Rescuers of Jews
Arkadiusz Szpakowski
Biography of Arkadi Michaïlovich Szpakowsky (1883-1941)
Arkadi Michaïlovich Szpakowsky was born on February 1st, 1883 in a wealthy family in Vilnius. He and his twin sister were the last of 8 children. His father, who was a tobacco manufacturer, died when Arkadi was only 4 years old.
Arkadi went to the High School in Pskov. Afterwards, he studied during 5 years in the Prince Oldenburg Royal School in Saint Petersburg. In 1902, at age 19, he wanted to be admitted to the military academy. That’s why he enlisted in the 106th infantry regiment of Oufin in Vilnius.
There, he witnessed in July 1902 the execution by hanging of Hirsh Lekert, a Jew of 22-years-old, sentenced to death for the attempted murder of the Vilnius governor, the General Victor von Wahl. This execution deeply traumatized Arkadi who left the regiment and definitely gave up the idea of making any military career. He studied in St Petersburg University and then came back in 1910 in Vilnius to administer his mother’s business.
In 1913, he moved again to Saint Petersburg where he married a French woman named Caroline Bundy. At this time, he worked in the area of trade and industry.
After the First World War broke out, Arkadi did his best to help his family to survive. Through his two British brothers-in-law, he got in contact with the unofficial British Committee in Petrograd. He let them a lot of money to enable his wife and his daughters to leave Russia. It was during the Russian Revolution.
Following her marriage, Arkadi’s wife had got the Russian nationality. They divorced, so that she could be French again and go to France with their children by train. Indeed, according to an agreement between the Bolsheviks and the French government, French people could leave Russia. Besides, Bolsheviks allowed to divorce in one day.
In 1919, Arkadi’s brothers-in-law were arrested and questioned. Six months later, Arkadi was arrested as well for lending money to the British Committee and was handed over to the Soviet state security, the Tcheka.
After a few weeks in jail, he managed to avoid the execution and was sentenced to forced labor. He was deported to Vologda. After several months, he escaped and went back to Petrograd. From there, he made a long journey to Finland, where he took on board of a ship to England. He reached France in 1921, finally found his wife and his daughters and became a trader of antiques.
Through the American Red Cross in Paris, he was able to support financially the rest of his family remained in Russia. They were starving and seriously deprived of everything.
In 1925, he could not stand to live with his family-in-law anymore and broke up with his wife. He went through a really hard time: it was very painful for him not to see his three daughters anymore. Although he didn’t live with them anymore, he continued to send them money.
In 1930, Arkadi went to the US for business purposes.
In 1934, he wrote his story and one year later, went back to Vilnius, where he rented a room in Pakalnes street.
In 1941, during the Occupation, he had two Jewish sisters as neighbours who hid from the Nazis. They had temporarily left their belongings to the owner of the house. When they came to take them back, the owner pretended not to recognize them and tried to force them to leave. Arkadi, who was resting in his room, heard the whole conversation. He went out of his room and came to both women’s defence, testifying that they were telling the truth. The owner and Arkadi had a violent argument. Afterwards, the owner of the house denounced him to the Gestapo as a helper of Jews.
On September 19th 1941, Arkadi was arrested during the night and put in the Lukiskis jail in Vilnius.
He was executed on December 22nd 1941 in the Ponar/Paneriai Forest.
Arkadi Michaïlovich Szpakowsky was born on February 1st, 1883 in a wealthy family in Vilnius. He and his twin sister were the last of 8 children. His father, who was a tobacco manufacturer, died when Arkadi was only 4 years old.
Arkadi went to the High School in Pskov. Afterwards, he studied during 5 years in the Prince Oldenburg Royal School in Saint Petersburg. In 1902, at age 19, he wanted to be admitted to the military academy. That’s why he enlisted in the 106th infantry regiment of Oufin in Vilnius.
There, he witnessed in July 1902 the execution by hanging of Hirsh Lekert, a Jew of 22-years-old, sentenced to death for the attempted murder of the Vilnius governor, the General Victor von Wahl. This execution deeply traumatized Arkadi who left the regiment and definitely gave up the idea of making any military career. He studied in St Petersburg University and then came back in 1910 in Vilnius to administer his mother’s business.
In 1913, he moved again to Saint Petersburg where he married a French woman named Caroline Bundy. At this time, he worked in the area of trade and industry.
After the First World War broke out, Arkadi did his best to help his family to survive. Through his two British brothers-in-law, he got in contact with the unofficial British Committee in Petrograd. He let them a lot of money to enable his wife and his daughters to leave Russia. It was during the Russian Revolution.
Following her marriage, Arkadi’s wife had got the Russian nationality. They divorced, so that she could be French again and go to France with their children by train. Indeed, according to an agreement between the Bolsheviks and the French government, French people could leave Russia. Besides, Bolsheviks allowed to divorce in one day.
In 1919, Arkadi’s brothers-in-law were arrested and questioned. Six months later, Arkadi was arrested as well for lending money to the British Committee and was handed over to the Soviet state security, the Tcheka.
After a few weeks in jail, he managed to avoid the execution and was sentenced to forced labor. He was deported to Vologda. After several months, he escaped and went back to Petrograd. From there, he made a long journey to Finland, where he took on board of a ship to England. He reached France in 1921, finally found his wife and his daughters and became a trader of antiques.
Through the American Red Cross in Paris, he was able to support financially the rest of his family remained in Russia. They were starving and seriously deprived of everything.
In 1925, he could not stand to live with his family-in-law anymore and broke up with his wife. He went through a really hard time: it was very painful for him not to see his three daughters anymore. Although he didn’t live with them anymore, he continued to send them money.
In 1930, Arkadi went to the US for business purposes.
In 1934, he wrote his story and one year later, went back to Vilnius, where he rented a room in Pakalnes street.
In 1941, during the Occupation, he had two Jewish sisters as neighbours who hid from the Nazis. They had temporarily left their belongings to the owner of the house. When they came to take them back, the owner pretended not to recognize them and tried to force them to leave. Arkadi, who was resting in his room, heard the whole conversation. He went out of his room and came to both women’s defence, testifying that they were telling the truth. The owner and Arkadi had a violent argument. Afterwards, the owner of the house denounced him to the Gestapo as a helper of Jews.
On September 19th 1941, Arkadi was arrested during the night and put in the Lukiskis jail in Vilnius.
He was executed on December 22nd 1941 in the Ponar/Paneriai Forest.