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Antanaitis Vincas

* 1868-1947
* recognized in 1978

Šventybrastis vilage cemetery,
Kėdainiai district, Lithuania

Antanaitis Vincas

55.421488
24.050707

About the rescuer and the rescue story

During the war, the Jews who worked in the Kėdainiai labor camp did not stop looking for ways to survive and escape from the camp. After bribing the guards, they went to beg for food from the surrounding peasants, looking for contacts with the partisans. Once, while looking for food, Yosef Gartner came to poor farmer Vincas Antanaitis, his daughter Stase Antanaitytė and Stasė's two adult children Veronika and Jonas, who lived in Kujėnai village, Surviliškis township, Kėdainiai county. The Antanaitis accepted Yosef Gartner and said that they would also accept other Jews. Already in the summer of 1943, they set up a hiding place for the Jews, who sometimes came here. And from May 12, 1944, 9 Jews settled in this family, who, despite the dangers, were warmly received by the Antanaitis, who shared the last bite of bread. They did not change their decision even after the searches that took place in their house, when refugees from the Kėdainiai labor camp were frantically wanted. In July 1944, a certificate signed by 9 persons speaks about the Antanaitis’ help to Jews. This testimony was signed by the people who survived thanks to the sacrifice, sincere and loyal care of the members of the Antanaitis family. These people were: Chaim Burshtein, Jakov Burshtein, Liuba Burshtein, Yosef Gartner, Sholom Grossman, Frania Hades, Simon Joffe, Leib Rafeika, Fania Rash

Rescued persons (Yad Vashem web page):

Chaim Burshtein
Jakov Burshtein
Liuba Burshtein
Yosef Gartner
Sholom Grossman
Frania Hades
Simon Joffe
Leib Rafeika
Fania Rash

55.421488
24.050707

Yosef Gartner

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