During the German occupation, Helena and Jerzy Arwanitti lived in a tenement at ul. Śniadecka 12 in Warsaw. They provided shelter and material and physical support to a number of people hiding on the "Aryan side". In moments of danger, they were aided by the Jasik family from Legionowo.
Berta and Zofia Kraśnic
„[…] these people not only hid and fed us, but they did so with the utmost warmth and tenderness”, as testified by the Kraśnic women in their testimony to the Yad Vashem Institute.
Berta and Zofia, mother and daughter, were taken in by the Arwanitti family at the beginning of 1943. Berta was seriously ill. "We had nothing and were totally dependent on Mrs (Helena) Arwanitti and her husband (Jerzy)”. Helena also endeavoured to save the rest of the Kraśnic ladies' family, but without success.
Despite the blackmail and denunciations, the Arwanitti couple cared for the women until the end of the war. When the situation on ul. Śniadecka became too dangerous, they were given shelter with the Jasik family.
“Both Mr. Arwanitti and the Jasik family lived very modestly, even in pre-war times - and even more so during the war. It was therefore very difficult for them to survive this terrible period, which is even greater proof of their high moral level and selfless sacrifice at the risk of their lives.
Together with the Arwanitti family, they survived the Warsaw Uprising during which they "continued to share their 'last piece of bread' with us”. They then ended up with Helena in Pruszków.
"[…] without her help, we would have had no chance of surviving this terrible period. There are no words to describe everything that Helena voluntarily exposed herself to in order to save our lives.”
Mr Popper and others
Others under the care of the Arwanitti couple, between August 1942 and September 1944, included Leopold Popper and his son. Forced by circumstances, Jerzy found them another hiding place. "After he discovered us and our escape, he found shelter for us in the apartment of his sister, Natalia Szurkow (?), at ul. Żurawia 19”. He provided them with food and supported them financially. "[…] his wife, Helena, arranged false documents for us”.
"he was fully aware that we were Jews and that, by helping us, he was putting himself and his family in mortal danger. The help, which he gave us, was provided in a friendly manner, as a friend of the family, solely for humanitarian reasons and without any material expectations.”
According to Mr Popper, the Arwanitti couple also helped Renia Karwasser from Grodzisk Mazowiecki, her sister Gina, her brother-in-law Mr. Treibisch, her mother and husband.
Honouring the Arwanitti Family
On 15th August 1968, the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem honoured Helena and Jerzy Arwanitti with the title of Righteous Among the Nations.
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They saved not only my life, but also the lives of three other Jewish families.
George Popper, Australia
Others: D. Treibicz, Breskin
Berta Krasnic and Zofia Lipetz nee Krasnic: about Helena Arwanitti (Kicińska)
Helena Kicińska-Arwanitti is a person with high moral values. Her activities during the Nazi occupation was sacrificial and selfless. Certainly, without her help, we would not have survived.
I write on behalf of my mother and [illegible -ed.]. While in hiding, my mother was seriously ill. From the beginning of 1943 until the end ofthe war, we visited Mr. Arwaniti, with breaks due to denunciations and blackmail. We had no material resources and were completely dependent upon Helena Arwanitti and her husband (Jerzy).
At the risk of their own lives, these people not only hid us, fed us, etc., they did so with warmth and tenderness. During the Warsaw Uprising,they continued to share their 'last piece of bread" with us.
After the Uprising, together with us, Mrs Arwanitti was taken to Pruszków where, without her help, we would have had no chance to survive that terrible period. I have no words to describe everything that she willingly endangered herself to save our lives.
Unfortunately, despite her efforts, it was not possible to save the rest of our family, who were murdered.
At the same time, I feel obliged to inform you that, apart from Mrs Arwanitti, Stanisław Jasik, with his wife and children, who currently live in Legionowo, […] in all respects, provided us with no less moral and material help during the periods when we could not hide in the Arwanitti home.
Both the Arwanitti and Jasik families lived in very modest conditions, even in pre-war times - and even more so during the war It was, therefore, extremely difficult for them to survive this terrible period, which is even greater proof of their high moral level and selfless sacrifice at the risk of their lives.
We hope that these noble people will find adequate appreciation in the Yad Vashem organisation.
France
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George Polber
31st January 1968
During the Nazi occupation of Poland, Jerzy Arwanitti, of ul. Sienna 41, offered me and my late father Leopold Popper, a hiding place in his apartment at ul. Śniadecka 12. After us being discovered in hiding and our escape, he found us shelter in the apartment of his sister Natalia Szurkow (?) at ul. Żurawa 19.
His wife provided us with food. He helped us financially and his current wife, Helena, provided us with false documents. They helped us from the period August 1942 until September 1944. They were fully aware that we are Jews and that helping us would endanger their lives and the lives of their family. Their help was provided in a friendly manner, as part of the family and was based purely on humanitarian motives, with no material expectations.
I know that they also helped Renia Karwasser from Grodzisk Mazowiecki, her sister Gina, her brother-in-law Mr. Treibisch, her mother and her husband.
