rescuers of jews
“Let the Gestapo shoot me, but everyone will see that there resolved people still exist” / Bronius Gotautas
Bronius Gotautas was born in Šilalė district in 1901. Under the tsar, children of Lithuanian villagers were uneducated. Bronius grew without education too. He left his home early and made friends with Capuchin monks of Petrašiūnai in Kaunas. He is said to have been an exceptional man: sensitive, gentle and full of boundless love for all the wretched. He was an altruistic and fearless fighter against the Nazi butchers. The survivors remember Brother wearing a patched overcoat and carrying a leather bag on his shoulder. In that bag, among books were medicine and food that he would give away to the poor. He himself led a humble and even ascetic life. He would walk barefoot in summer, his meals were very humble, and he would sleep wherever nightfall found him. Brother would keep nothing for himself and for this he was highly regarded by all. He would act very boldly without giving second thought of his own fate. Once, he even said: “Let the Gestapo shoot me, but everyone will see that there resolved people still exist.” At the end of the war, Bronius Gotautas was arrested by the Gestapo. His noble life ended in Germany. He died without even knowing that Israel had titled him the Righteous Among the Nations.
Judelis Ronderis
Long-term researcher of the saving of Jews, former employee of the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum
Bronius Gotautas was born in Šilalė district in 1901. Under the tsar, children of Lithuanian villagers were uneducated. Bronius grew without education too. He left his home early and made friends with Capuchin monks of Petrašiūnai in Kaunas. He is said to have been an exceptional man: sensitive, gentle and full of boundless love for all the wretched. He was an altruistic and fearless fighter against the Nazi butchers. The survivors remember Brother wearing a patched overcoat and carrying a leather bag on his shoulder. In that bag, among books were medicine and food that he would give away to the poor. He himself led a humble and even ascetic life. He would walk barefoot in summer, his meals were very humble, and he would sleep wherever nightfall found him. Brother would keep nothing for himself and for this he was highly regarded by all. He would act very boldly without giving second thought of his own fate. Once, he even said: “Let the Gestapo shoot me, but everyone will see that there resolved people still exist.” At the end of the war, Bronius Gotautas was arrested by the Gestapo. His noble life ended in Germany. He died without even knowing that Israel had titled him the Righteous Among the Nations.
Judelis Ronderis
Long-term researcher of the saving of Jews, former employee of the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum