather asked that man to drive him with his carriage, to take the children (my father and aunt) from their hiding place, when the war was over (when the Russian forces came). They drove north, and my grandfather, who apparently didn’t want to risk the farmer by letting someone else know he was hiding them, asked his friend (from Opatkowice) to wait in Ibramowice. My father went from there on foot. It took about 1.5 hours before my grandfather returned with his two children. He carried my father (7 years old at that time) in his arms as, due to the long stay in that hole, my father was not able to walk. Mr. Zubacki (or Zubatkin) wrote in the letter that, although he had waited in Ibramowice, he thought or knew that my grandfather went to Lelowice to bring the children.

I am looking for any information that is relevant, especially regarding the people who provided shelter (the only name I had was Koteza) and regarding their hiding places and locations (names of villages). Any additional information will be helpful and much appreciated.

Especially – if someone knows about a farm house (in Lelowice or nearby) of a poor person, who had a carriage with only one horse and a dairy barn with only a few cows (maybe even only one single cow).

Anyone who knew my grandfather or anything about their story, or who heard something from someone (especially from their father and mother) – please share your knowledge.