A stamp honoring Poles saving Jews
On Wednesday, March 24 this year, Poczta Polska introduces the emission stamp "Poles saving Jews". The value will go 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, Jan Konarzewski, presented a photo of the monument on the stamp, by Monika Kupiec, located in Popardowa (Nawojowa commune) commemorating the events of March 1944. It presents the contours of the silhouettes of four Poles (from the left: Agnieszka Rumin, Jan Rumin, Jakub Tokarz and Ludwik Borek) covering six Jews (from the left: Ruchla Neurgrӧschel, Aba Schreibel, Blumka Schreiber, Gitla Neuggrӧschel, Chaim Neuggrӧschel and Mojżesz kaufer). 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 a photo of an information board devoted to the memory of Polish and Jewish citizens, residents of the communes of Nawojowa and Kamionka Wielka, murdered by the Germans.
- Due to the National Remembrance Day of Poles saving Jews under German occupation on March 24, the Polish Post decided to publish a stamp to commemorate all those who, with their heroism and a selfless desire to help other people, contributed to the saving representatives of the Mosaic religious community. Poles saving Jews were, are and should be a model and symbol of humanity for each of us - says Tomasz Zdzikot, president of the board of Poczta Polska.
Agnieszka Rumin from Popardowa during the occupation hid six Jews, for which, together with his eldest son Jan, she was shot by the Germans in 1944. Ludwik Borek from Mystków also met the same fate, who hid members of the community of the Mosaic religion earlier, as well as Jakub Tokarz from Ptaszkowa. All hiding Jews were also murdered. The events of those days permanently entered the tragic war history of Lesser Poland, as evidenced by the monument founded in Popardowa last year.
- The latest philatelic emission of Poczta Polska reminds of the heroism and courage of our countrymen who, at risk of life, helped Jews during World War II. In Poland occupied by the Germans at that time, the help of Jewish people was in danger of a death penalty - not only helping, but to all families. And only in Poland on such a large scale, despite such a great threat, Poles saved their neighbors, friends, acquaintances - people of Jewish origin. Nobody knows exactly how many of them died. An example of the inhabitants of the communes of Nawojowa and Kamionka Wielka reminds of the real installment of patriotism - real love of neighbor and a heroic testimony of loyalty to principles. Poles saved people of Jewish origin, because it had to be followed, because this was what honor and morality demanded from them. By paying tribute to such heroes, Poczta Polska also raises the memory of the moral duty to their neighbor - says Wiesław Włodek, vice president of the Poczta Polska Board.
- The commemoration of Polish and Jewish victims of German crimes, including the victims of the Holocaust, the construction of monuments and care for the burial of burial places of the murdered, is one of the main fields of activities of the Institute of National Remembrance. The Institute treats this as an obligation to the memory of victims of totalitarian violence. For years, we have been fulfilling this obligation also in cooperation with Poczta Polska, which resulted in stamps - says Dr. Mateusz Szytma, deputy president of the Institute of National Remembrance.
In 2018, the post office introduced the first stamp in the series of honoring Poles who saved Jews. The value resembled the history of the Ulma family, which during the occupation gave shelter to the eight Jews. In the same year, the company also issued a card commemorating the figure of Sister Matilda Getter. In 2019, another publishing house of the series was sent to customers and philatelists. He presented Edward Raczyński - the then minister, the matter of the foreign government of the Republic of Poland in exile, whose note was the first official report on the Holocaust informing Western public opinion about crimes. It was also the first official speech of one of the governments in defense of all Jews persecuted by Nazi Germany - not only the citizens of their country.
About the stamp:
Author of the Stamp: Jacek Konarzewski
Author of the FDC envelope and date stamp: Jan Konarzewski
Number of stamps: 1
Value: 3.30 PLN
Edition: 100,000
Print technique: ROTOGRAWIURE
Format stamp: 39.5 mm x 31.25 mm
Paper: Fluorescent
sales sheet: 50 stamps
Date of introduction in circulation: March 24, 2021.
This and other philatelic publishing houses of Poczta Polska can be purchased at post offices and the online store: www.filatelistyka.poczta-polska.pl