‘Stepping into History’ – A Book from Józef Ulma’s Collection at the MSWW

The Pilecki Institute has donated a book, once belonging to Józef Ulma of Markowa near Rzeszów, to the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk. Ulma, along with his wife and children, was murdered by the Germans for sheltering Jews during World War II. The book, bearing Ulma’s handwritten signature, will be displayed for the next month in a special case on level -3 before becoming part of the Museum’s main exhibition.

The ceremonial donation took place as part of the ‘Stepping into History’ initiative, a recurring event that highlights unique artifacts not typically displayed in the Museum. These items are tied to significant events, personal stories, anniversaries, or themes related to the period of war and occupation.

During the event, speeches were delivered by Dr. Wojciech Kozłowski, Deputy Director of the Pilecki Institute, and Prof. Rafał Wnuk, Acting Director of the Museum of the Second World War. The history of the artifact was shared by Kamil Kopera, a historian from the Pilecki Institute, and Dr. Wojciech Łukaszun, Head of the Collections Department at the Museum.

Józef Ulma maintained a home library, which he made available to the residents of Markowa. The donated volume, titled ‘Lectures on Merchandise Science’, was part of this library. Its provenance is confirmed by Ulma’s signature and cataloging number. The book shows signs of repair performed by Ulma himself using a binding machine he had constructed.

Ulma was known in his village for his many interests and innovations in daily life. In addition to maintaining his library, he pursued photography, sericulture, and horticulture. He was also active in the Rural Youth Association of Poland known as  ‘Wici’. During the war, Józef and his wife, Wiktoria, hid eight Jewish acquaintances in their home. On March 24th, 1944, likely due to a tip-off from a local collaborator, German gendarmes raided their property, killing all of the hidden Jews along with the Ulma family, including Wiktoria, who was heavily pregnant. In 1995, the Ulmas were posthumously recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. In 2023, the Roman Catholic Church beatified the family, acknowledging them as martyrs.

The donated book was preserved by the family of Józef Ulma’s brother. During the ceremony, a letter from Jerzy Ulma, Józef’s nephew, was read. In his letter, Jerzy Ulma expressed gratitude for the efforts to preserve and share his family’s legacy:

The joint efforts of the Pilecki Institute and the Museum contribute to maintaining the memory of our heroes. I thank you for your commitment to honoring the people who dared to stand against evil and fight for the good of others. I am confident that, through your efforts, the story of the Ulma family and other heroes will be told and commemorated, allowing for a deeper understanding of their sacrifices in today’s world.

The book is currently displayed in a separate case on level -3 near the entrance to the main exhibition. It will later be included in a section dedicated to grassroots efforts by Poles to help Jews in hiding. This area already features an artifact commemorating the Joniuk family, who also sheltered Jews during the Holocaust.

The book was unveiled during the opening of the ‘Called by Name’ Partner Forum, organized by the Pilecki Institute and held at the Museum. The event, themed ‘Responsible for Memory’, focuses on commemorating Poles who were murdered by the Germans for aiding Jews during the occupation.

The initiative combines research, education, and cultural memory activities, ensuring these stories are incorporated into collective memory in Poland and abroad.

The Forum encourages collaboration among local government representatives from communities where commemorations have taken place. It also emphasizes integrating youth councils into these activities, leveraging their creativity and fresh perspectives to inspire future generations to uphold and share this history.

We invite you to watch a short video recap of the event, prepared by the Pilecki Institute: