We issued a stamp commemorating Poles who saved Jews
On Thursday, March 24th, the Polish Post introduced a postage stamp from the "Poles Saving Jews" issue. The stamp reaches customers and philatelists on a special day – the National Day of Remembrance of Poles Saving Jews under German Occupation.
The author of the project is Jan Konarzewski, who depicted on the stamp a Polish family: Bronisława and Adam Kowalski with their children, who were brutally murdered by German gendarmes for helping and hiding Jews.
In addition to the stamp, Poczta Polska has issued a limited edition First Day of Circulation (FDC) envelope. It features an outline map of the Ciepielów, Stare Ciepielów, and Rekówka areas, where the tragic events unfolded.
" On our stamp, we depicted the Kowalski family, whose deeds and fate became a symbol of Poland's commitment to helping Jews. There were hundreds of thousands of "Kowalskis" across the country who stood on the side of an innocent man, on the side of good, despite the occupier's harsh punishment. Today's anniversary is a fitting opportunity to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of many brave Poles, both those known and appreciated after the war, and those anonymous, though deserving of no less respect, " emphasizes Tomasz Zdzikot, president of Poczta Polska.
On December 6, 1942, German gendarmes surrounded farms in Ciepielów Stary and nearby Rekówka, where Jews who had escaped from the liquidated ghettos were believed to be hiding. A manhunt began that lasted several hours. Bronisława and Adam, along with their children: Janina (16), Zofia (12), Stefan (6), Henryk (4), and Tadeusz (nearly 1 year old), were imprisoned and then burned alive in a building set on fire by the Germans. The same fate befell members of the Kosior, Obuchiewicz, and Skoczylas families. In total, 31 Poles lost their lives in both villages on that day because of their help to Jews.
" Wartime evokes both shameful and heroic behavior in people. We believe there are far more of the latter. Examples of incredible heroism are the stories of Poles who saved Jews during the German occupation, even though their help was punishable by death. And although it is impossible to count the exact number of Poles who helped Jews, we know that we are the country with the largest number of citizens honored with the Righteous Among the Nations medal – over 7,100. Every year, on the National Day of Remembrance of Poles Who Saved Jews under German Occupation, Poczta Polska (Polish Post) uses its stamps to showcase these exceptional heroes who preserved faith in humanity during the Holocaust, " says Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska.
The stamp depicting the Kowalski family is the latest issue in the Polish Post's series honoring Poles who saved Jews. In 2019, the Polish Post introduced the first stamp commemorating the murdered Ulma family, who sheltered eight Jews during the occupation. That same year, the company also issued a postcard commemorating Sister Matylda Getter. In 2020, another issue of the series was released to customers and philatelists, featuring Edward Raczyński – then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Polish Government in Exile, whose note was the first official Holocaust report informing Western public opinion about the crimes committed by the Germans on Polish territory. It was also the first official statement by a government in defense of all Jews persecuted by Germany – not just citizens of their own country. Last year, a section was presented devoted to the events in the Nawojowa and Kamionka Wielka Communes in Małopolska, where members of the Rumin, Borek and Tokarz families paid with their lives for their help for the Jewish community.
About the stamp:
designer: Jan Konarzewski
number of stamps: 1
value: PLN 3.60
circulation: 100,000 pcs
printing technique: rotogravure
stamp format: 31.25 x 39.5 mm
paper: fluorescent
sales sheet: 50 stamps
date of introduction into circulation: March 24, 2022
This and other philatelic publications of Poczta Polska can be purchased at post offices and in the online store .