rescuers of jews
Valčiukas Povilas
Antanina VALČIUKIENĖ
Povilas VALČIUKAS
The Chalozin family comes from Kelmė, in the vicinity of which they had been living for 200 years until the end of the Second World War. In 1930–1937 the Chalozins lived not far from Kelmė, approximately 1 km from this town, in the farm Mažeikinė. In 1937 they settled in a new mansion, which they bought in Licenava, approximately 5 km from Kelmė.
The family was growing wheat, oats and flax. They were also growing cattle – cows and sheep, as well as digging and selling peat. In 1941 the town of Kelmė turned out to be in the front line and it was burnt to ashes. The majority of Jews, who lived in Kelmė, gathered in the farm, which belonged to the Chalozins. Part of the Jews was killed in the first action on July 29, 1941, others – during the second action on August 22, 1941. From that day on, the Chalozins became homeless and persecuted refugees. Parents Yacob and Sarah, brothers Hirsh, Yitzhak, Shmuel and sisters Chaviva and Sima were in need of help. This help came from some of the neighbours, who were farmers as well.
The family of Povilas and Antanas Valčiukas, who had 4 children of their own, lived in the village Opškalnis, 12 km from the Chalozins farm. Povilas made a hiding place for the parents – Yacob and Sarah – in his house. It was a double wall, where they lived for 15 months. The Valčiukas family was poor. Therefore, younger Chalozins – brothers and sisters – used to come to them and bring food for their parents, which they used to get from other farmers. The house of the Valčiukas family became a meeting place for the members of the hiding family. In March 1943 the house of the Valčiukas family was visited by a tax inspector, who noticed Hirsh Chalozin, who came to meet his parents accompanied by his uncle Yacob Zak. Hirsh decided to stay for the night, whereas Yacob Zak left – thanks to what he remained alive – because next day a group of armed men arrived, surrounded the house and started shooting. Hirsh was killed, his parents – Yacob and Sarah – were taken to the prison in Raseiniai and murdered there. After that Povilas was forced to run away from the house and hide for 15 months, until the very end of the war.
The rescued son of the Chalozin family – Shmuel – applied to the Yad Vashem Authority in 2006 in order to recognize Povilas and Antanina Valčiukas as Righteous Among the Nations for helping save the members of his family.
Povilas VALČIUKAS
The Chalozin family comes from Kelmė, in the vicinity of which they had been living for 200 years until the end of the Second World War. In 1930–1937 the Chalozins lived not far from Kelmė, approximately 1 km from this town, in the farm Mažeikinė. In 1937 they settled in a new mansion, which they bought in Licenava, approximately 5 km from Kelmė.
The family was growing wheat, oats and flax. They were also growing cattle – cows and sheep, as well as digging and selling peat. In 1941 the town of Kelmė turned out to be in the front line and it was burnt to ashes. The majority of Jews, who lived in Kelmė, gathered in the farm, which belonged to the Chalozins. Part of the Jews was killed in the first action on July 29, 1941, others – during the second action on August 22, 1941. From that day on, the Chalozins became homeless and persecuted refugees. Parents Yacob and Sarah, brothers Hirsh, Yitzhak, Shmuel and sisters Chaviva and Sima were in need of help. This help came from some of the neighbours, who were farmers as well.
The family of Povilas and Antanas Valčiukas, who had 4 children of their own, lived in the village Opškalnis, 12 km from the Chalozins farm. Povilas made a hiding place for the parents – Yacob and Sarah – in his house. It was a double wall, where they lived for 15 months. The Valčiukas family was poor. Therefore, younger Chalozins – brothers and sisters – used to come to them and bring food for their parents, which they used to get from other farmers. The house of the Valčiukas family became a meeting place for the members of the hiding family. In March 1943 the house of the Valčiukas family was visited by a tax inspector, who noticed Hirsh Chalozin, who came to meet his parents accompanied by his uncle Yacob Zak. Hirsh decided to stay for the night, whereas Yacob Zak left – thanks to what he remained alive – because next day a group of armed men arrived, surrounded the house and started shooting. Hirsh was killed, his parents – Yacob and Sarah – were taken to the prison in Raseiniai and murdered there. After that Povilas was forced to run away from the house and hide for 15 months, until the very end of the war.
The rescued son of the Chalozin family – Shmuel – applied to the Yad Vashem Authority in 2006 in order to recognize Povilas and Antanina Valčiukas as Righteous Among the Nations for helping save the members of his family.