Ireneusz Socha

July 21, 2016 was the 74th anniversary of the first liquidation action in Dębica’s ghetto. This day marked the Holocaust for local Jews, who had inhabited the town for over 300 years and contributed to the town’s growth and development. In July 1942, almost 3000 residents, comprising virtually the town’s whole Jewish community, were deported to Bełżec death camp. This year, for the first time in the town’s history, I organized an event to commemorate Their memory. Almost three dozen residents paid homage to the Holocaust victims in the area of Dębica’s former ghetto.
After reading a memory appeal and reciting a prayer, we went to the plaque commemorating the Mikojałkow family, who rescued a 13-member family of the Reichs from the Holocaust. The event ended at a mass execution site of Dębica’s Jews in Dębica-Wolica. The celebrations were widely commented in the town and in local media. Local authorities expressed willingness to organize commemorative events to honor this anniversary from 2017 onwards.