A CARD FROM THE CALENDAR - FRANCISZEK SARZYŃSKI
During the World War II, Cracow was the capital of the General Government. As early as 6 September, the city was occupied by German troops. A curfew was imposed, and any action against Germans that were recognised to be so by them was punishable by death. In this dystopian aura, Franciszek Skrzyński and his eldest daughter Krysia were working in the feather factory. The factory was a perfect place to hide Jews, as Germans would look everywhere except right under their noses. Almost every day, Franciszek would bring Jews hiding in the factory some food previously cooked by his wife. When it was dark, it happened that he would smuggle Jewish children from the factory to his house, where they could eat well, wash themselves and rest. Franciszek helped many Jews. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to see the liberation. He was killed by a bomb explosion on the eve of the liberation of Cracow.
