Courage in a Time of Terror

The train barreled through the bitterly cold autumn air. Max Diamant, 27, did not know exactly where the train was carrying him, but he was certain the journey would end with his death.

It was November 1942 in the country of Poland, and World War II was raging across Europe. Earlier that day, a group of Nazis had forced Max and dozens of other Jewish men, women, and children onto the train at gunpoint. The Nazis didn’t tell them the train was going to a death camp, but Max had his suspicions. He knew what the Nazis were capable of.

As Max saw it, he had two options: Die at the hands of the Nazis or jump from the speeding train.

He made his choice.

With a pair of pliers he’d hidden in his pocket, Max began feverishly cutting the barbed wire that covered one of the windows. When he’d made a hole large enough, he wiggled through.

For a terrifying moment, Max clung to the side of the train with one hand. Wind whipped his hair and clothes. The clanging of the wheels on the metal tracks rang in his ears.

And then—

He let go.

The train barreled through the cold autumn air. Max Diamant, 27, did not know exactly where the train was taking him. But he was certain the journey would end with his death.

It was November 1942 in the country of Poland. World War II was raging across Europe. Earlier that day, a group of Nazis had forced Max and dozens of other Jewish people onto the train at gunpoint. The Nazis didn’t tell them the train was going to a death camp, but Max had his suspicions. He knew what the Nazis were capable of.

As Max saw it, he had two options: Die at the hands of the Nazis or jump from the speeding train.

He made his choice.

With a pair of pliers he’d hidden in his pocket, Max began feverishly cutting the barbed wire that covered one of the windows. When he’d made a hole large enough, he wiggled through.

For a moment, Max clung to the side of the train with one hand. Wind whipped his hair and clothes. The clanging of the wheels on the metal tracks rang in his ears.

And then—

He let go.

Stefania was born in 1925 in a small village in Poland. She grew up on a farm; as a young girl, she longed to live in a big city. After Stefania’s father passed away in 1938, her mother gave her permission to move to the nearby city of Przemyśl, with her older sisters.

To Stefania, life in Przemyśl was more thrilling than she could have imagined. She loved the cobblestone streets, the cafés that served gooey pastries, the shops that sold fancy dresses. She loved the energy of city life, far from the noisy chickens on the farm back home.

Stefania soon got a job in a grocery store owned by a kindhearted woman named Mrs. Lea Diamant. It was there that Stefania first met Max, one of Mrs. Diamant’s sons. Max, then 23, was studying to become a dentist.

Max’s parents treated “Fusia,” as they affectionately called Stefania, like part of the family. She ate dinner with them often and sometimes stayed in their cozy apartment.

Like most Polish people at that time, Stefania was Catholic. The Diamants were Jewish. No doubt Stefania picked up new words in Yiddish, a language spoken by Jews in Europe. Over time, she probably learned that chutzpah means courage and that to kvell is to practically faint with pride. She likely knew to say yes when Mrs. Diamant offered her a bissel more cake.

But even in the cheerful warmth of the Diamants’ home, fear was in the air.

As Jews, the Diamants were part of a minority in Poland. Like people of all religions and cultures, Jewish people had their own unique rituals. For example, they worshipped in synagogues on Saturdays, not in churches on Sundays as Christians did. Many non-Jewish people viewed such differences with mistrust and intolerance.

For centuries, antisemitism—that is, prejudice against Jewish people—had smoldered in Poland and across Europe. Soon it would explode into an inferno of violence and death that nobody could have imagined.

Stefania was born in 1925 in a small village in Poland. She grew up on a farm. As a young girl, she longed to live in a big city. After her father died in 1938, her mother allowed her to move to the nearby city of Przemyśl, with her older sisters.

Stefania loved life in Przemyśl. She loved the cobblestone streets, the cafés that served gooey pastries, the shops that sold fancy dresses. She loved the energy of city life, far from the noisy chickens on the farm back home.

Stefania got a job in a grocery store owned by a kind woman named Mrs. Lea Diamant. There she met Max, one of Mrs. Diamant’s sons. Max was 23. He was studying to become a dentist.

Max’s parents treated “Fusia,” as they affectionately called Stefania, like part of the family. She ate dinner with them often and sometimes stayed in their apartment.

Like most Polish people at that time, Stefania was Catholic. The Diamants were Jewish. No doubt Stefania picked up new words in Yiddish, a language spoken by Jews in Europe. She probably learned that chutzpah means courage and that to kvell is to practically faint with pride. She likely knew to say yes when Mrs. Diamant offered her a bissel more cake.

But even in the cheerful warmth of the Diamants’ home, fear was in the air.

As Jews, the Diamants were part of a minority in Poland. Like people of all religions and cultures, Jewish people had their own unique rituals. For example, they worshipped in synagogues on Saturdays, not in churches on Sundays as Christians did. Many non-Jewish people viewed such differences with mistrust and intolerance.

For centuries, antisemitism (prejudice against Jewish people) had smoldered in Poland and across Europe. Soon it would explode into an inferno of violence and death.

Next door to Poland was the country of Germany. And every day, it was becoming more dangerous for Jewish people.

In 1933, when Stefania was still a young girl living on the farm, Adolf Hitler became Germany’s leader. At the time, Germany was still suffering from a humiliating defeat in World War I, which had ended in 1918. In the years since, the German people had endured growing poverty, unemployment, and hunger.

Hitler and his Nazi Party gave Germans someone to blame for these hardships: Jewish people. In hateful speeches, Hitler called Jewish people “pests” and “vermin” and “a virus,” saying they were not human. His vicious lies stirred up old prejudices.

By 1938, when Stefania was working for the Diamants, life in Germany had grown unbearable for Jewish people. Nazi laws had stripped them of their rights and dignity. Violent attacks had become common. Many feared far worse was coming.

In 1939, Hitler and his armies began invading the countries of Europe, igniting World War II. One by one, Poland and other countries fell to the Nazis. By the time Max leapt from that speeding train in 1942, Germany controlled much of Europe.

Next to Poland was the country of Germany. And every day, it was becoming more dangerous for Jewish people.

In 1933, when Stefania was still a young girl living on the farm, Adolf Hitler became Germany’s leader. At the time, Germany was still suffering from its defeat in World War I, which had ended in 1918. In the years since, the German people had endured growing poverty, unemployment, and hunger.

Hitler and his Nazi Party gave Germans someone to blame for these hardships: Jewish people. In hateful speeches, Hitler called Jewish people “pests” and “vermin” and “a virus.” He said they were not human. His vicious lies stirred up old prejudices.

By 1938, when Stefania was working for the Diamants, life in Germany had grown unbearable for Jewish people. Nazi laws had stripped them of their rights and dignity. Violent attacks had become common. Many feared far worse was coming.

In 1939, Hitler and his armies began invading the countries of Europe, igniting World War II. One by one, Poland and other countries fell to the Nazis. By the time Max leapt from that speeding train in 1942, Germany controlled much of Europe.

When the Nazis took control of Przemyśl, life for Max and his family changed overnight. In Poland, as in all Nazi-occupied countries, Jewish people were cast out from society. They were fired from their jobs, their possessions stolen. They were banned from schools, stores, and parks. They were even banned from sidewalks and made to walk in the gutters.

Stefania watched helplessly as the Diamants—and all the Jewish people in Przemyśl—were ordered to move into a restricted area of the city called a ghetto. The ghetto was like a prison, surrounded by a wall and patrolled by armed guards. No one was allowed to leave except to do forced labor. Max was forced to shovel coal for 12 hours a day, with little more than dirty water to drink and moldy bread or wormy cabbage to eat.

In the ghetto, people were starving. Diseases spread quickly. Max and his family grew increasingly sick, their clothes hanging from their thinning bodies, their faces turning gaunt.

Stefania worried constantly about the Diamants. She began smuggling food and supplies to them through a hole in the ghetto fence—eggs, bread, anything she could get her hands on. She traded her finest clothes for food and became adept at sneaking past guards with rifles.

Of course she knew the risks; the penalty for helping a Jewish person was death. She did it anyway.

When the Nazis took control of Przemyśl, life for Max and his family changed overnight. In Poland, as in all Nazi-occupied countries, Jewish people were cast out from society. They were fired from their jobs. Their possessions were stolen. They were banned from schools, stores, and parks. They were even banned from sidewalks and made to walk in the gutters.

Before long, all the Jewish people in Przemyśl were ordered to move into a restricted area of the city called a ghetto. The ghetto was like a prison, surrounded by a wall and patrolled by armed guards. No one was allowed to leave except to do forced labor. Max was forced to shovel coal for 12 hours a day, with little more than dirty water to drink and moldy bread or wormy cabbage to eat.

In the ghetto, people were starving. Diseases spread quickly. Max and his family grew sick. Their clothes hung from their thinning bodies. Their faces turned gaunt.

Stefania worried constantly about the Diamants. She began smuggling food and supplies to them through a hole in the ghetto fence. She traded her finest clothes for food and became skilled at sneaking past guards with rifles.

She knew the risks: The penalty for helping a Jewish person was death. She did it anyway.

By 1942, Stefania was the only member of her family still in Przemyśl. Her older sisters had moved away and other members of her family had been forced to go to Germany to work. Stefania brought her young sister Helena to live with her in Przemyśl.

Meanwhile, the Nazis were emptying the ghetto. Every day, more and more people were put on trains bound for death camps or forced-labor camps. The Nazis had a dehumanizing term for this: “liquidation.”

Although Stefania and Max may not have fully understood this at the time, the ghettos were part of a Nazi plan to murder every Jewish person in Europe. It’s estimated that 6 million Jews were murdered in Nazi death camps. Some 2 million other people were also killed, including communists, homosexuals, people with disabilities, and the Romani (known then as gypsies).

History would remember this genocide as the Holocaust.

Max’s entire family, aside from his younger brother, was murdered by the Nazis. Then, in November 1942, the Nazis came for Max.

 And that is how he found himself leaping from a speeding train.

By 1942, Stefania was the only member of her family still in Przemyśl. Her older sisters had moved away, and other members of her family had been forced to go to Germany to work. Stefania brought her young sister Helena to live with her in Przemyśl.

Meanwhile, the Nazis were emptying the ghetto. Every day, more people were put on trains bound for death camps or forced-labor camps. The Nazis had a dehumanizing term for this: “liquidation.”

Although Stefania and Max may not have known this at the time, the ghettos were part of a Nazi plan to murder every Jewish person in Europe. About 6 million Jews were murdered in Nazi death camps. Some 2 million other people were also killed, including communists, homosexuals, people with disabilities, and the Romani (known then as gypsies).

History would remember this genocide as the Holocaust.

Max’s whole family, aside from his younger brother, was murdered by the Nazis. Then, in November 1942, the Nazis came for Max.

And that is how he found himself leaping from a speeding train.

Max landed in the hard snow and tumbled into a pole. But he was lucky: A loaf of bread he’d managed to hide in his shirt softened the blow and likely saved his life.

But where was he supposed to go? The Nazis were in control for hundreds of miles in every direction. Their supporters and spies were everywhere. Keeping to the shadows and desperately hoping he wouldn’t get caught, Max stumbled through the snow.

About two days later, Stefania and Helena were trying to sleep when suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The sound filled Stefania with fear. Only the Gestapo—the dreaded Nazi secret police—knocked on doors in the middle of the night.

Had they come for her at last?

When Stefania opened the door, there stood not the Gestapo, but Max—badly injured and bleeding, his clothes filthy and torn.

Only one night, please let me stay, he asked, knowing that every moment he lingered in the apartment, he put the sisters in danger. Stefania and Helena gave him what little food and medicine they had, cleaned him up as best they could, and put him to bed.

Max landed in the hard snow and tumbled into a pole. He was lucky: A loaf of bread he’d managed to hide in his shirt softened the blow and likely saved his life.

But where could he go? The Nazis were in control for hundreds of miles in every direction. Their supporters and spies were everywhere. Keeping to the shadows, Max stumbled through the snow.

About two days later, Stefania and Helena were trying to sleep when there was a knock at the door. The sound filled Stefania with fear. Only the Gestapo—the dreaded Nazi secret police—knocked on doors in the middle of the night.

Had they come for her at last?

Stefania opened the door. It was Max. He was badly injured. His clothes were filthy and torn.

Only one night, please let me stay, he asked. He knew that his presence put the sisters in danger. Stefania and Helena gave him food and medicine. They cleaned him up as best they could and put him to bed.

As Max recovered, Stefania decided that he would stay with them. But it was dangerous. There were many prying eyes. Every time someone came to the door, Max scrambled to hide under the bed.

Then Max had an idea: Why not find a bigger apartment where he and others still trapped in the ghetto could hide?

Stefania agreed. She found a cottage on a street named Tatarska. It had no electricity or running water, only an outhouse for going to the bathroom and a well for water. It had two rooms plus a kitchen and an attic. And it would have to do.

With Helena’s help, Stefania spent three days cleaning the cottage and getting it ready. Max was the first to move in. Later they were joined by Max’s brother Henek and Henek’s fiancée, Danuta. Eventually, there were 10 adults and three children hiding in the cottage on Tatarska Street.

As Max recovered, Stefania decided that he would stay with them. But it was dangerous. There were many prying eyes. Every time someone came to the door, Max had to hide under the bed.

Then Max had an idea: Why not find a bigger apartment where he and others still trapped in the ghetto could hide?

Stefania agreed. She found a cottage on a street named Tatarska. It had no electricity or running water, only an outhouse for going to the bathroom and a well for water. It had two rooms plus a kitchen and an attic. It would have to do.

With Helena’s help, Stefania got the cottage ready. Max was the first to move in. Later they were joined by Max’s brother Henek and Henek’s fiancée, Danuta. Eventually, there were 10 adults and three children hiding in the cottage.

For the next two years, while Stefania and Helena lived downstairs, the group lived in the tiny attic above, as quietly as they could. They went to the bathroom in a bucket that Helena emptied into the outhouse at night. Max built a false wall in the attic to hide behind when needed.

It was up to Stefania to feed everyone. She got a job in a factory and used her earnings, along with whatever she could trade, to buy food. When shop owners grew suspicious of how much food she bought, she alternated the stores she went to, or sent Helena, who was too young to arouse suspicion.

Stefania was exhausted all the time. But she pressed on.

During those long years, there were many close calls. The worst was when an officer showed up and told Stefania he was seizing the cottage for army nurses, who were coming to work in the German hospital across the street. Stefania had two hours to leave, he said, or she’d be shot.

Max and the others begged Stefania to take Helena and flee—to save herself. But she refused to abandon them and prayed for help instead. At the last moment, the officer changed his mind and allowed Stefania to stay, as long as two German nurses could move into one of the rooms.

And so for six months, the nurses lived downstairs with Stefania and Helena, while Max and the others lived in the attic—one sneeze, one stumble, one creaky floorboard away from being caught. Max would stay awake at night, gently waking anyone who snored.

For the next two years, while Stefania and Helena lived downstairs, the group lived in the tiny attic above. They went to the bathroom in a bucket that Helena emptied into the outhouse at night. Max built a false wall in the attic to hide behind when needed.

It was up to Stefania to feed everyone. She got a job in a factory. She used her earnings to buy food. When shop owners grew suspicious of how much food she bought, she went to different stores. Sometimes she sent Helena, who was too young to arouse suspicion.

Stefania was exhausted all the time. But she pressed on.

During those long years, there were many close calls. The worst was when an officer showed up and told Stefania he was seizing the cottage for army nurses, who were coming to work in the German hospital across the street. Stefania had two hours to leave, he said, or she’d be shot.

Max and the others begged Stefania to take Helena and flee—to save herself. But she refused to abandon them. She prayed for help. At the last moment, the officer changed his mind and allowed Stefania to stay, as long as two German nurses could move into one of the rooms.

And so for six months, the nurses lived downstairs with Stefania and Helena, while Max and the others lived in the attic. One sneeze, one stumble, one creaky floorboard, and they'd be caught. Max would stay awake at night, gently waking anyone who snored.

In 1945, Germany was at last defeated by the Allied forces of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Russia. World War II soon came to an end. Hundreds of cities and towns were in ruins. In addition to the millions of victims of the Holocaust, it’s estimated that some 80 million men, women, and children were killed in bombings, in combat, and by disease.

Every Jewish person Stefania sheltered during those long and difficult years had survived. But that wasn’t the end of the story for Stefania and Max. It was the beginning of a new one.

After the war, the two got married. They looked after Helena until she went to college. Eventually, they immigrated to the U.S., where Max had a successful career as a dentist. They had two children. Helena became a doctor and settled in Poland.

In 1979, Stefania and Helena were named “Righteous Among Nations,” by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. This great honor recognizes those who helped Jewish people during the Holocaust.

The rest of Stefania’s family survived the war, but they never accepted Stefania’s marriage to a Jewish person, and they disowned her and Helena for harboring Jewish people during the war. Tragically, even after the Holocaust, antisemitism continued to fester in Poland and other countries.

Max passed away in 2003 and Stefania passed away in 2018.

During Stefania’s life, she was interviewed many times about what she did as a teenager. She never expressed regret for the extraordinary risks she took.

What Stefania did say was that given the choice, she would do it all again.

In 1945, Germany was at last defeated by the Allied forces of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Russia. World War II soon came to an end. Hundreds of cities and towns were in ruins. In addition to the millions of victims of the Holocaust, about 80 million men, women, and children were killed in bombings, in combat, and by disease.

Every Jewish person Stefania sheltered during those long and difficult years had survived. But that wasn’t the end of the story for Stefania and Max. It was the beginning of a new one.

After the war, the two got married. They looked after Helena until she went to college. Later, they moved to the U.S., where Max worked as a dentist. They had two children. Helena became a doctor and settled in Poland.

In 1979, Stefania and Helena were named “Righteous Among Nations,” by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. This great honor recognizes those who helped Jewish people during the Holocaust.

The rest of Stefania’s family survived the war. But they never accepted Stefania’s marriage to a Jewish person, and they disowned her and Helena for harboring Jewish people during the war. Tragically, even after the Holocaust, there was still a lot of antisemitism in Poland and other countries.

Max passed away in 2003. Stefania passed away in 2018.

Stefania was interviewed often about what she did as a teenager. She never expressed regret for the huge risks she took.

Given the choice, she said, she would do it all again.

Special thanks to Stefania’s son Ed Burzminski and the Stefi Foundation: thestefifoundation.org.

Special thanks to Stefania’s son Ed Burzminski and the Stefi Foundation: thestefifoundation.org. 

This article was originally published in the April 2020 issue.