Bronia grew up in a small town called Kosowa, in eastern Poland. Her family consisted of her parents, and three brothers who were all married and had children. She also had an older sister; both girls were unmarried.

They lived comfortably in Kozowa. It was a quiet town…

When the war began, her town was in the Russian zone, soon to come under the control of the Germans. Bronia’s family experienced the full horror of the Holocaust. Two of her brothers were among the first murdered, and her family was forced into the ghetto. When the ghetto was liquidated, her family was fortunate to escape, having hidden in a nearby cave. She and her family survived the duration of the war because of the assistance of righteous people in the community.

Bronia was interviewed for this project at Baycrest’s Cafe Europa gathering by Crestwood student Julia Wulffhart.