Up until the outbreak of the War, Ludwika and Jan Barut, with their daughter Jadwiga, lived in Wołyn. When the Soviet Army occupied the area in September 1939, the Barut family headed east and settled in Huta Polańska, a small town in the Beskid region, south of Jasło. There, Jan became principal of a public school. Jadwiga married Stanisław Urbański - a reserve officer, active in the resistance movement.
In August 1943, a rumour spread that there were pits in a forest near Krempno and that the Germans would murder Jews there. Stanisław made his way to Żmigród, 20 kilometres away, to warn by his friend, Józef Strenger, and to offer him help. Strenger entrusted him with his oldest daughter, eleven year old Golda, while he, his wife and their three younger daughters remained. Stanisław took Golda home with him.
Shortly thereafter, the Germans did, indeed, expel and murder the Żmigród Jews, among them being the Strenger family. Only Józef managed to escape from the transport and made his way to Huta Polańska. There, he hid himself in the forest for a certain time, with the Urbański's bringing him food. Later, he joined a division of the partisans, having been referred to them by Stanisław. Golda stayed with the Urbański family as their "cousin". Stanisław's father-in-law issued her with a school report card under the name of "Barbara Folta".
Józef and Golda Strenger survived the War and, some time later, emigrated to the USA. Golda (surname now Heller) lives in israel.
