"A family story: Just before the beginning of World War II - in my ancestral town of Krosno, Poland - my great uncle, Inek Trenczer, courted and fell in love with a woman of the town, Malka Fruhman, and they decided to marry. Their plans, however, were abruptly and tragically interrupted when the Nazi German army invaded Poland on September 1, 1939."
"Inek and Malka, who were both Jewish, understood that they were both at great peril. Inek's Polish army unit was ordered to travel east to regroup and train before advancing on the superior German military. The German Gestapo set up headquarters near Malka's family home. Officials issued orders to find all Jewish residents of the town. Officials also alerted Catholic residents to turn in all Jews, under direct threat of incarceration or death for all violators of the decree."
Inek Trenczer and Malka Fruhman planned to marry in Krosno, Poland, but the Nazi German invasion on September 1, 1939, ended their plans. Both were Jewish and faced immediate danger as Inek's Polish army unit moved east while the Gestapo established headquarters near Malka's family home. Authorities ordered the identification and capture of all Jewish residents and threatened Catholics who failed to report Jews with incarceration or death. Many Jewish civilians fled east or hid in the woods and some sought shelter from Catholic neighbors. A friend who promised Malka safety instead betrayed her, and a Gestapo officer shot her.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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