1985 Letter to Yad Vashem from Rachel Bochner

I am Rachel Bochner born May 5, 1914 in Ulanow, Poland, daughter to Moses and Amalia Karpf.

In 1942 we were expelled from Ulanow facing the death sentence, nothing to lose. I took a chance and smuggled myself to Ghetto Debica. After a few months I stood in danger of extermination again, took to the woods. I faced cold, hunger. I was desperate and late one night knocked on the door of a farm peasant begging to shelter for 2 or 3 days. The farmer Szczepan Bradlo agreed for two days only, because he endangered his life and the life of his family. He was a saint. He shared with us the food he starved with us. They were six people, and took in 13 Jews:

1. Rachela Kranz Bochner
2. Harry and Ester Karpf Bochner
3. Meilech and Ruchel Karpf Bochner
4. Mina and Benjamin Deresiewicz
5. Helen Bochner
6. Israel Hamel
7. Abraham Einspruch
8. Naftali and Solomon and Josef Reich

The oldest son Tadeusz helped to build our bunker and gave us moral support, so did Eugeniusz Bradlo and sister Franciszka Bradlo, and Antony Bradlo. We all came out alive thanks to the Bradlo family.