Name Julian Bilecki | Died 2007 | |
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Julian Bilecki (also called Yulian Biletskiy) (1928–2007), a Polish teenager, aided the rescue of 23 Jews during the Holocaust in Poland.
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In 1943, nearly all the families of the Jewish community in Podhajce, Eastern Galicia, about 3,000 Jews, were slaughtered by the Nazis. A small group, many of them children and teenagers, escaped from the Podhajce (Pidhaytsi) Ghetto on the eve of its liquidation, and survived the Nazi extermination finding their way to the Bilecki farm. They were hidden in various bunkers near the Bilecki family farm for almost a year until they were liberated by the Russian Army on March 27, 1944.
Early/Family life
Julian Bilecki was born in 1928, eleven years before the start of WW2. His father's name was Yevgenyi Biletskiy, and his sister was Anna Kifor (née Biletskaya). He had a cousin name Roman Biletskiy, who played a key role in hiding the Jews with him.
War Years
On the eve of Shavout, with the liquidation of the ghetto the next day, 120 Jews escaped, after being attacked by Ukrainian Nationalists only 23 were left. On June 6, 1943, the Bilecki family heard a knock on their door, they were surprised to see their friends, neighbors, and even a few strange faces. The Bilecki's decided to take them in and with their family and the few strong, abled men in the group decided to build a bunker in the woods and camouflage it with twigs and branches. The biggest problem was providing food. Food was scarce during these times, but how do you feed 23 extra people without arousing suspicion? Somehow the Bilecki family was able to do it.
Soon the bunker was discovered by those passer-by, scared for their friends lives the Bileckis were forced to look for another location to build another bunker. In the winter, the ground was covered with snow on the ground would show prints to and from the hiding place. A survivor Mrs. Grau Schnitzer, recalled how a young Julian Bilecki would jump from tree to tree in to deliver necessary items to his Jewish friends in order to avoid leaving tracks in the snow.
Later Years
After the Bilecki Jews were liberated on March 27, 1944 everyone went their separate ways, some immigrated to the US such as Julian's cousin Roman, and some stayed in Europe as Julian himself did. Over the years, the survivors sent packages of food and clothing to the Bilecki family who remained poor in Ukraine as well as correspond with them by letters. Half a century later Bilecki (a retired bus driver), and his son Jaroslav flew to NYC thanks to the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous where he was able to be reunited with 5 survivors in the JFK airport terminal. Bilecki with tears in his eyes then said, "I see you all have gray hair. I too have gray hair. I thought I would never see you again. I feel lost. I thought this would never happen. All I did was help. It is very pleasant that people remember. Now I am getting paid back by God". The survivors arranged for the family to be honored as Righteous Gentiles by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.