Despite intensive archival research, it has still not been possible to determine what happened to 28 former students and graduates of the Brzesko gymnasium. With all probability, most of them perished during the war, but we couldn’t find any documents that would confirm it. These are:
1. Bernstein Mindla
Born in Bochnia on February 26, 1916; attended Brzesko gymnasium only in school year 1931/32.
2. Bruh Majer (Maks)
Born in Jadowniki on August 17, 1906; son of merchant Abraham Bruh and Rywa nee Stampriegel, ; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1917-1919.
3. Bruhand Leib
Born in Brzesko on October 24, 1924, son of Mojżesz Friedman and Sussla Bruhand, attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1937/38.
4. Fischler Chane Laje (Anna)
Born in Uszew on February 26, 1902, daughter of merchant Salamon Fischler/Krautwirt and Sara nee Engelstein/Jakubowicz; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1915-1917.
5. Grossberg Manfred
Born in Lviv on July 12, 1904, son of Seweryn Grossberg, tax commissioner in Brzesko, lived together with his family at Głowackiego street, 42, attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1915/16; during the previous year studied in Vien, Austria.
6. Gruber Abraham Leiser
Born in Brzesko on May 27, 1904, son of Jozef Gruber, merchant in Brzesko, and Feigel nee Langer. In 1906 the family moved to Tarnów. Abraham Leiser first studied in the primary school in Tarnów, and in the school year 1916/17 attended Brzesko gymnasium. Later the family emigrated to Vien, Austria. Abraham Leiser’s brother and parents were murdered in the Holocaust; his destiny remains unknown.
7. Hausmann Benedykt
Born in Drohobycz on August 23, 1903, son of merchant Pinkas Hausman, attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1917-1919; during that time he lived in the house of the widow Rebeka Lindner at Okocimska street.
8. Herschthal Julian Artur
Born in Kraków on July 4, 1900, son of Brzesko lawyer Stefan (Salem Schachna) Herschthal and Salomea (Stefania) nee Rzędowska. Attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1911-1914; was a very good student; had the highest grades in all subjects. His parents and younger brother Srtanisław survived the war; Julian Arthur and his younger sister Janina were most likely murdered.
9. Herschthal Janina
Born in Kraków on March 17, 1903, daughter of Brzesko lawyer Stefan (Salem Schachna) Herschthal and Salomea (Stefania) nee Rzędowska. Attended Brzesko gymnasium during school year 1913/14. Her parents and younger brother Srtanisław survived the war; Janina and her older brother Julian Arthur were most likely murdered.
10. Hofstatter Chaje Mindel (Mina)
Born in Rzeszów on January 18, 1907, daughter of Szyja Hirsch (Osias) Hofsteter from Zakliczyn and Debora nee Muenz; attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1918/1919.
11. Hollander Leib (Leon)
Born in Dąbrowa on August 9, 1897, son of Michal and Cilla Hollander in Dąbrowa; he first studied in Vien; then moved to Brzesko. Attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1915-1918; during those years lived with Salomon Kohs at Głowackiego street.
12. Kalfus Sprinca
Born in Brzesko on December 28, 1906; daughtr of tailor Salamon Jakob Fischelberg from Radłów and Mirla Kalfus; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1919-1923.
13. Klapholz Marjem
Born in Brzesko on October 4, 1902; daughter of Mayor Henoch Klapholz and Rachel Lea nee Klapholz; attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1912/13.
14. Kohane Regina
Born in Szczurowa on October 22, 1919; attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1933/1934.
15. Kornhauser Rachela
Born in the village Piaski-Drużków on March 28, 1913, attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1930/1931.
16. Landau Mina
Born in Przemyśl on April 29, 1904, attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1916-1918.
17. Lichtensztejn Efrem
Born in Białystok on April 1, 1906; son of merchant Szmul Jona Lichtensztejn and Sima nee Mrogowicz; attended Brzesko gymnasium only during graduation year in 1924/25; during that time he lived with Mrs Święcicka at Kościuszki street in Brzesko.
18. Loffelholz Israel Beer
Born in Pomianowa on December 31, 1888, son of Josef Loffelholz and Sima Vogelhut, attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1916/1917.
19. Reibach Sydonija
Born in Brzesko on March 27, 1910, daughter of Chaim Izak (Joachim) Reibach, engineer in Brzesko, and Gittel nee Leibstein/Heller from Tarnopol; lived at Mickiewicza street; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1920-1924.
20. Reichenberg Nachim Leib (Norbert Leon)
Born in Brzesko on August 17, 1902, son of merchant Israel Tennendaum and Rosalia Reichenberg from Kraków; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1912-1918.
21. Scheidlinger/Herszkowicz Chana Laja
Born in Brzesko on August 11, 1911, daughter of tailor Wolf Leib Scheidlinger/Herszkowicz from Radłów and Feigel nee Kornhauser; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1921-1925.
22. Schwimmer Jozef
Born in Grobla on April 21, 1900, son of wood merchant Abraham Monderer and Itte Schwimmer; attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1912/13; during that time he lived in Brzesko with Jakob Blum.
23. Siedlisker Maurycy Dawid
Born in Dębica on June 1, 1903; son of watchmaker Bernard Siedlisker and Ruchel nee Loffelholz; the family lived in Jasień and Pomianowa. Maurycy Dawid attended Brzesko gymnasium in school year 1915/16; before the war he moved in Kraków .
24. Silberman Tauba Necha,
Born in Sędziszow on December 16, 1914; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1930-1932.
25. Spielman Israel Leib (Henryk)
Born in Borzęcin on December 6,1904; son of merchant Wolf jakob Spielman and Ella nee Grunberger; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1917-1919; during that time lived at Głowackiego street, 244; his parents and two siblings were murdered in the Holocaust; his fate remains unknown.
26. Wasserman Zelman Nechuniasz
Born in Dąbrowa Tarnowska on December 28, 1897; son of whatchmaker Szaja Wasserman and Elka Reizel Schonmann; studied first in Tarnów; attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1915-1918.
27. Westreich Mirla Feigla
Born in Brzesko on June 19, 1900, daughter of Salamon Weiser and Beile Westreich, attended Brzesko gymnasium in 1915-1918.
We still hope to learn what happened to these people.
School records of all students of the Brzesko gymnasium are kept in the archives of the Brzesko high school. The photos in this article are fragments of these school records.
© Anna Brzyska, 2024