Rescuers of Jews
Kudžma Andrius
Andrius Kudžma
Andrius Kudžma lived in Kaunas, where he had a small shop and watch repair laboratory. Kudžma had known his Jewish neighbor, Yechezkel Steinberg, from their childhood. Shortly after the Germans entered the city, a ghetto was established, and the Steinberg family was interned in it. Once, when he left the ghetto to go to work as a forced laborer, Steinberg met Kudžma, who offered to shelter him in his home if and when he decided to escape from the ghetto. In October 1943, Steinberg did escape together with his friend and future wife Dina, and the two went to Kudžma’s home. They were received in Kudžma’s home warmly. Unfortunately, somebody informed the Gestapo and the next day they arrested Kudžma and the Jewish couple. The three were held in the local prison for a week, brutally tortured (from the bruises received Kudžma had the spinal column fracture and became disabled because of it) and instructed to confess they had been in possession of weapons. They were finally released only after the chairman of the Kaunas Judenrat, Dr. Elhanan Elkes, intervened. Steinberg and Dina were sent back to the ghetto and Kudžma returned to his home. In July 1944, when Steinberg learned that the ghetto was about to be liquidated, he again asked for Kudžma’s help. Despite his previous bitter experience, Kudžma agreed to take Steinberg into his home again. Steinberg stayed there one night, and the following day Kudžma transferred him to another hiding place, in the home of a Lithuanian friend, where Steinberg stayed until the Red Army arrived.
Andrius Kudžma lived in Kaunas, where he had a small shop and watch repair laboratory. Kudžma had known his Jewish neighbor, Yechezkel Steinberg, from their childhood. Shortly after the Germans entered the city, a ghetto was established, and the Steinberg family was interned in it. Once, when he left the ghetto to go to work as a forced laborer, Steinberg met Kudžma, who offered to shelter him in his home if and when he decided to escape from the ghetto. In October 1943, Steinberg did escape together with his friend and future wife Dina, and the two went to Kudžma’s home. They were received in Kudžma’s home warmly. Unfortunately, somebody informed the Gestapo and the next day they arrested Kudžma and the Jewish couple. The three were held in the local prison for a week, brutally tortured (from the bruises received Kudžma had the spinal column fracture and became disabled because of it) and instructed to confess they had been in possession of weapons. They were finally released only after the chairman of the Kaunas Judenrat, Dr. Elhanan Elkes, intervened. Steinberg and Dina were sent back to the ghetto and Kudžma returned to his home. In July 1944, when Steinberg learned that the ghetto was about to be liquidated, he again asked for Kudžma’s help. Despite his previous bitter experience, Kudžma agreed to take Steinberg into his home again. Steinberg stayed there one night, and the following day Kudžma transferred him to another hiding place, in the home of a Lithuanian friend, where Steinberg stayed until the Red Army arrived.