Witold Lisowski

Henrykow, Poland… October 1942 – Before the outbreak of World War II, the Lisowski family lived in the village of Henrykow located close to Warsaw. Witold, the youngest of three sons, lived with his widowed mother, Zofia. Zofia managed a restaurant. In the 1930s, the Inwentarz family, who was Jewish, moved into the neighborhood. Witold became friends with the Inwentarz’s son Jozef, who was called “Dudek.”

In 1941, the Germans ordered the Jews of Henrykow to move to the ghetto in Ludwisin (now Legionowo). Witold’s older brother, Jan, helped the Inwentarz family by bringing food and other necessities to them. In October 1942, the Germans liquidated the ghetto and the Jews were deported to the Treblinka killing center. Dudek escaped from the transport. He wandered for many days and managed to return to Henrykow. Exhausted and starving, he met Witold. Witold carried Dudek to his home. Witold and Zofia took care of Dudek and made a hiding place for him in the attic.

Dudek stayed with Witold and Zofia until April 1944, when the neighbors grew suspicious. Witold and his mother moved Dudek to a hiding place in the nearby woods. Zofia prepared food which Witold would bring to Dudek. Dudek remained in his hiding place in the woods until the area was liberated by the Soviet army in September 1944.

Most people did nothing to help Jews – but Zofia and Witold could not be bystanders as they saw the tremendous evil surrounding them. This was no small undertaking. People caught helping Jews were subject to death, not only from the Germans, but also from local collaborators.

After the war, Jozef emigrated to Palestine. Witold and Zofia performed true acts of heroism. Yad Vashem recognized Zofia and Witold as Righteous Among the Nations on January 26, 1994. Witold is in his 90s and lives in Warsaw, Poland.

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