Stefania Podgorska

Stefania and Helena

Background Information

• Stefania was born in 1923 or 1925
• Before and during the Nazi rule, she worked in a Jewish a grocery store
• At age 16 she was left to take care of her 6 year old sister
• She traided handmade clothing for food

What did she do during WWII?

• Podgorska found out the nazis plan for the ghetto area
• She decided to hide 13 Jews in her house/attic

What actions make her a hero?

• When Stefania knew she could get in major trouble and possibly killed, but she still didn't make the Jews leave her house

Connection to TBWD

• In both stories the protagonists risked their lives for other people. Although, Helmuth was trying to help Germany as a whole and Stefania was helping people
• Both were very young

How can we learn from Podgorska?

• "I think this proves that if you have to do something, you will do it. But if you say, maybe yes, maybe no, Then you might not. Some people are old at 17 and young at 70. I never regreted what I did, Some people are ugly and miserable, But that's human character."