100 years ago, Józefa Hatłas (married name Handzlik) was born in Brzezinka. She was one of the many courageous people who helped KL Auschwitz prisoners. On 28th February at the Remembrance Museum, you are invited to listen to her story of what she experienced more than 80 years ago.
Józefa Handzlik was born on February 16, 1923, in Brzezinka. During the German occupation, she, her parents and siblings were among the thousands of people evicted from the village due to the planned expansion of Auschwitz.
“We went through a great deal at that time. There were 500 (house) numbers in Brzezinka. That’s a lot. And they were evicted in one day. I still see my mummy riding in a horse-drawn carriage because she had a heart attack. Daddy drove a cart to carry what they could take,” she recounted at the grand opening of the Remembrance Museum on 25thApril 2022.
In 1941, she began working at the Bata store located in the Oświęcim Market Square. Zofia Szewczyk (later married to Zużałek), the sister of Major Piotr Szewczyk, was also employed there. Józefa took care of her workmate Irena Bubec, who was imprisoned by the Germans in Auschwitz for selling shoes to a Jewish family. She provided her with medicine through civilian labourers working at the camp. In time, other prisoners also received aid.
Józefa Hatłas also worked with the legendary Helena Stupka, pseudonym “Jadźka.” who was active in the underground during World War II, first in the Union of Armed Struggle, then in the Home Army. After the Germans built KL Auschwitz, she engaged in helping the prisoners, organising food and passing on secret messages. She also headed the Committee for Relief of Political Prisoners of the Auschwitz Camp. She helped many escapees from Auschwitz, including August Kowalczyk and participated in preparations for other escapes.
In the 2023 calendar published by the Remembrance Museum, you can see Józefa’s photograph and biography on the month of April.
Encounter history with Józefa Handzlik at 12 pm on 28th February 2023, in the conference room of the Remembrance Museum at 2A Maksymiliana Kolbego Street in Oswiecim. No registration is required, and entrance is free.
