We issued a stamp commemorating Poles saving Jews
On Thursday, March 24 this year, Poczta Polska introduced the emission stamp "Poles saving Jews". The value goes into the hands of clients and philatelists on a special day - on the National Day of Remembrance for Poles saving Jews under German occupation.
The creator of the project is Jan Konarzewski, who presented the Polish family on the stamp: Bronisława and Adam Kowalski with children who were brutally murdered by German gendarmes for helping and hiding Jews.
In addition to the stamp, Poczta Polska has published, in a limited version, the FDC envelope, i.e. an envelope on the first day of circulation. It presents the outline of a map depicting around Ciepielowa, Old Ciepielowa and Rekówka, where tragic events took place.
- On our stamp we presented the Kowalski family, whose act and fate became a symbol of Polish commitment to helping Jews. Such "blacksmiths" who stood on the side of the innocent man, on the side of good, despite the highest punishment introduced by the occupier, there were hundreds of thousands in the country. Today's anniversary is the most appropriate opportunity to recall the courage and dedication of many brave Poles, both known and appreciated after the war, as well as those anonymous, though deserving not less respect K - emphasizes Tomasz Zdzikot, president of Poczta Polska.
On December 6, 1942, German gendarmes surrounded farms in Ciepielów Stary and a nearby hand, where the Jews were to hide from the liquidated nearby ghettos. A roundup of several hours began. Bronisława and Adam and their children: Janina (16 years old), Zofia (12 years old), Stefan (6 years old), Henry (4 years old) and Tadeusz (less than 1 year) were imprisoned, and then burned alive in a building set on fire by the Germans. The same fate met members of the Kosior, Obuchiewicz and Skoczylas family. In total, 31 Poles lost their lives in both villages, due to the help of Jews.
- The war time triggers in people both shameful and heroic behavior. We believe that there are definitely more of the latter. An example of incredible heroism are the stories of Poles who saved Jews during the German occupation, although they were threatened with an absolute death penalty for this help. And although it is impossible to count the exact number of Poles who helped Jews - we know that we are a country with the largest number of citizens honored with the Righteous Medal among the Nations - over 7100. Poczta Polska with their stamps, every year on the occasion of the National Remembrance Day of Poles saving Jews under German occupation, he is trying to show the world of such exceptional heroes who rescued the world in the world man - says the vice president of Poczta Polska Wiesław Włodek.
The stamp depicting the Kowalski family is another broadcast as part of a series of values of Poczta Polska honoring Poles saving Jews. In 2019, Poczta Polska introduced into circulation the first stamp reminiscent of the history of the murdered Ulma family, which during the occupation gave shelter to the eight to Jews. In the same year, the company also issued a card commemorating the figure of Sister Matilda Getter. In 2020, another publishing house of the series was sent to the hands of clients and philatelists, which presented Edward Raczyński - the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Polish Government in exile, whose note was the first official report on the Holocaust informing Western public opinion about crimes against the Germans in Poland. It was also the first official speech of one of the governments in defense of all Jews persecuted by Germany - not only the citizens of their country. Last year, however, a value dedicated to events from the communes of Nawojowa and Kamionka Wielka in Lesser Poland, where family members: Rumin, Borek and Tokarz, paid their help for the community of the Mosaic religion, paid for their own lives.
About the stamp:
Project author: Jan Konarzewski
Number of stamps: 1
Value: 3.60 PLN
Edition: 100,000 Pcs.
Printing technique: Rotogical
format stamp: 31.25 x 39.5 mm
Paper: Fluorescent
sales sheet: 50 stamps
Date of introduction to circulation: 24 March 2022.
This and other philatelic publishing houses of Poczta Polska can be purchased at post offices and the online store .