THE SECRET KEPT
We met with a witness of history, Maria Czechur, daughter of Antoni and Antonina, in Durdy. Maria told us the story of the help given by her family, to a group of people of Jewish origin.
– Nobody, you hear me? Don’t tell anyone that the Jewish people are here. Our lives are at stake, you understand? – Antoni turned to his children with concern. – If anyone found out about it, the Germans will come here and kill us… – he explained. For the past few days, four or five Jews had been hiding in their loft. It was still cold outside however, the winter slowly gave way to spring. The Jews stayed with Poles in the village of Durdy for almost two months. Afterwards they moved to the forest, where they had a bunker ready. It was very clevery camouflaged – with a pine tree growing on the manhole. The Jews managed to remain there until the end of the war. Antoni’s children kept the secret.
