rescuers of jews
Steponavičius Jonas
Jonas Steponavičius and Michalina Steponavičienė
When the war began all the Jews from Trakai surburbs were driven to the school building in Semelishkes. The building was surrounded with the barbed wire. The rumors told that the Germans would send the Jews for works. Some group of people including the brothers Abraham and Moshe Fridbergs didn't believe this.
While descending with the cord from the third floor they knew already where to go: to Vievis, to the familiar Polish man Jonas Steponavicius (Jan Stefanowicz), living close to Vievis with his wife Michalina and their three daughters. The brothers hoped to receive a shelter at Steponavicius for several days. But they remained there till the end of the war. (Only on the last war days Moshe has joined the partisans and Abraham joined the Russian army). At first, Jonas moved two cupboards close separating the corner, but after he has to arrange the true hiding place. He did it in the pit for potatoes. Abraham and Moshe hid there in the daytime and at night they returned into the house. Later on Steponavicius accepted one more Jew – Bercikas.
Fortunately, the Germans seldom visited the place.
Only Moshe and Abraham survived from the large Fridbergs family – five brothers and two sisters.
When the war began all the Jews from Trakai surburbs were driven to the school building in Semelishkes. The building was surrounded with the barbed wire. The rumors told that the Germans would send the Jews for works. Some group of people including the brothers Abraham and Moshe Fridbergs didn't believe this.
While descending with the cord from the third floor they knew already where to go: to Vievis, to the familiar Polish man Jonas Steponavicius (Jan Stefanowicz), living close to Vievis with his wife Michalina and their three daughters. The brothers hoped to receive a shelter at Steponavicius for several days. But they remained there till the end of the war. (Only on the last war days Moshe has joined the partisans and Abraham joined the Russian army). At first, Jonas moved two cupboards close separating the corner, but after he has to arrange the true hiding place. He did it in the pit for potatoes. Abraham and Moshe hid there in the daytime and at night they returned into the house. Later on Steponavicius accepted one more Jew – Bercikas.
Fortunately, the Germans seldom visited the place.
Only Moshe and Abraham survived from the large Fridbergs family – five brothers and two sisters.