The Puszkiewicz Memory

September 29, 2015

The Puszkiewicz Memory of Events

The following are notes taken by Bernard Wegner after his interview with the Puszkiewicz family in May, 2014 - about two months after our visit to Skępe.  

During the Second World War the Puszkiewicz family lived in Bózapłać, a town in the Skępe Commune.  The family had a farm with an area of approximately 30 hectares (about 74 acres).  They earned their living by agriculture mainly.  The farmer was Antonii Puszkiewicz.  He had a wife Sofia (who died before Rywka and Faye arrived @1944) and three children: son Bołesław, and two daughters: Czesława and Helena.  As the only ones in the town they built a wooden house before the Second World War.  Mr. Antonii Puszkiewicz was in the United States two times.  (Towards) the end of the War he was arrested and taken to a camp (Stutthof Concentration Camp along with his son) where he died about three weeks before liberation (of the camp by the Russians). editor's note:  Bołesław survived and returned home.

It was at this farm, namely at the place designed for horses where Rywka and Fela (Faye) were hidden in very difficult conditions.  A tiny room was isolated and thoroughly masked (prepared so no one could find it) to hide Rywka and Fela from the Germans.  Along with them there was also a man who was probably a partisan and who hid himself in the room as well.

The daughter of Antonii Puszkiewicz, Czesława, was working in Germany and it was she who organized the trip to and work in Germany for Rywka and Fela. During their entire time in Germany she remained in contact with them and helped them as much as she could.  After the war Czesława and Bołesław returned to the farm and with Helena tried to work it.  The farm which was taken over by the children was gradually collapsing, and the land was sold off piece by piece...Nothing has remained of the farm apart from the remains of foundations hidden in the bushes.

The above information was acquired by Bernard and Zyta Wegner with the help of the last living daughter (Helena) and the help of the godson of Antonii Puszkiewicz, who also remembers the history related to Rywka and Fela.

These notes which were prepared on May 18, 2014 were translated by Sławomir Witkowscy.  Sadly, we were informed that Helena died on August 21, 2015 by her grandson, Piotr.