Józef Walaszczyk, a member of the Polish resistance who rescued dozens of Jews during the Nazi German occupation of Poland during World War II, has died aged 102.

Walaszczyk died on Monday, according to the Institute of National Remembrance, a Polish state historical body.

Walaszczyk fell in love during the war with a Jewish woman, Irena Front, only learning that she was Jewish when German Gestapo forces searched a hotel where he was staying with her.

He helped her hide and tried to distract the Gestapo men by pretending to be sick. He later arranged for Front to get false documents, even entering into a fictitious marriage with her.

Soon after that, Front and 20 other Jews were arrested by the Gestapo.

“If something was to be done, it had to be done for them all. I had to arrange for a kilogram of gold by 5 p.m. – and it was already noon. Only then would the Germans forget about the incident and release the Jews,” Walaszczyk recalled in an interview, according to the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

Walaszczyk managed to collect and pay the required ransom, thereby saving the lives of 21 people.

He also employed 30 Jews in a potato flour factory that he had been tasked with managing due to his knowledge of the German language. He kept them alive by bribing a German official. Most of those he employed survived the war, according to the Polish state historical body and the museum.

In all, he said that he rescued 53 Jews.

He was also involved in the Polish underground that resisted the German occupation of Poland throughout the war.

Read the full story here

Related Articles:

The barbaric nature of Hamas on full display

This week, as more Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity, the world had a glimpse into the barbaric nature of Hamas and its supporters. Chaotic scenes were broadcast around...

Auschwitz80: The speech that world leaders needed to hear

 https://youtu.be/ibbLbn5m0XQRonald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, and heir of cosmetics brand Estee Lauder, gave an impassioned speech at the Aushwitz80 commemoration....

UNRWA has questions to answer: did they know about the hostages?

Israeli hostages recently released have claimed they were held at one of the UN shelters, raising more speculation that Hamas has been protected by the international body.Israel’s...

Trump’s 7 pro-Israel moves that have made the US-Israel relationship great again

On Monday, President Donald Trump began his second term in office. Throughout the day of his swearing in, one could see relatives of Israeli hostages front and centre in the audience....

CUFI launches new Holocaust resource for small groups

A free new resource to help groups hold a Holocaust remembrance has been launched by CUFI-UK for the 80th anniversary year since the end of the Holocaust.Launched ahead of Holocaust...

Subscribe to start receiving FREE TORCH magazines from CUFI UK