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Paying the ultimate price

the Ukrainan peasant who was killed by nationalists

Vasiuta Wegrzynowska was a poor widow who lived with her three children, Jan, Mikhal and Docia, in the small village of Zahajpol in Ukraine. In the Thirties she worked as a hired hand for the Jewish Helper family. Maks and Henya Helper treated their workers very well, thus in 1943, when they desperately sought for a shelter, she helped them by hiding them in her home.

The Helpers lived with their daughter in a bunker especially built for them under the floor of the cowshed. The hiding place was dark, damp and very narrow. They had to keep quite the little girl, so as not to around the suspicion of neighbours and passers-by about the presence of Jews. For 18 months Vasiuta cared for them, brought them food and sometimes divided bread with them. Police searched the Wegrzynowski home more times, but fortunately the bunker was never discovered.

In March 1944 the Soviets freed Ukraine. The three Jews left their hideout for the first time and reunited with the other survivors. Vasiuta accompanied them, proud that her family managed to rescue them under the occupation. However, some months later she was murdered with her childen by a gang of nationalists who took revenge against those who had helped the Jews during the war.

An investigation was held and the Helpers were called in to identify the bodies. The terrible shock for the murder of their rescuer with her children contributed to their resolve to leave Ukraine for Israel. On 25 March 1981 Yad Vashem bestowed Vasiuta Wegrezynowska and her three children Jan, Mikhal and Docia the honour of Righteous among the nations.

20 January 2011

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