Towns In Krosno Province: 1919-1945

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Brzozow

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The Cemetery in Brzozow

The BRZOZOW cemetery survey was completed in 1992 by the USCommissiion (#POCE000707). The following is adapted from their report.

In 1990 Dreiza and Natan Weiss from Israel establishyed a monument on the site of the mass grave of August 1942. In 1994 they began building a fence around the cemetery area. The uncovered pieces of gravestones were incorporated into the monument in the form of the tablets of law.
The cemetery is located on ul. Ceglowska. The cemetery, used by the Orthodox community, is located in a flat urban area. Although isolated, there is a sign in Polish mentioning the Jews. It is reached by turning directly off a public road and is open to all. The size of the cemetery is 0.36 hectares. Fewer than 20 gravestones remain, 75% toppled or broken, none in their original locations. They date from the 19th and 20th centuries and are of finely smoothed and inscribed sandstone or concrete, with inscriptions in Hebrew. There are also unmarked mass graves.
The present owner of the cemetery property, which currently has no other use, is unknown. The adjacent properties are residential. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII and occasionally since then. It has not been maintained and rarely has private visitors. Three of the remaining gravestones are lying flat on the ground, subject to weather erosion and vegetation overgrowth. Security is a moderate threat, while vandalism and pollution are slight threats.

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Chorkowka

CHORKOWKA village, is located in Krosno County and... 5.6 miles from the city of Krosno. Chorkowka is 0.8 Miles long, including 4.47 miles of farm land. The village has 70 houses, 420 people, and is a part of Zrecin parish. It has a community with one grade school, (built of bricks), a money lending biuro - an institution founded by Ignacy Lukasiewicz - with funds up to 2000 Russian zloty. On the property of the local nobleman, Ignacy Lukasziewicz, there is a beautiful garden and palace built by the owner. A naphtha distillery founded by him in 1865 is one of the biggest in West Galicya and uses all unrefined substances from mines in Bobrka, Ropianka, and even Jasiel County. Chorkowka is located in the hill country on rye soil. The county high road connects Krosno with Zmigrod which has Macadem to Naphtha mines in Bobrce.

In 1876 Honorata Lukasiewicz from Warsaw founded a lace making school in Chorkowka. She brought a teacher from Poznan in 1875 and a big collection of point a l'aiguilles valenciennes entre deux and applied herself to the task of learning the art of lace making. After she had earned the secrets of the profession, she put herself in charge of the new school. Now the school and a small factory employ 12 girls and are tremendously successful. The type of laces they make is superior to Czech's Wirthschaftsspitzen and is much more practical than Valenciennes. There are some other lace making places in Wadowice County but their product cannot match the excellence of laces from Chorkowka Source Gag. Polska Nr.34, year 1880.

Source: Slownik Geograficzny translated by Michael Kurtin (This information was published between 1880 and 1902 and gives a view of this locality during that time frame).

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Domaradz

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David Zwirn from Domaradz

In 2007 i met a lovely man named David Zwirn. He is a survivor who was born in Domaradz. He has kept in touch with many others, and has encouraged the posting of his stories and photographs.

A letter to cousins

My grandfather was Schloime, and his brothers were Wolf and Mailech.

My parents were send to Aushwitz 1942; my two brothers, Samuel 19 years old, and Lazar 6 also perished there.
The Photo at the left is Samuel Zwirn at his father's gravesite in Domaradz. The tombstone reads Milech 1853-1923, a man of knowledge and virtue.
I was send to a labor camp. In 1943 our camp was liquidated and we were sent to GROSSMASLOWIC. At this camp people were regrouped and sent to diferent places to work.
I remember we were on roll call; we were lined up 4 deep and several hundred feet long. In front of us stood a German lagerfirer, a judeneltester and capo holding a whip. He had a list in his hand, and was calling out names of the people to make up groups to send to diferent camps. All of a sudden he called Zwirn. I was on one end of the line We both started runing toward the lagerfirer, as did another man, on the other end of line. At that moment the capo yelled out pointing to me, you pig, you go back. The capo made an atempt to reach me with his whip; i ran back in line to avoid getting hit. I took a good look at the man and recognized him immediately as my cousin. I decided to try to find him. At that time there were proberbly several thousand people in the camp. After a long search i found him. I remember we huged each other. After a long convesatin we parted and never met again. We were sent to different labor camps.
Other parts of my family went to Morocco. A cousin told me Morocco was not well guarded and they took a chance. From Morocco under fire they boarded a ship to th U.S.
In the winter of 1944-1945, a cold and snowy winter, i was in Waldenburg Concentation camp. I walked 5 miles to work and back during that winter, with wooden shoes and no warm clothes; it was a horror; I barely made it.
David Zwirn.

The village of Domaradz by the Stobnica River

The village of Domaradz is situated 10 miles north east of Krosno, Galicia, Poland. The place is first mentioned in 1369 and in in 1384 it is handed over to the Bishop of Przemisyl. During the 15th century it was a pivotal place in the mountainous pass of Dukla. Czech and Hungarian goods passed here on the way to Poland and Russia and vice-versa. During the 19th century farmers primarily inhabited the place. Some of the latter worked at the local beer brewery.

Jews are first mentioned in 1808 and their number is given as 35 inhabitants. The national Polish census of 1921, established that 123 Jews lived in Domaradz and 3,386 non-Jews. Four Jewish families were farmers and the rest of the Jewish population was primarily involved in small business and peddling. Zionism reached this small Jewish community and in 1935, a youth section of the "Akiva" Zionist organization was established. The "General Zionist" party received 24 votes for its delegates to the Zionist Congress.

With German occupation of the area, the Jews in Domaradz numbered about 94 people, and included: Awraham Zwirn and family, Israel Hershko Zwirn, Hershko Zwirn, Leib Zwirn and family, Chaim Pasner and family, Chaim Pasner, Mehr Szymon Pasner and family , Lajb Pasner and family, and Mojzesz Pasner. The Jews were immediately forced to work on roads and bridges. The situation changed radically when Gestapo officials arrived in July 1942 and within minutes rounded up the small Jewish community. The old and sick were immediately shot. The rest were taken to the nearby ghetto of Jasienica Rosielne and shared the fate of that community. This ghetto was liquidated on September 11th, 1942 when most of the inhabitants were killed in the area. A few young people were selected and sent to the railroad station of Iwonicz and from there to the labor camp of Podgurze near Krakow. Thus ended the history of Jews in Domaradz.

Bibliography:

• Pinkas Kehilot
• Yad Vashem Archives
• Interviews with survivors of the area.

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Passports to Life: The Freifelds of Domaradz

by William Leibner, Jerusalem, 2009

The Freifeld family lived for many generations in the village of Domaradz (see above for history). The national Polish census of 1921, established that 123 Jews lived in Domaradz as opposed to 3.386 non-Jews. Four Jewish families were farmers and the rest of the Jewish population was primarily involved in peddling, artisanship and small business. Amongst the latter group we find the Freifeld family. Leib Freifeld was a successful businessman who also dealt in precious stones. He was married to Riwka Krantz and they had five children in Domaradz. The oldest was Awraham born in 1883, followed by Cila in 1888, Yaakov in 1890, Yehezkel in 1892 and Shmuel in 1896.

The family business grew and Leib married most of his children with the exception of Shmuel Freifeld. Awraham Freifeld married Regina or Reisla Hamel. Cila married the well known community leader of Korczyna Bendet Akselrod. Yaakov married Hinda and Yehezkel married Ruzia Ziskind. Some of the married children moved to nearby places but still within reach of Domaradz. The Freifeld family grew and expanded. Business flourished and Jewish life continued until WWI. The area was the scene of heavy battles and occupied by the Russians who tended to plunder in general especially amongst the Jewish population. The Jewish community in Domaradz was greatly impoverished during the war and barely existed. Pogroms and anti-Semitic disturbances followed the war and the establishment of an independent Polish State. The Jewish community was in dire financial distress and asked for help. It received some financial help mainly from the “American Joint” organization but economic conditions were slow in improving.

Shmuel Freifeld managed to reach Holland. He settled in Schveningen den Gravenhage and was naturalized on June 7th 1924. He loved music and attended frequently musical concerts. He survived the war but refused to talk about his experiences. Awraham and Reisla ( Hamel) Freifeld gave birth to the following children; Bertha 1907, followed by Benjamin Julius in 1910, Mendel in 1924, and Anna in 1925.They were all born in Domaradz or vicinity. The family left Domardz and headed for Cologne in Germany in 1929 where they resumed their dealing in precious stones and did rather well. But the anti-Semitic pressure was relentless in Germany and the family began to look for another place. It soon managed to obtain an entry permit to Belgium. Meantime Bertha married Wilhelm Karpiol native of Poland and they gave birth to a child in 1931 named Renee. The entire family with the exception of Wilhelm Karpiol left for Antwerp in 1932. He will join them illegally a month later. Wilhelm and Bertha will marry officially in accordance with Jewish law in 1937. They will give birth to a boy named Silvain in 1940. Wilhelm Karpiol and his two children will survive the war while his wife Bertha will be killed in a round-up of Jews in Antwerp in 1943. Benyamin Julius Freifeld managed to obtain faked Aryan papers and seemed to move about without hindrances. On examining the passport we notice that he is listed as Bernard Freifeld born in Holland residing in Lyon, France. He is a furrier and is heading to Italy where he picks up the passport that we saw above. The passport is even stamped by the official Roman administration on the 31st of December 1943 on page 28 of the document. He meets and marries Esther Emmy Lipschutz in the community of Schaerbeek Belgium on March 5th 1941. He also managed to obtain for her faked documents and the couple traveled throughout Europe until they reached a hiding place in Rome, Italy and survive the war. They return to Antwerp and soon give birth in 1946 to Charles Freifeld who was generous to donate to Yad Vashem his parents faked passports and their marriage certificate.

Anna and Mendel Freifeld both perished in German concentration camps, the former in Stuthoff and the latter in Flossenburg.Their father Awraham Freifeld was deported to Auschwitz where he was killed and his wife Regina was killed in Antwerp, Belgium.

Cila Akselrad nee Freifeld was born in 1888 and killed in Krosno, Galicia in 1943. She was married to Bended Axelrad who was killed in the Szebin concentration camp in Poland. They had five sons and a daughter. The oldest was Shmuel who was born in 1909 and married to Klara Rosenberg from Debice and they had a daughter named Irenka born in 1935. The second son was Shalom born in 1911 followed by Avraham born in 1922, Yehuda born in 1924, Levy born in 1930 and Bertha Akselrad born in 1932. All listed people with the exception of Awraham Freifeld and Bertha Freifeld perished in the shoah. Yaakov Freifeld married Hinda and they gave birth to three children; Lajbel, Shaul and Riva. They lived in Korczyna. The entire family perished in the shoah. Yehezkel Freifeld married Ruzia Ziskind and they had the following children: Marilka and Rivka. The entire family perished in the shoah.

With the occupation of Domaradz by the Germans, The Jews including the Freifelds were immediately forced to work on roads and bridges. The situation changed radically when Gestapo officials arrived in July of 1942 and within minutes rounded up the small Jewish community. The old and sick were immediately shot. The rest were taken to the nearby ghetto of Jasienica Rosielna and shared the fate of that Jewish community. This ghetto was liquidated on September 11th, 1942 when most of the inhabitants were killed in the area. A few young people were selected and sent to the railroad station of Iwonicz and from there to the labor camp of Podgorze near Krakow. Thus ended the history of all he Jews in Domaradz. William Leibner 26/4/2009 in Jerusalem

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"List of Jews of Domaradz Prior and During WWII"

Compiled by William Leibner, Jerusalem, 2009

Using Yad Vashem files, interviews with survivors, and business directories, Bill Leibner compiled the following list of residents for Domaradz: **********************************************************

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"Domaradz Village (By the River) Stobnica"

by Benedykt Gajewski (1997)

Printed with the initiative of the City Administration in Domaradz

Translated by David Zwirn

Before the Red Army entered the village of Domaradz, the Germans started the extermination of the Jewish population. At that time 33 families lived there comprised of approximately 90 people. Two months before the killing started, the Nazis gathered every Jew from the neighboring villages and ghettos including the town of Jasienice Rosielne where most of the Jews lived.

The Germans decided to kill the Jews in the cemetery. They prepared a list of all the Jews and instructed them to surrender in town at 9:00 in the morning. They were permitted to bring one hand bag and nothing else. The people living in the ghetto lived in deplorable conditions. Some tried to escape to nearby villages to find food. And, there was an effort at resistance by the Jews. This outraged the Nazis and if they found a Jew in hiding, they shot him on the spot.

September 11, 1942 was a Tuesday. At 8:00 in the morning, the ghetto in Jasienice was surrounded by the Gestapo which came from Krosno. They ordered the Jews to take their money and jewelry with them. The Jews knew that the end was near. They had received information that a day before, all the Jews in the nearby town of Brzozuw had been shot. Some tried to hide their valuables in the ground where they stood. Some people, in the presence of their tormentors, tried to destroy whatever they could so the enemy would have no use of it.

Then the selection started. The young people able to work were sent to the nearest train station in Iwonicz. Later they were sent to Krakau to the camp Podgurze. Older people and children were pushed toward big trucks. Some of the Jews were taken to the Jewish cemetery and ordered to dig trenches that were 15 meters long and 5 meters wide. A board was placed across the opening and as they walked across, they were shot. It was a beautiful, quiet day in the afternoon in Domaradz. The Gestapo forced the hostages to hurry by beating them with rifle butts. Some tried to resist, but the Gestapo created an atmosphere of fear by shooting several people. Abraham Freifeld and his wife, Mr. Weissman, Mr. Rubin and a woman whose name is not known were forced to strip off their clothes and were shot on the spot. The remaining Jews were forced to strip off their clothes prior to their execution. Older people were shot with pistols. Children were killed by grabbing by their legs striking them against tree trunks. All the possessions of the victims were put into baskets and confiscated by the Gestapo. Those who did not die from pistol shots were shot in the back of the skull with a revolver to make certain they were dead. This carnage lasted until 3:00 in the afternoon. After that, the Gestapo took a recess from their labors. Some witnesses heard singing and carrying on in the cemetery by the Gestapo. They starting drinking once they finished their job. In the meantime, the rest of the Jews awaited the inevitable. This was their gruesome fate.

The entire action was finished by 7:00 P.M. One could see traces of silent bodies, some cooking pots, some articles of clothing and toys. It is estimated that over 1,000 Jews were murdered, not including people from Domaradz, Woli Jasienice, Galcowej, Gwoznicy, Wesolej, Bliznego and Orzechowki. The bodies were covered with lime. A few days later, the bodies were covered with a thin layer of soil. If there had not been eye-witnesses, no one would know about the horrible massacre that took place that day and how many innocent people lost their lives. Time erases many facts. Some of what happened was forgotten. However, the horror of that infamous day will forever live in the hearts of mankind.

David Zwirn: Among those killed were my grandfather, uncles, aunts and cousins, a total of approximately 30. They were: Zwirn, Abraham from Plosina Domaradz (family of 4); Zwirn, Israel Hershko from Plosina Domaradz (1); Zwirn, Herszko from Plosina Domaradz (1); Zwirn, Leib, wife and children (4); Pasner, Chaim, lived in center of the village (5); Pasner, Chaim, lived in center of the village (1); Pasner, Mehr Szymon, horse dealer living in center of village (4) Pasner, Lajb, wife and children, lived in center of village (5) Pasner, Mojzesz from Gurka (1). Note: The only survivor of my family was Mehr Froim who survived the selection and was sent to a labor camp.

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Jedlicze

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