Warsaw, 17 July 2001
To
The Institute of National Remembrance
Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes
against the Polish Nation
00-207 Warsaw, Krasińskich Square 2/4/6
I am stating the following:
During the German occupation, my mother, Antonia Kołtuniak, worked at the Ujazdowski Hospital in Warsaw, providing help, together with other employees, to soldiers of the Polish underground. On orders from the organization, Mr. Kosiński came to our flat on Ogrodowa Street and brought a man, who turned out to be a Jew from the Warsaw ghetto, and whom he introduced as Mr. Wiśniewski. I remember that my sister and I promised not to tell anybody whosoever that someone was staying with us. I remember that this man would not leave the flat and my mother gave him food, washed his clothes, and kept reminding him to stay away from the windows.
I remember that whenever a stranger, such as the caretaker or a collector or one of the neighbors knocked at the door, Mr. Wiśniewski would hide under the bed or in a box for storing coal. This situation lasted from mid-1942 until the Warsaw Uprising. After the defeat of the uprising, we were expelled from the flat and driven with the others to Pruszków, and then ferried off to the Mauthausen camp, while Mr. Wiśniewski would not come out of the basement. He said he feared being recognized, in the event of which he would be facing death. He also said that he would go into hiding and wait for the liberation, and then he would get in touch with us.
Sadly, it never materialized and he never contacted us. Maybe he somehow got out of the burning Warsaw, or maybe he died, which is a more likely scenario.
We are sorry that despite so many sacrifices and risking our lives the conclusion was so sad. But maybe Mr. Wiśniewski is out there, somewhere, and sometimes recalls a woman and her daughters who saved him, and he is happy to be alive.
I have learned that a plaque is supposed to be installed that will commemorate the Poles who saved Jews during the German occupation. My sister and I would be content if our mother’s name were to be engraved there. We never took steps to be compensated in any way, but we believe that this is what this very brave woman, who was our mother, deserves.
To facilitate the process, we are stating her details in full:
Antonina Kołtuniak née Szymczak, b. 8 June 1898, d. 17 January 1977, daughter of Andrzej and Józefa née Kłosińska, married from 1931 to Stanisław Kołtuniak, widow from 1938, during the occupation resident of Warsaw, Ogrodowa Street 28, flat 82; had two daughters: Eulalia Kołtuniak, presently Konopka, and Ryszarda Kołtuniak, presently Gozdowska.
We kindly ask that our request be granted, as it is one of great importance to us, and we hope we will ourselves be able to see our mum’s name on the plaque which is supposed to be built.
Sincerely,
Eulalia Konopka
Bagno Street 3, flat 173
00-112 Warsaw
Ryszarda Gozdowska
Miodowa Street 26, flat 27
00-246 Warsaw
During the entire period when he was hiding at our place, Mr. Wiśniewski only contacted Mr. Kosiński, and did this very rarely.