ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114662 - Translation - Yiddish - Poland - Koszyce


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Yiddish
Approval Date: 6/7/2026 5:03 PM
Family Surname: Hanka Lewkowicz
Country: Poland
Town: Koszyce

Click the picture to enlarge

Dear Community,

I am looking for help in deciphering and translating a post-war historical testimony written in handwritten Yiddish cursive.

This document comes from the Yad Vashem Archives, Record Group: M.1.E, File Number: 548 (Collection of the Central Historical Committee in Munich, 1946-1947).

The entire document consists of 16 pages. I have uploaded the first page here as a sample. You can view all 16 pages of the complete diary/testimony in high resolution here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MmpSc_qEO4J0RnYRbxTBJ_pSXRNwFWGZ?usp=sharing

Any help with a full translation, a partial translation, or even a summary highlighting names of people, family relations, dates, and locations mentioned in the text would be immensely appreciated. This is of great importance for historical research.

Thank you so much for your time and expertise!

Response

6/10/2026 10:02 AM

Heritage document

Hanka Lewkowicz born May 8, 1924 in Koshitz (Krakow area)
On the 6th of November 1942 the first and final deportation of our city took place. We were anticipating what the chairman had promised us, that there would be a deportation to Dzialoszyce and the Judenrat would remain in the city with the police.
At 12 midnight I left the already surrounded city, accompanied a little of the way by my father, with the view to be able to help my parents and the rest of the family when they would be in Dzialoszyce and I would not be separated from my nearest ones, because I didn't have a prearranged meeting place.
When I left the city, we already heard shots in the distance and in the morning the deportation occurred, not to Dzialoszyce where the murderers had promised, but

6/10/2026 12:47 PM

Thank you so much for this incredible translation of the first page! Finding out the author's name (Hanka Lewkowicz) and reading about her escape from Koszyce in November 1942 is a massive breakthrough and deeply moving.

As I mentioned in the main post, this testimony contains 16 pages in total. The remaining 15 pages are available in high resolution via my Google Drive link here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MmpSc_qEO4J0RnYRbxTBJ_pSXRNwFWGZ?usp=sharing

If you, or anyone else in this wonderful community, would have the time and kindness to translate the next pages — even if just page-by-page, in short summaries, or at your own comfortable pace — I would be profoundly grateful. This diary is a priceless piece of local history for us.

Thank you once again for your invaluable help!

ViewMate Posting VM 114662

Submitted by Tomasz Koziol

Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself!

Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information!

Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today.

Enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles. University students can apply for the Bennett & Robin Greenspan L'dor V'dor Legacy Program, and those "out of school" can help preserve Jewish Heritage in Poland with unique study & volunteer experiences.

Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community.

The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

ViewMate Posting VM 114662

Submitted by Tomasz Koziol