rescuers of jews

Elena KAUŠAITĖ (KAUŠYTĖ) Bat Sheva and her sister Ita were born and raised in Kelmė. When the war broke out they managed to escape and started looking for a hiding place in farmers’ houses. Some of the farmers tried to help by contacting the priest, who found them a hiding place – the house of Elena Kaušytė. Elena lived in a very small house with her parents and younger sister. They were poor. The two sisters were very warmly welcomed and all their basic needs were satisfied. They were supplied with food and warm clothes. Elena took care of them like a mother when they were sick. The house was extremely small, yet a hiding place for the two was found. Information about Elena’s deeds spread around and the neighbours would bring her more and more children for shelter. At a certain period there were 4 more girls in addition to Bat Sheva and her sister. The conditions were problematic: too overcrowded and not enough food. One day the two sisters along with two other girls were staying at a different house (they would do that from time to time), policemen reached Elena’s house and took two other girls with them on a truck. Elena cried and begged them to release the girls, but in vain. She did not give up, headed 25km to the city and talked to the prison manager, whom she asked to release the girls She was beaten and both girls were killed. Elena kept taking care of the remaining girls, constantly encouraging them. In 1998 the two sisters visited Elena in Lithuania. Today Elena is 95 years old.