Celebration of the Day of Remembrance of Poles saving Jews under German occupation

Tv Trwam (screen)

March 24 is the National Day of Remembrance of Poles who saved Jews under German occupation. In 2021, 77 years have passed since the tragic death of the family of Wiktoria and Józef Ulma and their seven children, including one unborn, who were murdered by the Germans on March 24, 1944 for hiding eight Jews. Their beatification process entered the Vatican stage.

In Markowa, where the tragedy happened, at the local parish church at 10:00 a.m. began the Holy Mass for the intention of Poles saving Jews during World War II and for the beatification of the Ulma family. The liturgy was presided over by Archbishop Adam Szal, Metropolitan of Przemyśl.

We thank for the example of the Ulma family's life. Their gift of life is a sign for us that sometimes we have to sacrifice our lives to save other people. Today we are asking for the gift of their beatification - emphasized Archbishop Szal.

The homily was delivered by the father Witold Burda. Half an hour before the Holy Mass, there was also a prayer at the tomb of the Servants of God in the local cemetery. After the end of the Eucharist, the second part of the ceremony was held at the Museum of Poles Saving Jews in World War II named after the Ulma family in Markowa.

March 24 was also commemorated by the Symposium at the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization and St. John Paul II in Torun. The Institute of Memory and Identity named after John Paul II, the Office for Veterans and Victims of Oppression and the Higher School of Social and Media Culture were the organizers of the ceremony.

First, there was a Holy Mass. The homily was delivered by the bishop Wiesław Śmigiel of Toruń.

“God is the true Lord of history” – reminded the Bishop Śmigiel. The Preacher pointed out that human empires rise and fall.

The bishop compared the realities described in the Book of the Prophet Daniel with the period of World War II. “There are many shameful similarities in the attitude of Nebuchadnezzar and Hitler” – noted the ordinary from Toruń. He recalled that the young men did not worship a false God, because the true God was with them. During World War II, the furnaces of contempt were also kindled. In Poland, helping Jews was punishable by death.

As Bishop Śmigiel emphasized, we remember with gratitude the heroes of those times.

The Ordinary of Toruń also referred to the National Park of Remembrance in Toruń, where Poles who saved Jews are commemorated. Currently, there are nearly 40 thousand heroic testimonies.

March 24 marks the 77th anniversary of the Markowa massacre. The Germans murdered the Ulmas. “It was the price for helping them” – remarked the preacher. This day is a tribute to all Polish citizens murdered for helping Jews, for whom there was a risk of death. Currently, the beatification process of the Ulmas has entered the Vatican stage.

The bishop recalled that not only individuals and families, but also organizations helped Jews, e.g. the ŻEGOTA. About 25 percent of all the Righteous Among the Nations are Poles.

The rest of the ceremony took place in the Memorial Chapel. The ceremonial unveiling of subsequent plaques with the names of Poles saving Jews under German occupation was preceded by reading their biographies. The delegation placed candles and flowers at the plaques.

The audience was greeted by Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, director of Radio Maryja.

Then Bishop Wiesław Śmigiel led the prayer and blessed the memorial plaques with 26 new names of the heroes.

The next elements of the celebration were the laying of wreaths and occasional speeches. A letter from the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, was also read. “The Nazi terror did not break the spirit of freedom and morale of our nation,” stressed the President.

Jan Dziedziczak, the government plenipotentiary for the Polish Diaspora and Poles abroad, also addressed a special appeal to the Polish diaspora: I would like to appeal to my fellow countrymen abroad to talk about the history of Poland.

The participants of the ceremony also had the opportunity to listen to a few testimonies of people who personally remember organizing help for Jews.

The National Remembrance Park is a place of homage to all Poles who risked their lives to help others. It is a space open for everyone, regardless of nationality, religion, views and language.

The Ulma family was murdered on March 24, 1944 by the Germans for hiding eight Jews on their farm. The beatification process of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, including one unborn, entered the Vatican stage.

The National Day of Remembrance of Poles saving Jews under German occupation is a Polish public holiday. It was established on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Poland in 2017. It is celebrated on March 24 on the anniversary of the death of the Ulma family.