The death of 16 people, including 7 children, came as a shock to the local community. Over the years, the story of the Ulma family became not only part of the local memory, but also a symbol of the death for helping Jews.

Wiktoria and Józef Ulma lived with their children on the outskirts of the village of Markowa. When the Germans ordered the Jews to leave the village in August 1942, the Ulmas gave shelter to their Jewish neighbors: Lea Didner, Gołda Grunfeld and Rachela, a little daughter of one of the women. After some time they were joined by an acquaintance of the Ulmas, Saul Goldman from Łańcut, and his adult sons Baruch, Mechel, Joachim and Mojżesz. The hiding Jews were helping at the farm, but they spent most of their time at the attic of the Ulmas’ small house. Following a denunciation, German gendarmerie from Łańcut learned about a group of Jews hiding with the Ulmas. On 24 March 1944 at dawn, the gendarmes and blue policemen surrounded the farm. Next the Germans murdered both the Jews and the Ulmas; they spared neither the children nor the pregnant Wiktoria. The victims were buried close to the execution site. The remains of the Ulma family were soon moved to the parish cemetery. After the war, the remains of the Jews were also moved to the Cemetery of the Victims of Totalitarianisms in Jagiełła-Niechciałki. The Ulma family, similarly to some of the “Called by Name”, were awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Following Pope Francis’ decision, on 10 September 2023 they were beatified.

Click here to read about Commemoration in Markowa.