Escape of the Women
         Prisoners on April 29, 1943

Twenty women fighters were taken from their cell on March 19, 1943. The women sang "Techezakna,",* the anthem of the Zionist Labor Movement, and 16 year-old Cesia Dranger shouted out to her sister-in-law, Gusta, who remained in jail, "don't be afraid, I won't cry...".

Thirty women remained in the cell, among them some Jewish fighters; Gusta Dranger, Gola Mire, Wuszka Jules, Genia Melzer. They were assigned to a transport to an unknown destination on April 29. Genia describes the atmosphere in the cell of the condemned: "For a month and a half I would hear in the cell the echo of the heavy monotonous footsteps of the prison guard patrolling the yard. I trained myself to accept death without anxiety, with honor! If only I shall not fail at the last minute! My heart beat rapidly at this thought, and was filled with deep worry."

But, even in such conditions and such an atmosphere, the young women did not lose their senses and even dreamt of escape. Gusta and Gola planned and organized the escape in absolute secrecy. It was decided that on April 29, when they would be loaded onto the vehicles that would take them to Plaszow to be executed, they would make a bold move to escape. They knew from the start their chances were small and that the German murderers would probably kill them, but at least let it be said around the city that they did not go as sheep to slaughter, that Jewish women dared to revolt openly against the Gestapo before their death.

Before Passover 5703 (1943), the thirty young women were transferred to a cell in the cellar of the prison. There, on the night before their execution, they sang the "Hatikva." The next day they were led out to the street by a wardress, two SS men and a Ukranian soldier. They were about to load them onto trucks, which would bring them to camp Plaszow to be executed. Suddenly the signal was given and as planned, the women prisoners started to run in all different directions. The astonished SS men started to shoot and run after the fleeing women. Wuszka and Gola were shot and died on the spot. They died heroically as they had wished. Some women, among them Gusta and Genia succeeded to escape.

The Fighters of the Cracow Ghetto

Keter Press Enterprises, 1986

* See Zionist Idea 

Back to Holocaust contents.

Back to main contents.